RFK Stadium, Washington, DC, 6/10/73 (2023) [Grateful Dead]

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It's becoming a tradition: the folks at Rhino release a colossal Grateful Dead box set, often consisting of 10+ discs, and for anyone who can't/won't afford it, they also release a separate concert from that box set. Sometimes it's disappointing, and sometimes it's a real treat. I was out of luck with the Listen to the River: St. Louis '71, '72, '73 box set from a few years back, because I already had the separately released show as an (excellent) bootleg. At least 2023 is off to a great start with the release of this show at RFK Stadium. Released simultaneously with Here Comes Sunshine 1973, which compiles the shows of May 13 1973 (Iowa State Fairgrounds), May 20 1973 (Campus Stadium), May 26 1973 (Kezar Stadium), June 9 1973 (RFK Stadium), and June 10 1973 (RFK Stadium).

It's not surprising that the summer of 2023 will be filled with concerts from that 1973 summer (the folks at Rhino and David Lemieux are fans of the "50th anniversary release" concept), but to be fair: this is still a real banger. Primarily in terms of playing time, because at almost 5 hours (!), it's one of the longest Grateful Dead concerts I've ever listened to. Perhaps a bit too long to listen to in one sitting (although a drizzly Saturday when I decide to clean the house from top to bottom is a perfect opportunity; the neighbors must have known I was home too), but who cares when you're presented with such a fantastic setlist? Opening with Morning Dew - which is always great - and then unleashing Box of Rain, Dark Star, They Love Each Other, Looks Like Rain, He's Gone, Wharf Rat, and so many more. The gentlemen (and lady, since this is a release featuring Donna Godchaux) are on fire from the very first notes. So good, in fact, that I'm happy to forgive them a lesser track like Wave That Flag and Here Comes Sunshine. You never quite know what to expect with the Grateful Dead - although I appreciate it about 95% of the time - and sometimes the quality can even vary enormously from set to set, but this show from June 10 1973, is excellent in every way.

With a setlist like this, it won't surprise you that there are three sets instead of two. Not particularly unusual in itself, as the Dead often play three sets, but the third set does feature some interesting guest artists. None other than Dickey Betts (guitar and known from the Allman Brothers Band), Butch Trucks (drums and also known from the Allman Brothers Band), and Merl Saunders (organ and known from many other projects with Jerry Garcia) show up. A nice surprise, but not so surprising considering that the Allman Brothers Band (along with Wet Willie) opened for this show. I'm always amazed at the repertoire these musicians (and I'm not just talking about the Grateful Dead, but also the guest artists) manage to pull out of their sleeves. The cover of Bob Dylan's It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry is fantastic, but the encore Johnny B. Goode is also very nice. For those who own the rather hard-to-find Postcards of the Hanging album, this is the same version of It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry as on that album.

Every time an album from the Mydland period is released, I think, "That's definitely my favorite lineup now," and then another Godchaux album comes out, and I change my mind. Besides Fleetwood Mac, I don't know of any other band that manages to make such a huge impression in different lineups. And then there are those who prefer the Pigpen era, and if I'm honest, I also have a huge soft spot for Saint of Circumstance (June 17 1991 at Giants Stadium) with Vince Welnick and Bruce Hornsby in the lineup. Anyway, keep those releases coming!

Tracklist:

  1. Morning Dew
  2. Beat It On Down the Line
  3. Ramble On Rose
  4. Jack Straw
  5. Wave That Flag
  6. Looks Like Rain
  7. Box of Rain
  8. They Love Each Other
  9. The Race Is On
  10. Row Jimmy
  11. El Paso
  12. Bird Song
  13. Playing in the Band
  14. Eyes of the World
  15. Stella Blue
  16. Big River
  17. Here Comes Sunshine
  18. Around and Around
  19. Dark Star
  20. He's Gone
  21. Wharf Rat
  22. Truckin'
  23. Sugar Magnolia
  24. It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry
  25. That's All Right
  26. Promised Land
  27. Not Fade Away
  28. Goin' Down the Road Feeling Bad
  29. Drums
  30. Not Fade Away, Pt. 2
  31. Johnny B. Goode


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