Closing of Winterland (2003) [Grateful Dead]

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Winterland has always been an important venue for the Grateful Dead. It was there that they announced their indefinite hiatus from touring in 1974, but in 1978, it was Winterland itself that closed down. A venue that has hosted countless major bands - including The Band with their The Last Waltz - but it was fitting that the Dead were the ones to close this chapter.

They naturally had a close relationship with Bill Graham, aka Uncle Bobo, as this concert demonstrates, and the result is one of the longer concerts the band has ever played. At over four hours long (there are shows even longer, such as the one at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium on June 10 1973), it's a big whopper, but it's definitely worth it. For a while, this was available for free on the weekly Shakedown Stream on YouTube (and included a fantastic Q&A with Donna Godchaux!) and it's just a shame that this time you have to provide your own breakfast, unlike the lucky ones who were actually there back then. Anyway, the guys kick off at midnight sharp with a wonderful Sugar Magnolia that immediately sets the pace. The first set is fantastic, with a delightful Scarlet Begonias that flows into Fire on the Mountain, but the slow version of Friend of the Devil is also quite good. You'd expect that with such a length, you'd get more songs than average, and while that's partly true, they're mainly much longer versions. Fans of the jamming Dead will definitely get their money's worth here, but for me, it had a slightly counterproductive effect.

Although "counterproductive" might not be the right word, there's a slight dip halfway through the second set. Now, I'm not a huge fan of Space/Drums/Rhythm Devils/whatever you want to call it, but the 20-minute version of Not Fade Away right after that was a bit much. Luckily, they definitely make up for that with a smashing third set featuring Dark Star, The Other One, Wharf Rat, and Saint Stephen. They finish with an energetic Good Lovin' and then Casey Jones and Johnny B. Goode as the encore. Although, it doesn't end there, because they really close with a wonderful And We Bid You Goodnight. I have no idea what it is about that song, but it always puts me in a good mood. In any case, Closing of Winterland features a varied setlist (although there are plenty of songs I miss) and includes one of the few performances of From the Heart of Me, the song Donna Godchaux sang on Shakedown Street, and she (naturally) gets to do the same here as well.

The DVD, by the way, is apparently about fifteen minutes longer than the CD. They probably left out the giant joint that flew out of the sky to kick off the concert? And maybe Bob Weir's fumbling with his guitar during the first encore. In the second set, the Dead are joined by guitarist John Cipollina (of Quicksilver Messenger Service), author Ken Kesey on something called the Thunder Machine, and Greg Errico (of Sly & The Family Stone) as a third drummer. Add to that two harmonicas (by Matthew Kelly and Lee Oskar), and you might understand why the second set gets a bit chaotic in terms of jamming.

Tracklist:
  1. Sugar Magnolia
  2. Scarlet Begonias
  3. Fire on the Mountain
  4. Me and My Uncle
  5. Big River
  6. Friend of the Devil
  7. It's All over Now
  8. Stagger Lee
  9. From the Heart of Me
  10. Sunshine Daydream
  11. Samson and Delilah
  12. Ramble on Rose
  13. I Need a Miracle
  14. Terrapin Station
  15. Playing in the Band
  16. Rhythm Devils
  17. Not Fade Away
  18. Around and Around
  19. Dark Star
  20. The Other One
  21. Dark Star
  22. Wharf Rat
  23. Saint Stephen 
  24. Good Lovin'
  25. Casey Jones 
  26. Johnny B. Goode 
  27. And We Bid You Goodnight


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