Search Grateful Dead Setlists:

Set 1:
Bertha
Good Lovin'
Row Jimmy
New Minglewood Blues
Tennessee Jed
Lazy Lightnin'
Supplication
Jack-A-Roe
Passenger
Funiculi Funicula
Brown-Eyed Women
Dancin' In The Streets

Set 2:
Estimated Prophet
Eyes Of The World
Drums
Samson And Delilah
Ship Of Fools
St. Stephen
Iko Iko
Not Fade Away
Sugar Magnolia

Encore:
Uncle John's Band

Download/Listen to this Show at Archive.org

Comments:

First show. What a blow-out!!
-

I tink this show was the first show when the Dead played Iko Iko. Anyway, it is an absolutely great show. One of the longest and best first set selections The Dead ever played. You really can't go wrong with 1977 shows. They are the funkiest, most musically talented, and most jam-oriented shows that exist from the vault.
-

>>>>They are the funkiest, most musically talented, and most jam-oriented shows that exist from the vault. >>>>>>


Funkiest maybe...but 77 is
FAR from the most "jam-oriented "
and "musically talented" shows in the vault. In fact by 1977 the shows had become rather structured, and you pretty much knew how a first or second set would play out...based on the previous couple nights song selection. 77 is actually quite lacking in spontaneous jam orientation. I mean if you weren't lookin for a H>S>F or S>F or Estimated>TOO you were pretty much shit outta luck.
Have you never heard 74?
73? 72,maybe? or how about 69-70?
Believe me, I love 77 as much as anyone, but lets not exaggerate and overplay just for the sake of sounding knowledgable and genuine. It's a trend that's all TOO common these days.

-

Yeah, dumbass
-

chill out Rusty! the guy gives a review of a show that he really likes and you slam him...not very cool!
-

Listen, '77' shows are among some of the best shows the dead ever put on. No one will argue that point. However, I agree with Rusty you can not overshadow a '72' show. Most '72' shows are pure magic. These shows were raw and explosive and never knew what was coming next. I'm a true fan with over 50 shows and over 1500 dead tapes collected in my day with an ever increasing DP collection. Just listen to a '72' or '73' show and you will undrstand see what I am talking about.

I will tell you another incredibly year 'The Dead' have going for them, is '03'. Yes, has anyone been to see 'The Dead' this year. They are still kicking ass with a new, different and funky sound. I love it!
-

i have to agree about the 77 set lists being structured. but really, who cares. they were loud and very well played. good enough right?

it makes me think of one show where jerrey says, "What do you wanna do next?" and bob says Let it grow. jerry says, pissed and groaning, "Man we play that EVERY night!" they played it anyway.

and like other shows of this era, it was great. if you dont like repeats, well then dont listen to every show. you dont have to man. it's a choice.:)
-jds

"just for the sake of sounding knowledgable and genuine. It's a trend that's all TOO common these days."

Obviously you're a victim of this 'trend' as well.

-...

what a bunch of whiners... (lol)

but really... just enjoy the music.. no need to talk a whole bunch about nothing. some people believe one thing, some people believe another.. no reason to be crabby.

"keep the fighting on the playground"
-toaster

Like Bob said at Harpur, "Cool it, you guys, cool it."

Like Jerry echoed during the same show, "Everybody just relax, man...."
-rb

This was my first show and the day I became a deadhead. Predictable or not, I would not know- I do know that I enjoyed it. In the other 53 shows I managed to see, I never again heard them do St. Stephen. I am going to have to find a copy of this show.
-

i have to agree with rusty
the set lists were not that varied, ecspecially in the spring.
there are only so many you can call the best. with cornell and pembroke out there, the bufallo first set..... winterland.. you have to stop somewhere.
-joehead

first passenger. You know that song kicks ass
-Stevie (03/01/2008)

Whoa, how about that St. Stephen and its lead into Aiko Aiko? What a beautiful, melodic rendition.
-Grateful Fred (04/27/2009)

Rusty hasn't got a clue.
-Anonymous (07/05/2009)

I also have to agree with Rusty :)
-Jason (10/18/2009)

To be fair, many shows from 72 & 73 have one long jam in the 1st set (Playin) and 1 long jam in the 2nd set (usually Dark Star or The Other One). Many of the other songs in this era became more jammed out by 1977 (Jack Straw, Sugaree, etc.) This show features a 19 minute jam in Dancin', (best version?) but no real long jam in the 2nd set. They're all good in my opinion, so why limit yourself?
- (12/12/2009)

Hey guys, just thought I'd settle the fracas. Rusty is somewhat correct when he talks about the possibility that 67-74 Dead had more to offer musically than 1977 Dead. But 1977 is a great year. I know. I was there. I'm Jerry Freaking Garcia man. The big criticism of Rusty I have is the idea that in May 1977 people weren't looking for Help-Slip-Frank or Scarlet/Fire. Your Estimated-Other One trip is off, we played Estimated everything, we played Estimated every night. The Other One was in the rotation and we lit it up man.
- (12/13/2010)

Jerry, while Rusty may be "somewhat" correct, I would like to add that exactly NONE of the formulaic '77 examples he mentions occur in this show.

No H>S>F
No S>F

(so far, none of these songs are even included in the set, let alone played in a specific sequence)

Yes, Estimated shows up, but it's not followed by The Other One. In fact, this archive has only five '77 shows total with an Estimated>The Other One sequence. (yes, I checked)

So, we might not be totally shit-outta-luck here, or in '77 as a whole.
-DavidCyrus (05/26/2011)

Finally got a chance to listen to this...you should be so lucky...check it boys, a great listen and who cares what they are bitchin' about...
-Bossgobbler (07/29/2011)

74 wasn't predictable? Let's see: 1st Set...Loose Lucy>El Paso>Wave that Flag>uncle>big River>brown-eyed>bor>etc...etc...etc..2nd set: China/Rider>playin>weather report suite>truckin>he's gone>other 1> dark star>eyes of the world>china doll> etc...
C'mon man...get in the spirit...it's the Dead for....sake.
-Nightwind (05/08/2012)

With regards to the structure and performance of their music, the Dead were certainly never "tighter" as a group than 1977 ('73-'74 might be an exception to this). The drummers had their parts worked out perfectly (thanks to the producer of Terrapin Station), Phil and Bobby were working together more to build the rhythm section, and Jerry and Keith were playing off each other better than ever. Even Donna was pitch perfect most nights. As an ensemble, they were at their prime. Very few timing issues, out of place solos, mistakes, etc. Best ever? Each year has its own best ever moments in my opinion.
-Andrew (05/15/2013)

Released as a part of the May '77 box set.
- (06/14/2013)

Its a sad and happy concert for me. I was 17 and it was my birthday and I was at the 1977 St Louis Arena concert. I was not a dead head but loved music. I went with my cousin who was one of my bet friends. I loved it and always loved the dead since then. My great friend for 40 more years and then he passed away from a rare blood disease leaving a wife and several kids. So no more arguing about how or the way they played, just love the music and the memories.
- (02/20/2014)

Can't agree with mike more. No matter what year you call your favorite, the Dead still blows any other music out of the water. Raw energy and immense dedication to complex Rhythmic and melodic experimentation means that weather it's a adolescent '60's show or the work of sages in the 90's, this music will keep you wanting more, and that's just my experience from listening to tapes. Can't imagine the raw euphoria that must have been experienced in person.
-Murphy (08/12/2014)

"it makes me think of one show where jerrey says, "What do you wanna do next?" and bob says Let it grow. jerry says, pissed and groaning, "Man we play that EVERY night!" they played it anyway."

That's funny, I would have figured it was "Estimated Prophet", which they really did play almost every night :-P
-Anonymous (02/19/2016)

Anyone know what show Anonymous (02/19/2016) is referring to regarding Jerry saying "Man we play that EVERY night" to Let It Grow? I'd like to hear that!


- (01/29/2017)

High Time tease between Passenger and Funiculi Funicula. Fun show
-Anonymous (06/24/2018)

Commonly referred to as the Barn or Checkerdome, this venue was demolished twenty years ago today

https://kmox.radio.com/articles/watch-st-louis-arena-was-imploded-day-20-years-ago
- (02/27/2019)

... the 1st IKO IKO out of 185 IKO IKO's..

IKO IKO on & on forever.
Jerry we are still with you, heart & soul ...

tyedyetom
- (10/16/2020)

… thank you Sirius for sharing the 5/15/1977 St Louis, MO show with us today on the 9:00 PM Hour …

Iko iko on & on & on & on .......
tyedyetom

- (11/24/2020)

As Tom noted above, the first Iko Iko and if you can’t shake a leg to that, check your pulse because you may be dead and not in that good way either!
-Just Exactly Perfect Band (02/08/2021)

Dude. When the dead played those long space out jams in 67-74, they were searching for grooves and seeing what each itch could bring to the table at any given moment. Ya’ll. By this point. They KNEW what they could all bring to the table. They didn’t need a 30 minute other one to say what they wanted to say for that moment. They could say it in like half the time cause they were so much more familiar with themselves. Appreciate the banter y’all. But remember, these guys had been playing together for over 10 years by this point, regardless of whether micky was along for the whole ride. They knew what the fuck they were doing to the point that playing with rhythm and groove that they didn’t need to do what they did last n the past. They were exploring a whole new future of possibilities.

For real y’all. Please. Enjoy every second of it. Every show is just a stepping stone in the developement of the sound we all know as the dead.

It’s just an experiment. All of it.
-What are we arguing about? (05/14/2022)

It's all one song...
-hedge (08/26/2023)

Comment on this Show!