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Set 1:
Jack Straw
West LA Fadeaway
Little Red Rooster
Stagger Lee
Queen Jane Approximately
Loser
Let It Grow

Set 2:
Playin' In The Band
Crazy Fingers
Uncle John's Band
Drums
The Other One
Black Peter
Turn On Your Love Light

Encore:
Black Muddy River

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Comments:

I think this was the shortest show from a year in which the Dead set all kinds of lows for brevity. Back in tape trading days, if you deleted some of drumz, both sets could fit onto one 90 minute tape. The repeat of Black Peter from the night before is an extra little reason to be thankful you were not there (I was, however, not so fortunate).
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Craig, while this may have been a short so so show, the 1st of only 6 Playin'>Crazy Fingers>UJB combo's did debut. Black Peter was played entirely too much in the 2nd set indeed.
-Perrinswolf (06/29/2007)

I'm with Graig, tickets were impossible leading up to the shows (Hartford as well) then I ended up selling about twenty for each night out on that island in front of the Centrum. These shows were weak, I left thinking I needed a break till they got better...I ended up on tour again in the summer of course and am pretty glad I did...had a hell of a time and the shows were......better.
-Bossgobbler (03/18/2010)

Relistened FM broadcast. Above comments noted and agree. Most of show is more energetic than I recollect. Fiery Jack Straw unfortunately succumbs to a vocal derailment. Crowd still enthusiastic. Rest of 1st set is splendid and within the usual time interval of a GD 1st set.

Will relisten to Set 2 and return.
-Mortified Morty (06/16/2019)

Relistened Set 2. Different from 1st set in that 2nd set is rushed. Pacing 1st set is good, but a 5 minute Playin’ and 5 minute Other One pretty much tells the story. Parts of set 2 are fairly competent, but there is a sense of being propelled too fast. Set 2 clocks in slightly over 60 minutes including encore.

Why spend so many words on a subpar show? A few reasons, but primarily the Hartford and Worcester 1988 shows were moments lost to a run of below average shows and regarding 4/8/88, a very short show. So much great expectations with an end result mostly below mediocre.

1988 is my least favorite year. With Jerry having become healthier, one would expect more. Shows would not consistently break out of this rut until summer 1989.
-Mortified Morty (07/06/2019)

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