The Daily Nugs - June 16, 2025
From Grateful Dead of the Day
There is nothing like a Wall of Sound show, and this three-set 1974 monster is one of the best. Highlights abound, but the China Cat in the first set is downright “raunchy” as all the boys come together in seamless, mind-meld perfection for a romping, punchy, beatific piece of magic that transitions into Rider like nothing you have heard before. In the second, The Playin' gets crazy quickly with some funky sounds – is that a kazoo or just Keith’s organ? – eventually reaching a thicket of impenetrable wilderness with four-legged beasts haunting the landscape and screeching raptors buzzing overhead. And, in the third, the boys treat us to an otherworldly end to Truckin’ with Nobody’s Fault But Mine and Mind Left Body jams out of it. Don't miss these and all the other moments of bliss in this show at Grateful Dead of the Day.
The boys opened with Let the Good Times Roll> Truckin'> Touch at Shoreline on this day in 1990 and never look back, delivering an awesome first set, including the second to last Big Boss Man. The second half, though, with its Estimated> Terrapin into a massive 30+ minute jam from which China Doll emerges contains its own dark magic. And the Dead consummately cap the entire show with a resplendent Baby Blue encore. Give it all a listen.
In 1991, an exceptional Jack Straw kicks off the second set before a Crazy Fingers bridges the gap to an inventive and energetic Hornsby-fueled China Cat Sunflower into I Know You Rider. Check out the entire show on crisp video!
Though it was not until this day in 2018 that Max caught his first Dead & Co. show, he is an incredibly knowledgeable and enthusiastic young Head. Listen to Max's tale of becoming a diehard Dead fan long after Jerry passed in this episode of the Heads' Tales podcast.
June 16th Shows and Recordings:
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Until tomorrow, spread the love and enjoy the music!