The Daily Nugs - June 21, 2024

From Grateful Dead of the Day

On the solstice in 1980, the Dead played the last show of a three-day run at the West High School Auditorium in Anchorage, Alaska. Under the midnight sun, the boys sent a tremendous show, starting with a heady Sugaree, through a deep Lazy Lightning> Supplication, and onto an excellent Feel Like a Stranger to close out the first set. The second half is even more stratospheric with a classic Terrapin> Playin' and monster Truckin'> Stella> Sugar Mags before the two-song encore. Listen to the entire show at Grateful Dead of the Day.

A bit bored after only doing two shows in two months back in 1971, the Dead jumped at the chance to play a free festival outside Paris, only to find on their arrival that floods cancelled the show. So the Dead threw a concert of their own on the solstice in the backyard of the historic, rambling chateau where they were staying. As Phil describes, "it was the classic garden party with the GD and the LSD. Talk about a piece of San Francisco transplanted to the heart of France.” And, of course, the Dead threw down, including on a trippy, face-stealing Other One and scorching China> Rider. Read more and give the show a listen. And you really should watch the video of the Dead playing that French chateau back in ‘71.

Back in 1983, the Dead played a fantastic second set, going Touch Of Grey> Man Smart before Terrapin> Estimated> Eyes, and that is all before the post-Space Throwing Stones> Black Peter and Around & Around> Good Lovin'. Watch the entire show over at Grateful Dead of the Day.

At a summer solstice show in 1989, Clarence Clemons sat in with the Dead for one of the five times that he played with the band. Read all about the Big Man's close relationship with Jerry and the Dead, including that time when Clarence tried to get Jerry and Bobby to move in with him.

June 21st Shows and Recordings:

• 1969 - Fillmore East - New York, New York

• 1970 - Pauley Ballroom, University of California - Berkeley, California

• 1971 - Chateau d'Herouville - Herouville, France

• 1976 - Tower Theatre - Upper Darby, Pennsylvania

• 1980 - West High Auditorium - Anchorage, Alaska

• 1983 - Merriweather Post Pavilion - Columbia, Maryland

• 1984 - Kingswood Music Theater - Maple, Ontario

• 1985 - Alpine Valley Music Theatre - East Troy, Wisconsin

• 1986 - Greek Theatre, University of California - Berkeley, California

• 1987 - Greek Theatre, University of California - Berkeley, California

• 1989 - Shoreline Amphitheatre - Mountain View, California

• 1993 - Deer Creek Amphitheater - Noblesville, Indiana

• 1995 - Knickerbocker Arena - Albany, New York

Until tomorrow, spread the love and enjoy the music!