The Dark Star encore of 7/13/84 has become the stuff of Grateful Dead legend. It was Friday the 13th and there was a full moon, and in a legendary venue, as the band fired up the first “Star” in 167 shows, a shooting star streaked through the night sky over the Greek Theater.
More than a few people I have spoken to who were in attendance confirmed this:
“Yes, I absolutely did see the shooting start at the song’s intro. It whistled through the sky and disappeared behind the eucalyptus trees lining the Greek. MANY people saw it, and it took our breath away (a serious murmur went through the crowd). There’s no way Jerry could have set THAT up!”
First verse begins right away, barely a minute into it. Jerry’s voice is rough around the edges by this point, but he finds the notes. The jam that follows is gorgeous. Phil is an absolute monster here, he drives the spacecraft, allowing the rest of the band to find their footing. Jerry plays some interesting runs, working off the interplay with Brent and Bobby.
In a time when we can compare versions of Dark Star with a click of a mouse, a lot of people are quick to criticize this Star’s lack of exploration. Like comparing a solid Cabernet Sauvignon with a fine vintage of Château Latour, the Greek encore Star isn’t a dramatic, galactic odyssey like 11/11/73 or 8/21/72. It’s also very different than the MIDI-laden Stars of the post 1989 breakout. It’s more akin to a breezy and free Birdsong or Eyes of the World – more jamming and fewer sonic peaks and valleys. No major spacey melt-downs, but plenty of inspired playing. There are some tantalizing moments just after the second verse, that hint at some deeper space to follow, but sadly, it dissolves slowly and exquisitely into the night.
My only complaint is Brent’s tinkly “bell” sound he’s using on his keyboards. By the time he starts to experiment with different patches, the song is already almost over. Also, on the SBD version I have, Garcia’s guitar is a little low in the mix.
I know that I am not alone in this, but 7/13/84 was one of the first shows that I collected. I don’t remember who sent it to me, but I only had the second set. It blew me away. It wasn’t until I discovered the Live Music Archive many years later that I finally heard the first. I can’t lie though, I skipped ahead and listened to Dark Star first and I got goosebumps, imagining the anticipation that ran through that crowd; the full moon, the shooting star, and the transitive nightfall of diamonds…
Thanks to my friends Phil, Craster, and to Jim Powell for his fantastic Dark Star Document (which can be found here)
- Audio: Mark Ferguson “Speed Corrected” SBD, Jim Quirk FOB AUD or Charlie Miller SBD transfer
- Previously on HT: B List – 10 Killer Dark Stars
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