Jerry Garcia Band Show From 1978 on Wolfgang’s Vault

As we approach the 10th anniversary of the launch of Wolfgang’s Vault, the company is still rolling out choice tuneage all the time. For instance, Jerry Garcia Band’s late show from March 17th, 1978 at The Capitol Theatre in Passaic, New Jersey is now available as a paid download.

Garcia was joined by Grateful Dead band mates Keith and Donna Jean Godchaux, longtime collaborator John Kahn, vocalist Maria Muldaur and drummer Buzz Buchanan for this performance. According to Wolfgang’s, the early show from this night was broadcast live in New York City on WNEW, yet few have heard the late show from the same evening at The Capitol Theatre in Passaic, New Jersey.

JGB – March 17, 1978 (Late Show)

Set: Mission In The Rain, Russian Lullaby, Tore Up Over You, Love In The Afternoon, I’ll Be With Thee, The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, Rhapsody In Red

Here’s more from Wolfgang’s on this amazing set…

This particular JGB lineup included both Donna Jean Godchaux and Maria Muldaur on support vocals, who get a nice showcase of their own on the rarely performed gospel number “I’ll Be With Thee.” This recording is also remarkable for John Kahn being so prominent in the mix, which gives listeners a fine opportunity to hear the telepathic musical relationship he and Garcia enjoyed for so many years.

In addition to introducing fresh new material from the “Cats” album to the band’s live repertoire, this performance also includes a diverse range of covers, including Irving Berlin’s “Russian Lullabye,” Hank Ballard’s “Tore Up Over You” and The Band’s “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down.” Plenty of the laid back grooves that often defined Garcia’s style with his own band are found here, but this performance also features many moments of ferocity, with Garcia in highly focused and inspired form. The evening culminates in a remarkable encore of “Rhapsody In Red,” with both Muldaur and Godchaux belting it out and Garcia shredding up a storm near the end.