Set Lists

Road Trips Vol. 2 No.4: 
Cal Expo '93

Road Trips Vol. 2 No.4: Cal Expo '93 is the second release post Bruce Hornsby. As the title suggests, the release is taken from the venue Cal Expo, which is located in Sacramento, CA; two of the three evenings they played there. Most of May 26, 1993, the middle evening is included, and with the bonus disc, the whole show is delivered. Plus some great musical moments from the May 27 are included. 

A few rare items to note. This is the first live Grateful Dead release of "Corrina," (it's on some Weir solo releases), and "Here Comes Sunshine" in the modernized rendition debuts. The song "Liberty" is on So Many Roads, and Phil's solo album, There and Back Again, but this is the first time it's within a Grateful Dead concert context. A few notes on rarities are the bonus disc too.

Personally I don't listen to a lot from this Grateful Dead era. I'm not the biggest Welnick fan, but he does more than hold his own, especially on some of the Chess artists on songs like "Walkin' Blues," "The Same Thing," and "Around and Around," this is actually a really a good version of the Chuck Berry cover." Beside Vince, the rest of the band have musical contributions to discuss. Phil is well represented, and makes his presence felt, the drummers come through dynamically and with power, Bobby adds sounds both when you expect them and don't in his usual clever ways. So how about Jerry? His guitar contributions are up to speed, but vocally not so good. To sugar coat it, I could say Jerry's voice is a bit aged. However, when he reaches for high notes a better description is painful to listen too. It does detract the listening experience a bit. Still his inflections are so necessary when they perform his songs. 

The discs opens with some highlights from set one. A rare first set "Samson and Delilah" displays Phil quite nicely and the band is sharp and commanding. The remake of "Here Comes Sunshine" is OK. It displays Vince ability to hit the high notes, but Jerry is a little flat vocally. The set closer "Deal" is well above average.

The second set begins with "Box of Rain, no complaints from me on that. Jerry lays down a sweet passage and Phil walks all over it, such simple interacts make such beautiful sounds. Isn't that we love Grateful Dead music? Throughout the second set the song transitions are tight. When "Playing in the Band appears, it is very impressive. This one is long and shows they can still create and jam on the fly.

The second disc starts post "Space" with "Corrina," that leads to the conclusion of "Playing in the Band Reprise." "Jerry
sings "China Doll" but "Around Around" tops that, easily. 

To round out the disc, there are five songs from their May 27, performance. Notably, "Shakedown Street" has no shortage of enjoyable musical interactions during the jam section, a definite release highlight. Also, "When I Paint My Masterpiece" is performed exquisitely. There's nothing wrong with the version of "The Same Thing" but it sounds like the same thing as "Walkin' Blues," which is on disc one. Between the two, I easily preferred "The Same Thing," primarily because I like Vince's parts more, but Phil is all over this too. 

The sound of the recording is quite good. Lots of Phil. There's nothing like a Grateful Dead concert. I've listened to some excellent bands that play some Grateful Dead covers incorporated into their sets recently like Donna Jean and the Tricksters and Jemimah Puddleduck, and while extremely impressive, nobody plays the Grateful Dead like the Grateful Dead. Even when they're past their peak. 

All in all, this is a very good package of latter day Grateful Dead. If Jerry's voice was in better shape Road Trips Vol. 2 No.4: Cal Expo '93 would be excellent. The band has a good vibe going throughout. 

Cal Expo Amphitheatre, Sacramento, CA

CD 1:
1. Samson and Delilah (5/26/93)
2. Here Comes Sunshine (5/26/93)
3. Walkin' Blues (5/26/93)
4. Deal (5/26/93)
5. Box of Rain> (5/26/93)
6. Victim Or The Crime> (5/26/93)
7. Crazy Fingers> (5/26/93)
8. Playing In The Band> (5/26/93)
9. Rhythm Devils (5/26/93)

CD 2: 
1. Corrina> (5/26/93)
2. Playing In The Band> (5/26/93)
3. China Doll> (5/26/93)
4. Around and Around (5/26/93)
5. Liberty (5/26/93)
6. Shakedown Street (5/27/93)
7. The Same Thing (5/27/93)
8. Dire Wolf (5/27/93)
9. High Time (5/27/93)
10. When I Paint My Masterpiece (5/27/93)

Bonus CD (with early orders)
1. Picasso Moon> (5/27/93)
2. Fire On The Mountain (5/27/93)
3. Cassidy> (5/27/93)
4. Uncle John's Band> (5/27/93)
5. Cassidy (5/27/93)
6. Gloria (5/27/93)
7. Broken Arrow (5/26/93)
8. Ramble On Rose (5/26/93)
9. Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again (5/26/93)

Liner notes discuss the history of Cal Expo in relation to the Grateful Dead from a first hand basis, and some discussion of the music. Plus some nice photos.

From Deadlists 

Cal Expo Amphitheatre

Sacramento, CA - May 26, 1993
One - Samson And Delilah ; Here Comes Sunshine ; Walkin' Blues ; Broken Arrow ; Ramble On Rose ; Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again > Deal
Two - Box Of Rain ; Victim Or The Crime > Crazy Fingers > Playing In The Band > Drums > Space > Corrina > Playing In The Band Reprise > China Doll > Around And Around
Encore - Liberty

Sacramento, CA - May 27, 1993
One - Shakedown Street ; The Same Thing ; Dire Wolf ; Beat It On Down The Line ; High Time ; When I Paint My Masterpiece ; Cumberland Blues ; The Promised Land
Two - Picasso Moon > Fire On The Mountain > Wave To The Wind ; Cassidy > Uncle John's Band > Cassidy > Drums > Space > The Other One > Wharf Rat > Sugar Magnolia
Encore - Gloria

The band also played the Cal Expo on May 25. No tracks from this date were included on this edition of Road Trips.

One - Bertha > Greatest Story Ever Told ; Jack-A-Roe ; Wang Dang Doodle ; Loose Lucy ; Queen Jane Approximately ; Lazy River Road ; Let It Grow > Don't Ease Me In

Two - Eyes Of The World > Looks Like Rain ; Way To Go Home ; Truckin' > Drums > Space > The Wheel > Throwing Stones > Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad > Johnny B. Goode
Encore Rain