Garcia Live Volume Nine: August 11th, 1974 Keystone Berkeley

amazing for dosing!! don't forget to dose today!!

Excellent recording of The jerry Garcia Band!

I bought this as a gift for my brother. He and I attended a lot of these Jerry Garcia Band concerts back in the day and these recordings are amazing. Well worth buying all 9 and any others that get released after that. Garcia at his best.

In case you're wondering how I can review this show, I've had this release a few days before the release date. This live set (54 +, 62 + minutes each disc) from the Keystone in Berkeley in '74 is, to my ears, one of the better sets from this band that's been released. The band is Garcia-guitar/vocals, Merl Saunders-keyboards/vocals, Bill Kreutzmann-drums, Martin Fiero-sax/flute, and John Kahn-bass. The first set is--"That's What Love Will Make You Do", "La La", "It Ain't No Use", and "Mystery Train". The second set is--"The Harder They Come", "Ain't no Woman Like the One I've Got", "It's Too Late", "(I'm A) Road Runner", and "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" . This is a Betty Cantor-Jackson recording which is by and large very nice but the sound does vary just a bit here and there--but nothing to get worked up about.Beginning with "That's What Love..." the band is finding their way in the beginning but soon eases into a nice, easy, groove, with some good Garcia guitar work along with Fiero and Saunders who add a lot to this relatively funky arrangement. "La La" is another lengthy (17 +minutes) almost Bossa Nova sounding workout with Fiero on flute that gives this tune a real lightness--different from the first tune--with a nice jam that finishes things off nicely. "It Ain't..." has a great bluesy Garcia solo that's another high point of this set. "Mystery..." has a slight country feel to it that suits the song.The second set has the familiar "The Harder..." which has some nice playing (for 19 + minutes) from the band and keeps your attention--hard to do when we've heard this song in previous Garcia band shows. "Ain't No..." is a relaxed sounding tune with flute and guitar intertwining all through it. "It's Too Late" is a nice r&b thing with some nice sax work and a relaxed arrangement, and a really nice solo from Garcia. "Road Runner" is (of course) a funky workout with a nice feel to it. "The Night..." sticks to the familiar arrangement with Fiero's sax adding more to the sound. Garcia gets in another good solo on this very relaxed sounding performance which doesn't outstay it's welcome at 6 + minutes.The 10 page booklet has an essay by Merl Saunders, Jr. on the band and the music, plus b&w photos of Garcia, Fiero, and Kreutzmann, and a photo of the band on stage. There's a track list and recording information included. The packaging is a tri-fold cardboard package with a pocket for the booklet and snap-in trays for the discs.This is a fine show with the band injecting some life into the tried and true tunes here that keep your attention. There's a relaxed vibe that permeates this show--maybe even more than other shows in this series. Even with familiar tunes this show hit me just right--the kind of show that I wish I could've been sitting in the club getting the real experience. Garcia is relaxed but is engaged in his playing. Saunders gets in some nice keyboard work. Fiero adds a lot to the feel of these tunes. Kahn's bass is deep and solid sounding, and Kreutzmann' drumming constantly pushes the band along nicely without overpowering anything. It's nice that we have recordings like this as more proof that Garcia's work outside his main gig was full of good playing from both him and his band mates.

I buy these for my brother every year he’s always excited to receive them and said that there’s a lot of new stuff that he’s never heard. He look for it on in the whole collection someday

Vintage Garcia and crew. Good stuff. If you are a fan you will love this. If you are not, take a chance. I bet you will love this. Such a clear and defining guitar. I miss him.

Song selection, musical quality, and Jerry's vocals add up to a mega-quality show. I wish I could have seen the JGB along with my many Dead shows. The music is relaxed and vibrant- one of the best Garcialive releases so far and absolutely essential for fans of the series!

The Garcia Live Volume Nine: August 11th, 1974 Keystone Berkeley [2 CD] arrived on time, and in excellent condition. If you are a Jerry follower, then you need to add all nine to your collection. Thanks!