Reviewer: L. Rosley - 5 out of 5 stars - November 29, 2006
Subject: This is why I love Archive.org

After listening to all of the famous Sept/Oct. 1980 Warfield and Radio City accoustic sets here at Archive.org, I thought I heard all of these fabulous accoustic sets. Then I stumble on to this one! This is one of those rare, amazing finds that exist here at Archive.

This is the Dead playing for pure fun at a small holiday party. This is not in a big hall, but in a suburban community center in front of a small group of kids and parents and a few local fans who probably heard a wild rumor that the Dead would be at the rec center. The woman introducing the band tells the audience to quiet down because there is no sound system. She knows that they are big rock stars and knows Jerry is the lead, but is unsure of Bob's last name. The band then goes on to do a fabulous set. Very, very few of us ever saw the Dead at a venue like this!

Like the Warfield/Radio City gigs, Cassidy and Bird Song are the summit of the set. Cassidy is a great done accousticly. (As Jerry says here, it's sort of like rock and roll.) And Bird Song smokes. But every song in this set is well played and well sung. Pure 5-star material.

As for the sound, this recording is better than many audience recordings that people rave about. The main audio problem is some clipping in places. The fact that there is a recording of this event at all is amazing, let alone the remarkable fact that we can download it.