The Grateful Dead performed more the 2,300 concerts, and of these many live shows, a three-night run in May 1977, spanning three cities on the East Coast, is arguably the Dead’s greatest trio of shows: May 7th in Boston, MA, May 8th in Ithaca, NY, and May 9th in Buffalo, NY.
Though it sat a good 3,000 miles away from the Dead’s Bay Area homebase, Boston Garden seemed to bring out something special within the band. Their performances at the long since demolished arena had that touch of magic within their interplay and especially in Jerry Garcia’s extended guitar solos. Any proof you need of that can be found within this performance of the band from 1977. It is one of their most listened to by fans; a hard to calculate blast radius that could only grow wider with the release of this boxed set. It’s a dream to listen to.
These three shows, along with their near-equal from May 5th in New Haven, made up the long-ago sold-out box set “Get Shown The Light.” The last two nights of this run have been released on vinyl in previous years, and we’re thrilled to add to the canon the magnificent Boston show. From its opening, playful “Bertha,” through a flawless first set featuring “Cassidy,” “Jack Straw,” “Mississippi Half Step,” “The Music Never Stopped,” and many others, the Dead are clearly having a wonderful night in Bean Town. The second set is filled with then-new and older songs from the Dead’s catalogue, including “Terrapin Station,” “Estimated Prophet,” “Eyes Of The World,” and “Wharf Rat,” amongst others.
Arguably the first rock band to embrace the bootlegging industry, Grateful Dead allowed fans to record their concerts, resulting in a live discography that vastly outweighs their studio output. However, for curious newcomers, the sheer weight of titles on offer can be daunting, especially for those looking for an accessible entry point.
A welcome addition to the best Record Store Day 2023 releases, the Boston Garden, Boston, MA 5/7/77 box set is perhaps as good a place to start as any. Captured during Jerry Garcia and co’s three-night jaunt along the the US East Coast in May 1977, which also took in shows in Ithaca and Buffalo, in New York state, this live set was initially issued as part of the extensive Get Shown The Light box set, which featured all three gig in their entirety, plus another highly-rated performance from New Haven, Connecticut.
Available for the first time on vinyl, Grateful Dead’s May 7th, 1977 performance at Boston Garden. 5-LP, 180-Gram vinyl boxed set. Limited Edition of 12,000. The Grateful Dead performed more the 2,300 concerts, and of these many live shows, a three night run in May 1977, spanning three cities on the East Coast, is arguably the Dead’s greatest trio of shows:
A spectacular show from start to finish, Boston 5/7/77 is one of the most upbeat, accessible shows the Grateful Dead ever performed. In participating stores starting 4/22 as part of Record Store Day! Find stores and more information at recordstoreday.com#RSD2023
The Fat Angel Sings 