21: 1968-10-13

 

115606 Avalon 13:08


Main theme at 1:28.
First verse at 2:12.
Verse theme at 6:45.
Bright Star at 8:25.
Falling Star at 9:12.
Sputnik at 9:45.
Main theme at 11:02.
Second verse at 11:42.
Goes into St. Stephen.

Pigpen is again missing. Very driving introduction up to where the main theme comes in, then it almost falls apart and comes back with a more laid-back mien. Weir is rather loud on this one, and you can hear how integral he is to the whole thing, playing triads in ascending bursts between 5 and 6, and when he finds himself alone right before Garcia’s statement of the verse melody at 6:45 he starts playing something that sounds a bit like Sputnik. The mix makes Garcia blend in a bit more on this one, but he is again brilliant, playing flowing, wide-ranging lines and employing an array of voices, and again some feedback. The run up to Bright Star is particularly thrilling, and Garcia comes out of this with some staccato bursts leading to a playful run at Falling Star. Lesh is almost constantly in motion here, and seems to be leading the way at times. Overall this is an energetic version, filled with ideas. They seem to be mostly consolidating their hold on the song at this point, although Sputnik has just been added, and this is a great expression of what they can do with it at this point.


What was said:

There’s a fuzzy tone and a certain vibe that I like in this one, like riding a motorcycle on winding country roads. Things are really rolling for the first minute and a half and then they kind of coast along for a bit just prior to the first verse. After that momentum starts building and they are cooking again; I like the peak around 4:00-4:40 and then they’ve shifted gears again. The Bobby contributions that @bzfgt pointed out are cool to listen to as well. The Bright Star is an exaltation and the way there is compelling too. Really good version.


10/12/68 was a great listen. Without the Pigpen ROR it felt much more like the Dark Stars that I am more familiar with. Pigpen's riff has been fun to listen to but it does rob the song of some of that pensive mystic energy that shows up more in later versions.
I have never been a huge fan of T.C.’s contributions to the band.. It will be interesting to listen to the Dark Stars when he comes on board.. Maybe with fresh ears and some new insights from this thread, my views will change.



I've come to like these Dark Stars where the intro is cut and you're just thrown into the voyage. It sounds like Bear started the tape late...some hurried mix adjustments and away we go, deep in a jam in progress! This Dark Star makes a fascinating comparison with the 10-12 version, which was more subdued and meditative. This one has an identical structure, but is a lot more driving and energetic....to the point of sloppiness sometimes. Like 8-22, this is kind of a bop-til-you-drop Dark Star. The Dead aren't gliding on celestial winds, they're a relentless rhythm machine here, stopping for breath now and then but never calm for long. The scratcher's going strong from the start, Weir is louder (and busier) tonight, Phil's as pushy as usual, and they all create these incessant rhythms throughout, always nudged along by an insistent Jerry. (Check out his percussive low notes at the start, echoed after 4:40 and 11:30.) The bright-star bit is like a churning torrent compared to the stately rendition on 10-12. Overall this is one of the most aggressive versions so far...you could use it in a dance mix!