Stream This Show
- Watch exclusive Livestreams.
- Stream professionally-mixed concert audio.
- Watch archival concerts on-demand.
- Unlock member discounts, giveaways, and more.
Buy Full Show
$12.95
$12.95
Show Notes
“We’re just now starting to loosen up to the point where we were, say, back in 1970, ’72, where we can start drifting from key to key, from rhythm to rhythm, and in the jams, some interesting stuff has come up. Once again, we’re tending to go new places every night.” - Bob Weir, Rolling Stone, 1980
3/9/81 at Madison Square Garden delivers all that. It's got color and texture and freshness, keyboardist Brent Mydland's Hammond organ painting a new layer for the Dead to dabble on. And dabble they did, from the "shot out of a cannon" opener of "Feel Like A Stranger" to the "fleeting romance of 'Althea,'" to the high-gloss 80s blues of the first set to the second set, both intense ("China>Rider", "Samson And Delilah," "Estimated Prophet") and dramatic ("Ship Of Fools," "Stella Blue) in its ability wrap you up its spirals and accents. It's all undergone Plangent Processes tape restoration and speed correction, with mastering by Jeffrey Norman. Hot, hot, hot!
Reviews
KatfishJohn — 3/21/2024 4:31:30 PM
"This show has long been one of my favorites of the 80s. The band plays like a 110 volt appliance plugged into a 220 volt outlet. At one point in the incendiary Stranger opener, for example, Jerry’s guitar seems to literally be overloading, with the gain turned up so high the distortion overwhelms everything else and produces a clean, compressed sound. The solo is stunning, as is the great Althea that follows and the screaming, tight Bird Song. Yes, Jerry is “on” and the boys are feeling it. The power surge continues in set 2, starting with a funky, pulsating China-Rider-Samson that’s a masterpiece, with a sparkling transition to Rider, flaming solos, and crackling ending notes. So great, as is the rest of the set, highlighted by a searing Estimated-Uncle John’s pairing, and two honey-glazed ballads. But don’t take my word for it, see for yourself, just watch out for possible 3d degree burns."
Gonzobiker916 — 1/6/2024 10:55:13 PM
"The energy at East Coast shows was very different that west coast, and MSG was no exception. I remember being outside one night and watching 2 NYPD cops sitting in their car listening to the simulcast, rocking out to Bertha. Frigging loved MSG shows"
Oshie — 8/30/2023 5:08:53 AM
"To open a first set with Stranger/Althea is epic in and of itself"
Brad Freeman — 6/9/2023 6:41:04 PM
"Superb, I need more speakers to blast this joy. Giving Jerry a wah pedal is like giving Picasso a new paint brush."
Ghost of Marty Robbins — 9/30/2022 3:21:31 PM
"Man that Bob Weir can sing the hell out of El Paso"
Products
Setlist at Madison Square Garden, New York, NY on Mar 9, 1981
Set One
539966-TRACK
539967-TRACK
539968-TRACK
539969-TRACK
539970-TRACK
539971-TRACK
539972-TRACK
539973-TRACK
539974-TRACK
Set Two
539975-TRACK
539976-TRACK
539977-TRACK
539978-TRACK
539979-TRACK
539980-TRACK
539981-TRACK
539982-TRACK
539983-TRACK
539984-TRACK
539985-TRACK
Encore
539986-TRACK
Start a free trial now to get unlimited streaming of professionally mixed audio and high-quality video. Paid subscribers get access to exclusive livestreams and more.