Grateful Dead - Dave's Picks Vol. 59: Boston Garden, Boston, MA 9-26-91 (2026)

The “new” Grateful Dead sound, now a year old, was powerful, with the two-keyboard iteration of the Dead pushing the music to fresh heights. Add to that the two new vocalists bringing the harmonies to soaring new places, and you’ve got one of the most exciting and inspired versions of the band. Setlists don’t usually indicate much about performance quality, but when the band’s song choices include “Dark Star,” “Attics Of My Life,” and “We Bid You Goodnight,” there’s a high likelihood that the band was feeling great, inspired, and confident, the things that usually lead to spectacular performances. On 9/26/91, this was certainly true, and on an outstanding night like this one, you can hear what a blast they were having, start to finish. - David Lemieux

Two drummers, two keyboard players, Jerry, Bobby, and Phil feelin' mighty fine, this almost DICK'S PICKS VOL. 17, now a DAVE'S PICKS VOLUME 59, hits all the high notes. The complete, previously unreleased show from Boston Garden 9/26/91, the last of a six-night run, delivers on big sound and deep improvisation, with a first set filled with confident classics ("Jack Straw," "Cumberland," "Box Of Rain") and a second set that weaves unique "Dark Star">"Saint">"Eyes" sequences with rare songs (a goosebump-inducing "Attics Of My Life"), and wraps it all up with double encore of "Brokedown Palace">"And We Bid You Goodnight." And you know that all adds up to a real good time.