Dick's Picks Vol. 12: Providence Civic Center, 6/26/74 & Boston Garden, 6/28/74
This three-disc set combines a second-set segment from a June 1974 show in Providence, Rhode Island, with the complete second set of a Boston Garden appearance recorded two nights later. The band was clearly in a playful mood that week, adding new twists to old songs and coming up with a number of dynamite jams out of thin air. Bassist Phil Lesh is particularly frisky and fertile on the Providence material. The collection begins with a distinctive "China Cat Sunflower" taken at an airier, slower groove than usual and bookended by interesting improvisational ideas. There's an exhilarating 15-minute "Spanish Jam" before they eventually encore with "Eyes of the World." The Boston show's second set opens with "Sugar Magnolia" and for the first time ever its "Sunshine Daydream" coda is broken off from its body and reattached at set's end. Also of note is a lovely "To Lay Me Down" and the far-ranging 28-minute jam that occurs after "Weather Report Suite," a ride unlike any other in Dead history. Throughout both shows, Jerry Garcia's guitar leads are as supple and fluid as they've ever been. Though it lacks the cohesiveness of one complete show, this 12th volume marks a true highpoint of theDick's Picksseries.--Marc Greilsamer