I love the intro riff of Black-Throated Wind. It’s just so fluid and catchy that it can be hard to get out of your head once you hear it. This tune originally appeared on Bob Weir’s Ace album in 1972 and was a steady presence in the repertoire until the band’s hiatus in 1974. They didn’t dust it off again until the Spring 1990 tour, and Bobby had re-written some of the lyrics. The new words didn’t stick around for very long, but it’s interesting that he tried. I don’t think there was another Dead song that had such significant lyrical revision attempted after the song was established in the canon.
There’s a brief instrumental passage and it seems like everyone is waiting for Jerry to take a solo, but he never does. Instead it’s back into another verse. In fact, Jerry is pretty subdued in this version; Keith and Phil really stand out to my ears. Jerry finally exerts himself during the outro chorus, and Keith is right there going tit-for-tat with him. Of course, right as things start to really get cooking Bobby calls time and that’s all she wrote. I certainly wouldn’t have complained is the gusto in the last minute or so continued for another minute or two, but it wasn’t meant to be on this night near the Bay.
Complete Setlist 3/23/74
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Weir’s ode to rough life on the road kicks in with knowing skill and never lets up. By now, the mix is full and rich, and the players sound snug and warm in their roles. I am especially amazed by Billy during his years as the only drummer, as he punctuates every song with a jazzer’s panache. At the same time, Bob Weir serves up the lyrics with perfect drama and the other players accent his moves with ideally complimentary licks. That is not to say there is no danger here, because there is plenty. I am just saying that the risks pay off big-time with killer moments of serendipitous joy. Dig!