Grateful Dead
Swing Auditorium
San Bernardino, California
December 12, 1980

I always felt that this was the bands "Tribute to John Lennon"
(it was a sad week leading up to this show)

First Set:
disc 1
01. Alabama Getaway >
02. Greatest Story Ever Told (tape paused after song while equipment repairs take place)
03. Friend Of The Devil
04. Mama Tried >
05. Mexicali Blues
06. Althea
07. Little Red Rooster >
08. Peggio > (a foot gets tangled in the right channel mic cable - dual left channel from 1:57 to 3:07)
09. Looks Like Rain >
10. Tennessee Jed >
11. Promised Land

Second Set:
disc 2
01. China Cat Sunflower >
02. I Know You Rider (with Mountain Jam tease) >
03. Estimated Prophet >
04. He's Gone >
05. Eyes Of The World >
06. Drum Break >

disc 3
07. Drum Break (continued) > (tape flip - spliced but I can't find the location)
08. Space Jam >
09. Truckin' >
10. Warf Rat >
11. Around and Around > (a couple of seconds were lost in the tape flip - spliced with a patch between 1:27:04 and 1:27:09)
12. Good Lovin'
encore: (encore call edited)
13. Don't Ease Me In


Recorded by: Ron Goldshine and John Musgrave with help from Mark the B-Man and Mike Martin (guarding the mic stands)

Source:
2 Sennheiser MKH 406 TUD microphones > Sony D5M (w/ Dolby B, Bias @ 70us on 3 TDK MA C-90 tapes)

My Copy of masters:
Sony D5M (w/ Dolby, Bias @ 70us) > Akaii GX-570 D2 (w/ Dolby B, Bias @ 70us on 2 TDK SA C-90 tapes)

Transfer:
Nakamichi CR-7A (azimuth aligned to tape, Dolby B, Bias @ 70us) > Korg MN-2000S 1 Bit DFF @ 2.822 MHz >
AudioGate (convert to 24-96) > Audacity (clean up) >
AudioGate (convert to 16-44) > CD wav > Flac (Level 8) > Stamp ID3 Tag editor


Memories:
The San Bernardino Swing Auditorium was about 1 1/2 hours east of Los Angeles.
It was a somber drive as John Lennon had been murdered only 4 days earlier and everyone was still in shock.

The San Bernardino Swing Auditorium was a real sweatbox and some of my favorite concerts were seen here.
A narrow rectangle, with the stage in the middle of one of the longer sides.
We were sitting dead center and about 5 rows into the risers (distance might have been around 75-100 feet from the stage?)
Tonight we were using 2 ten foot microphone stands.
For the first time I wouldnâ€™t have to hold my hand above my head for the 3+ hour show.
Our equipment included the new Sony D-5M portable cassette recorder along with two new Sennheiser MKH-406-TUD microphones.
We were ready!

The band took off roaring.
Jerryâ€™s voice was in great shape, his guitar leading the way for Bobby and Brent.
Philâ€™s bass was weaving in and out, while the two drummers in the back were holding it all together.
The first set was almost a continuous medley, peaking in a truly spectacular â€œTennessee Jedâ€, and ending up in a rocking out version of Chuck Berryâ€™s â€œthe Promised Landâ€.
We could almost see the energy pouring out at us, and we all wondered what the second set would bring.

After the required hour break the Band came back out and opened up with the beautiful pairing of â€œChina Cat Sunflowerâ€ and â€œI Know You Riderâ€,
which then slipped right into â€œEstimated Prophetâ€, â€œHeâ€™s Goneâ€, and then â€œEyes Of The Worldâ€.
The audience was in awe and one couldn't help but associate some of these lyrics with John Lennon.
It has been reported that Jerry had tears running down his cheeks during "He's Gone" (I think I did too)

At this point the Rhythm Devils took over, the rest of the band exiting the stage for the next 15 minutes, then slowly returning to perform the magic â€œSpace Jamâ€.
â€œTruckingâ€ was the center piece moving into â€œWarf Ratâ€ and another Chuck Berry original â€œAround And Aroundâ€ then finishing off with "Good Loving".
The encore was the newly reborn â€œDonâ€™t Ease Me Inâ€.


