Jerry Garcia Band - "The Harder They Come" - GarciaLive Volume 21

Jerry Garcia Band performs "The Harder They Come" as featured on GarciaLive Vol. 21: February 13th, 1976 Keystone Berkeley.
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GarciaLive Volume 21 showcases the Jerry Garcia Band’s February 13th, 1976 performance at the legendary Keystone in Berkeley, California. The nearly complete (more on that below…) two-set performance was originally captured to 1/4” analog reels by Betty Cantor-Jackson.
Following the arrival of Keith and Donna Jean Godchaux in early ’76, Garcia delighted in his group’s “harmonious” sound emphatically expressing “This is what I want to hear.” On February 13th, no more than four gigs into their time together, they were already deeply in harmony. While we’re sadly missing the show-opening “How Sweet It Is,” the selections that followed like “Catfish John,” “Who Was John?” and “They Love Each Other” are sublime testaments affirming Garcia’s sentiments. The band could cook too as evidenced by “After Midnight” which is punctuated by Ron Tutt and John Kahn’s steady groove leaving plenty of room for Jerry and Keith to explore the melody. A soul-soaked, and first known, performance of the Rolling Stone’s “Moonlight Mile” leaves the crowd breathless to close the first set. On paper the second set may look curious with only three songs, but a closer look and listen reveals some of the evening’s deepest moments.
Jimmy Cliff’s “The Harder They Come” opens the second set and may encapsulate the dynamic range of the mid-70’s era JGB better than any other with its soulful harmonies and adventurous improvisation taking the song well beyond its form before bringing it all back around. While the version of Dylan’s “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” that follows is as powerful and poignant as they come. The group’s first known performance of “Talkin’ ‘Bout You” is a spirited romp that sends everyone home on a high note. This collection however closes where we started, or rather should have started - borrowing a bouncy performance of “How Sweet It Is” and adding the first known performance of “My Sisters and Brothers," both from February 15th, ’76 at Sophie’s, for good measure.

[@jeffweaver6708]

Ahhhh...Jerry. Master. Wizard. Humble as pie. Always my favorite, always will be. Miss seeing you play, Jer.

[@christopherorman5769]

1976 is such a great year for the Dead and for JGB. The playing is so on point. Harmonies had been worked on and improved. Like in 1973 - 1974, their playing showed they were in no rush. Garcia and Keith still played with some of the exploratory qualities of 1973-1974. What makes this release special is it comes from early 1976, before the Dead started touring again in June 1976. So this has the focus and energy of Garcia and the Godchauxs getting ready for the upcoming Dead tours. I think you can hear that. The November 1976 stuff in Volume 7 is not nearly as crisp -- in the recording or the playing (though still a wonderful release), which makes sense as the Dead had been playing. This is a gem, and given Betty Cantor was behind the boards, I expect all of it will have this wonderful sound quality.

[@2112CO]

💜 Betty!

[@george.s.8491]

@@2112CO”l like you Betty”

[@BluesClues31]

😮

[@YashaHarari]

Jerry!!! It's always great to hear JGB playing this classic Jimmy Cliff song.

[@brettwiley4064]

This groovy and chill as hell.

[@Soli_Deo_Gloria_.]

Crazy to think Jerry has been gone almost as long as he played...

[@OakdaleSolar]

Love Jerry!!!

[@2112CO]

I love Jerrys playing in 76. N.F.A 65-95!!!

[@darnwickedpickles]

I love how John Kahn’s bass flows down this lazy river too! Both men terribly missed!

[@molcs]

😊👍👍

[@thomasandrews3064]

LONG LIVE JERRY GARCIA

[@Daysbetween1958]

Happy 21st GarciaLive 🍾 Can't wait for this one to drop. Wish it was available on vinyl! Love the artwork.
Miss you Jerry, always. ❤

[@susanbobiner2330]

Miss Jerry!!!!

[@OzzyMandias-xl2hr]

Happy birthday Jerry!🎉

[@amangogna68]

Fantastic !

[@stuartzoo]

Dig the artwork

[@brandonvalentine2555]

Holy wah. Jerry really pushing himself on this one!!

[@KCTV]

This is pretty neat. Eloquently produced. Jimmy Cliff & Jerry would definitely be smiling!

[@dsbagliere]

Jimmy Cliff still is smiling, alive and kickin. Still performing. ❤😊 Jerry left us this gem though.

[@11BlackLamb]

Jah mon irie!❤💛💚

[@KCTV]

WhaGuaan 🇯🇲

[@george.s.8491]

Still missing the man.
Who’s the drummer in this band formation?

[@bromley3333]

Ron Tutt

[@griffithpugh2979]

Chill asf