Search - Grateful Dead :: Dick's Picks, Vol. 9: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY, 9/16/90

This show from September 16, 1990, the second night of a six-show Madison Square Garden run, catches the Dead in a period of transition. Brent Mydland had passed away less than two months earlier and former Tubes keyboardist Vince Welnick had made his Dead debut a mere 9 days before this show. In addition, pianist Bruce Hornsby began his tenure as a semi-regular member the very night before. As you might expect with all of the new blood, the band sounds a bit tentative feeling each other out, but when they are comfortable, they cook. Welnick is still finding his way through the songs and experimenting with often-harsh sonic textures, though for some reason he remains prominent in the mix (and you thought it was just your seats!). Hornsby, however, is the real star of this show, blending in beautifully and tastefully on acoustic piano and bringing out the stateliness in many of the Dead's tunes. Hornsby finds the ragtime in "Tennessee Jed," lends firepower to "Samson and Delilah" and "I Need a Miracle," and spruces up a number of spontaneous creations. Jerry Garcia clearly feeds off Hornsby's playing and responds energetically. Unfortunately, their little musical love affair didn't last very long, as Hornsby's appearances became more sporadic until he left for good in the spring of 1992. This document makes you wish their partnership had gone further. --Marc Greilsamer