View From The Vault II

Brings back great memories. As somebody too young to have experienced the Pigpen years, Bruce Hornsby was always one of my favorite of the Dead keyboardists and he is here on accordion, electric keyboard and piano. Incredible second set with Help>Slipknot>Franklins Tower with Dark Star and then Space>Stella Blue.... hitting what are my personal favorites all in one show. I really appreciate that the View from the Vault used the media from the soundboard and video screens from the live show since it really brought back the experience of being there. While some might find them hokey, I was surprised at how clearly I remembered some of the "psychedelic" segments that the Dead put on the screens during the second set. However, the one downside is that there is no crowd microphone so the connection to the crowd is very muted which removes a huge component of the Dead shows... for example, on the tape I have of this show you can clearly hear the roar that filled the stadium at the start of DS when we realized it was something unprecedented.

Wow! I just finished watching this concert and felt like I was onstage/backstage watching the show. Jerry is in top form as is the rest of the band. Hornsby is off the hook and you can see how much Jerry enjoyed him playing in the band with the genuine smiles of approval back and forth. The Big River/Maggies Farm was the highlight of the 1st set with all the band taking a chorus on Maggies Farm-even Phil sounded good. The second set is incredible starting with Help/Franklins and is highlighted with a very trippy Estimated/Dark Star/Space/Stella Blue jam. Jerry's haunting vocals on Stella Blue and the timeless guitar riffs make this DVD something to see. This is a must have for any Dead fan that has been missing going to a show. Or if you never had the chance to see the Dead live this is a great performance!

Captures that feeling of a Dead concert. Not overdone just a lot of fun. Filmed at RFK stadium in Wash. DC. If you were there it's a must have. Cheaper than a ticket!

I was at this show and this brings back so many wonderful memories. Great video, great sound, and the videographer captures not only the Dead but the crowd's energy. This actually brings back smiles and sadness that the Dead are done forever. Excellent purchase.

This is a great DVD, and a lot of the reviews here really point out all that is great with this show. So, what's not (beside the special effects stuff)? Two things. One, frequently through the DVD the soundtrack and the video are significantly out of sync. This is really a disappointment on a vocal closeup or watching the fingerwork on a solo. Second, a produced 5.1 mix would have been very nice. Yes, I know there was originally only 2 channels, but you can produce some very good effect in post-production. At least put two (or three) audio versions on the disk and let people pick. The way my (and many I would guess) home theater is set up, the two little left and right satellites are there for movie directional fill, and really don't do the soundtrack justice when in two channel mode. Yeah, yeah, I know - I need to go buy those towers instead ;)

I attended both of the shows on the DVD at RFK. One of my favorite venues to see the Dead. So pleased that these are available on DVD. Incredible - both the video and audio quality.

what a great show, good bonus features and the whole works, great setlist and great songs, good jamming time fun stuff

I will enjoy this for years.