The 1980 Fall Run: One Acoustic Set, Two Electric Sets, and a Halloween Finale

In the fall of 1980, the Grateful Dead went back to a format they hadn't used since 1970: one acoustic set followed by two electric sets. Across 25 shows, they played 15 at the Warfield in San Francisco, two at the Saenger Theatre in New Orleans, and eight at Radio City Music Hall in New York. The run was a 15th anniversary celebration, and every single night opened with the acoustic set. Heads are still talking about it.

The Warfield, San Francisco (September 25 to October 14)

The Warfield run was the longest stretch of the tour, starting in late September and running into mid-October. Two of those nights, October 9 and 10, were later released in full on the 2019 album The Warfield, San Francisco, October 9 & 10, 1980, which contains the complete acoustic sets from both shows. The electric material from the Warfield also turned up on the 1981 studio-style live album Dead Set, including "Greatest Story Ever Told" from October 9 and "Loser" from October 11.

The Saenger, New Orleans (October 18 and 19)

Two nights in New Orleans gave the run a Southern stop before the band headed to New York.

Radio City Music Hall, New York (October 22 to 31)

Radio City was the main event. The Dead played eight shows there, starting October 22 and ending on Halloween. Some highlights from the run:

• October 25: "Franklin's Tower" and "High Time"
• October 26: "Sugaree" and "Let It Grow"
• October 27: "Friend of the Devil"
• October 29: "Candyman" and "Little Red Rooster"
• October 31: "Fire on the Mountain" and a drum and space segment

The two closing nights, October 30 and 31, were filmed. Al Franken and Tom Davis hosted the Halloween finale with sketches between the sets. The show was broadcast live on radio and to closed-circuit TV in other theaters, so fans outside New York could catch part of the night.

The Film: Dead Ahead

The concert film Grateful Dead: Dead Ahead was recorded at Radio City on October 30 and 31, 1980. It came out on VHS and laserdisc in 1981, and an expanded DVD followed in 2005 with bonus songs. It mixes acoustic and electric performances with the Franken and Davis sketches. You can also read the film's background on Wikipedia.

Listen to the Halloween Show

The October 31 Radio City show is now in the Crew Tunes player, so you can hear the Halloween show while you shop. And if you want a keepsake for the whole year, the 2027 Dead Wall Calendar is shipping now.

What was your first Halloween show? Tell me in the comments or hit reply.

Stay grateful,
Barry Bear