Live Dead - The Grateful Dead in Concert (Downhill from Here, Ticket to New Year's, View from the Vault)

Rating:
Summary: So you never saw the Dead (what was all the hype)...
Review: (For the non-fan) Okay, so you've never seen the Grateful Dead apart from the rather awful press from the media. So maybe a friend or relative played you a few tapes of live performances that still did not do it for you. So you wonder what all the hype is about. This collection will give you an idea. These live performances will show you that just a bunch of guys were better together than they were by themselves. The basic "whole is greater than the parts" idea. This collection showcases the band over an incredible three year period where the music was fresh and inventive, they were pouring all of their earnings (which were amazingly high) into an even better sound and light show, and they walked out on stage like any "Average Joe." Each show has those moments that we, as Deadheads, lived for. Actually, these shows have quite a bit of that magic. Watch the jams unfold that always eluded you on the tapes that my bretheren have played for you over the years. They band isn't exactly perfect, but when they shine, they shine....

Rating:
Summary: Not Their Best Effort
Review: Deer Creek, Red Rocks, Shoreline are all were wonderful places to see the Dead but nothing captures the experience like spending 4-5 days at Alpine Valley. This DVD lets you appreciate how much the Dead enjoyed it also. Having been to this show, it brought back not just the music but the people and the environment it created. Putting 45,000 people in 37,000 seats without one incident shows you the spirit of the Dead. Bid you good night and standing on the moon are the most powerful in a wonderful show. The three DVD set is a great investment and keepsake. Enjoy!!!

Rating:
Summary: The Beauty of Alpine Valley
Review: Deer Creek, Red Rocks, Shoreline are all were wonderful places to see the Dead but nothing captures the experience like spending 4-5 days at Alpine Valley. This DVD lets you appreciate how much the Dead enjoyed it also. Having been to this show, it brought back not just the music but the people and the environment it created. Putting 45,000 people in 37,000 seats without one incident shows you the spirit of the Dead. Bid you good night and standing on the moon are the most powerful in a wonderful show. The three DVD set is a great investment and keepsake. Enjoy!!!

Rating:
Summary: This Will Be On All Available Dead Videos
Review: I guess there are 2 types of fans of the Grateful Dead: Deadheads (really diehard types that would enjoy the video even if the quality was at a half a star, and the Dead were having an off night). Then there are non-Deadheads (casual fans that want the best concerts available of that group). I have all available Dead videos (didn't get GD movie - waited a little too long), and love them all (guess which type of fan I am). To the non-Deadhead fans, I would say get The Closing of Winterland, Downhill from Here, and (maybe because of Bruce Hornsby) View from the Vault 2. Then continue your quest for the perfect concert video (my personal choice is a toss up between The Last Waltz, and Talking Heads: Stop Making Sense).
Now. For the Deadicated, Deadhead fans, I would recommend anything & everything available (including Grateful Dawg). Forget the reviews from some of the others about the cheesie psychadelic effects, forget the comments of "this concert wasn't as good as", and forget the "it was better live becase they edited" comments. When it comes to Garcia and The Grateful Dead (in the illustrious words of Robert Hunter)"Like a Steam Locomotive Rolling Down the Track. He's Gone, He's Gone and Nothings Gonna Bring Him Back" so enjoy what's out there. Kudos to Monterey Home Video for making these concerts available.

Rating:
Summary: 7.5 Hours of Live Grateful Dead Concert Video
Review: I had originally wanted the long-awaited release from the Grateful Dead Video Vault - View From the Vault. I was at the Louisville, KY show and the Pittsburgh show, and was interested in having View From the Vault on video. Then, I discovered the DVD boxed set that is known as Live Dead the Grateful Dead in Concert. What accompanies the 1990 Pittsburgh show are 2 previously released video gems, Downhill from Here (1989 Alpine Valley) and Ticket to New Years (1987 Oakland Coliseum). There is no better way to immediately amass a Grateful Dead concert video collection. The video quality is scary, it's like having 5th row seats at each show. Definately recommended to fans and those that wish they'd have seen the Dead live.

Rating:
Summary: Not Their Best Effort
Review: Well, This is the first dvd I bought for my first dvd machine. I excitedly read glowing reviews on this very site for the set. The View from the Vault is fantastic in both picture and sound quality; seriously top notch. The actual show is a different story. Weak versions of everything. It seems as if Jerry just didn't have it together that night. Downhill From Here provides a better effort from the boys, but inferior video (it looks blurry) and audio (not as crisp). Ticket to New Year's I owned on vhs and also features less video clarity, but has the best set list and by far the best actual 'playing' from the band. The 'extras' or special functions on the discs are negligible at best. As a true fan and show veteran, it's cool to own these to get a taste of the good ol' days, but not the audio/visual masterpiece you'd most like to have.