Grateful Dead ‘Dave’s Picks Volume 40’ Features Deer Creek 1990 Concerts

Grateful Dead concerts held in 1990 at the Noblesville, Indiana venue that was then known as Deer Creek are featured on Dave’s Picks Volume 40, the final 2021 installment of the live archival audio series. Dave’s Picks Volume 40 comes on four CDs October 29.

The two-night run in Noblesville on July 18 and 19, 1990 was the penultimate stop of keyboardist Brent Mydland’s last Grateful Dead tour. Mydland tragically died at age 37 on July 26, 1990. Dave’s Picks Volume 40 includes both shows sans the encore from the 19th. GD archivist David Lemieux promises Deadheads will hear the “U.S. Blues” encore as part of a 2022 Dave’s Picks release. Mydland’s final shows took place at World Music Theatre in Tinley Park, Illinois July 21 – 23, 1990.

Mydland was joined in the Grateful Dead lineup at the time by guitarists Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir, drummers Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart and bassist Phil Lesh. A triumphant “Help On The Way” > “Slipknot!” > “Franklin’s Tower,” the Brent-led “Easy To Love You” and adventurous “Terrapin Station” are among the standout moments from July 18, 1990. Highlights from July 19, 1990 include a breathtaking cover of Bob Dylan’s “Desolation Row,” gorgeous “China Doll” and well-jammed “Playing In The Band.”

GD sound engineer Dan Healy recorded the shows with Jeffrey Norman mastering the set to HDCD specs. Watch Lemieux discuss Dave’s Picks Volume 40 during a seaside chat below:

Head to Dead.net to pre-order and to hear “China Cat Sunflower,” “I Know You Rider,” “Althea” and “Foolish Heart” from the upcoming release.

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