Grateful Dead Selects Memorable 1973 Show For ‘Dave’s Picks Vol. 54’

Grateful Dead archivist David Lemieux picked the band’s March 26, 1973 concert at the Baltimore Civic Center for release as Dave’s Picks Vol. 54. The set is due out on May 1, 2025 and subscribers will receive a bonus disc featuring material from the Dead’s March 31, 1973 show in Buffalo.

The legendary band’s 1973 lineup featured guitarists Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir, bassist Phil Lesh, drummer Bill Kreutzmann, vocalist Donna Jean Godchaux and keyboardist Keith Godchaux. At 31 songs, the Dead’s March 26, 1973 performance was one of their longest of the year.

The Dead began the night at the Baltimore Civic Center with “Promised Land” and loaded the first set with several recently debuted songs, including “Mississippi Half Step,” “Wave That Flag,” “Box Of Rain” and “Looks Like Rain.” A stellar “Playing In The Band” brought the opening stanza to a close.

The bulk of the second set in Baltimore was devoted to a wild sequence connecting “He’s Gone,” “Truckin’,” “Weather Report Suite Prelude,” “Jam,” “Wharf Rat,” “Me And Bobby McGee,” “Eyes Of The World” and “Morning Dew.” Other highlights include one of the first performances of “Here Comes Sunshine” and a majestic “Candyman.”

2025 Dave’s Picks subscriptions are on sale now via Dead.net. The package includes four releases delivered throughout the year. Dave’s Picks Vol. 53 featuring the Dead’s October 2, 1976 concert in Cincinnati arrives in January. Details of Dave’s Picks Vol. 55 and Dave’s Picks Vol. 56 will be announced at a later date. Copies of each set are capped at 25,000.

Watch David Lemieux discuss Dave’s Picks Volume 54 below:

Setlist (via JerryBase.com)

Set One: Promised Land, Mississippi Half Step, The Race Is On, Wave That Flag, Jack Straw, Sugaree, Mexicali Blues, Box Of Rain, Row Jimmy, Beat It On Down The Line, Brown Eyed Women, El Paso, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Looks Like Rain, Don’t Ease Me In, Playing In The Band

Set Two: Ramble On Rose, Big River, Here Comes Sunshine, Greatest Story Ever Told, Candyman, Me And My Uncle, He’s Gone > Truckin’ > Weather Report Suite Prelude > Jam > Wharf Rat > Me And Bobby McGee > Eyes Of The World > Morning Dew, One More Saturday Night

[1] Wolfman Jack introduces the band before the start of the second set.