Wave That Flag: Watch Grateful Dead Rock Out ‘U.S. Blues’ On 4th Of July 1989

The Grateful Dead released video of “U.S. Blues” as the latest in their All The Years Live series. The performance fittingly took place on the 4th of July, 1989 at Rich Stadium near Buffalo.

The Grateful Dead debuted “U.S. Blues” on February 22, 1974 at Winterland in San Francisco, as per JerryBase. The song would kick off the band’s studio album From The Mars Hotel, released in April 1974. Considering the subject matter, “U.S. Blues” was a safe bet for shows on the 4th of July, as Dead archivist David Lemieux attested to in his notes accompanying the Buffalo ‘89 version.

“There were a few Grateful Dead songs that you could usually count on to be heard based on the calendar. “Samson and Delilah” on a Sunday, “One More Saturday Night” on a Saturday, “Werewolves Of London” on Halloween, and “U.S. Blues” on the 4th of July, as the Dead did here in Buffalo in 1989.”

The Grateful Dead performed “U.S. Blues” upwards of 300 times, according to JerryBase. The band played on the 4th of July nine times throughout their 30-year tenure, six times with “U.S. Blues” in the repertoire. Out of those six instances, GD played “U.S. Blues” four times on the 4th of July with two of them coming at Rich Stadium in 1986 and 1989.

In 2005, the Grateful Dead released official audio and video of their full July 4, 1989 show as Truckin’ Up To Buffalo. “U.S. Blues” caps the concert and is a spirited affair, led as always by guitarist Jerry Garcia who appears to be having a blast. The version also features Bob Weir on slide guitar with Hammond organ stabs from Brent Mydland. Bobby and Brent teamed with Jerry on the anthemic chorus.

Watch the Grateful Dead perform “U.S. Blues” on the 4th of July at Rich Stadium below: