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“Lucy” made its concert debut only earlier last month. The relatively new-at-the-time “Loose Lucy” kicks things off, with a more pronounced Keith Godchaux on piano coming through in the mix. The second set has nice intentions, but the opening stretch is played somewhat close to the belt. This is supposedly the last show at which they were ever worn.Ī whirlwind opening set like that would be nearly impossible to top. This psychedelic Country-Western garb is named after the designer Nudie Cohn and were popularized by the Flying Burrito Brothers at the time. Members of the band can be seen in their “Nudie Suits,” bedazzled and sequined suits that were worn a handful of times at shows in late ’72 and early ’73. The footage of it that follows is reported to be some of the only video of live 1973 Grateful Dead music. Until finally, the first set is capped in grandiose fashion with a mad dash of a “Playin’ In The Band.” All the energy and emotions from earlier seem to get collected here and let loose in a near 16-minute gem that serves as a fitting cap to an exhilarating first set that stretches out past an hour and 40 minutes. And “Tennessee Jed” keeps the faithful in the new Long Island barn collectively swaying. One more Berry cover in “Around & Around” makes an appearance. But, no, this set goes to “11.” Perhaps fueled by some of the emotions from earlier, the band just keeps motoring on. No one would complain if tonight’s opening stanza ended with the flawless “China Cat Sunflower” > “I Know You Rider” that later followed. And Donna Jean and the crowd both lend some audible support as well in a stirring version that’s more than a fitting tribute to the late Pigpen. The declaration of “nothing left to do but smile, smile, smile” seems to hit a little harder on this one. Jerry Garcia’s usually delicate vocals here are surpassed only by a supremely poignant guitar solo that simply oozes emotion. This would be the song’s first live performance since the passing of the legendary Pigpen, a founding member of the Grateful Dead, just eleven days earlier. Things then slow down and take an immediate emotional left turn courtesy of the “He’s Gone” that follows. After a quick intro from promoter extraordinaire Bill Graham, they’re off and running with a feverish cover of Chuck Berry’s “Promised Land.” So the Long Island crowd had already been given a taste of some West Coast psychedelic country and rock styling. This show was a double bill of sorts with the Dead’s old friends New Riders of the Purple Sage performing an opening set to get thing started. This introduction ends in remarkable fashion with a show that’s got a little bit of everything: a first set that simply overpowers the second, unique costume wear from the band, and a powerful goodbye to a dear friend. Today would wrap up the final show of their first three-day run here, planting the seeds for another 39 Grateful Dead shows at Nassau for years to come. In fact, the Dead were only the second band to ever play a concert in the building, surpassed only by their brethren in Chicago the year before. The venerable Long Island venue was almost completely new at the time, having only opened in February of 1972.

48 years ago today, The Grateful Dead wrapped up their first ever run at Nassau Coliseum.

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