Podcast Summary: "36 From the Vault"

Episode: Live Tour Rehearsals #3: Season 4 Preview
Hosts: Steven Hyden & Rob Mitchum
Date: April 1, 2022

Episode Overview

In this live rehearsal episode, hosts Steven Hyden and Rob Mitchum offer a definitive preview of the fourth—and final—season of "36 From the Vault." The series chronicles every volume of the Grateful Dead's landmark "Dick's Picks" live releases, exploring their musical and historical importance. This episode dives into the upcoming season's setlist, discusses the lack of 80s and 90s selections, considers the enduring glory of the 1970s Dead, and highlights trends in Dick's Picks releases. The hosts also bring their signature humor, deep fandom, and playful banter—making this an engaging primer for Deadheads old and new.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Apparel & Deadhead Fandom (03:20–06:27)

• The episode opens with the hosts riffing on their Grateful Dead t-shirts, with Rob sporting a bootleg 1991 Dead shirt (03:44).
• Early lamentations surface over the absence of 80s and 90s shows in the final season. Rob notes:

  “If you're talking Brent era Dead, 87 to 90 is the golden era.” (05:01)

• Only one "Brent" (Brent Mydland era) show will be featured this season, a point of disappointment for both.

2. A 70s-Centric Season: The "Twitter Deadhead" Canon (06:27–07:46)

• The upcoming season is almost exclusively focused on 1970s shows, save for one 1982 performance.
• Mitch observes:

  “This season is kind of... a very Twitter Deadhead season because we're pretty locked into the 70s here.” (06:44)

• The hosts joke about their own "canonical" approach to Dead history and acknowledge that while the 70s are a gold mine, variety is lacking.

3. The Podcast Returns—and Some Wilco Chatter (07:46–09:29)

• Acknowledgment of the podcast's lengthy break ("3/4 of a year before canonical 36 From the Vault") and excitement about returning to full-length episodes.
• Spirited banter about their upcoming Wilco concert outing and differing Wilco opinions injects lighthearted flavor, with Rob quipping:

  “I'm the reverent one of Wilco on the show.” (09:07)

4. Sponsor Shout-outs & The Skull & Roses Festival (10:13–15:20)

• Promo for the Skull & Roses Festival—a gathering for fans of the Grateful Dead and its extended musical family.
• Rob declares:

  "Phil is like second in command to Jerry, right? Or is it Bob?" (10:46)

• Discussion of Phil Lesh’s enduring prowess as one of the Dead's anchors, especially in the early-to-mid-70s.
• Playful contemplation of hypothetical backstage rivalries between Dead bassists ("no knife fights between Otiel and Phil!") reinforces the community’s camaraderie (12:48).

5. Season Four: The Dick's Picks Preview (15:29–37:33)

A. General Overview

• Rob and Mitch express excitement but note a touch of disappointment about the lack of era diversity. Rob sets the tone:

  “If you're just going for a high batting average of bangers, staying in the 70s... you can't really dispute that.” (16:44)

• The length of each Dick’s Picks set is noted—nearly all are extensive multi-CD affairs.

  “Was that the right approach? For Dead fans, more equals better, but... maybe there could have been a little bit more editing?” — Mitch (19:49)

B. Show-by-Show Breakdown

• Dick’s Picks 28:
  • Two shows from Feb 1973 (Lincoln, NE & Salt Lake City, UT).
  • “It’s a heater,” Rob promises (18:19).
• Dick’s Picks 29:
  • Two massive 1977 shows (Atlanta & Lakeland, FL). Six CDs! (18:39–19:34)
• Dick’s Picks 30:
  • Academy of Music (NYC), March 1972—including the famed Bo Diddley Hell’s Angels party (21:40–22:42).
  • Rob riffs, “You’re gonna want to smoke a lot of cigarettes while listening to this volume, I think.” (22:29)
• Dick’s Picks 31:
  • August 1974, Philadelphia & Jersey City, deep Wall of Sound era with epic versions of “Playing in the Band” (23:47–24:49)
• Dick’s Picks 32:
  • 1982, Alpine Valley. The lone Brent show.
  • Venue nostalgia: “It’s the Red Rocks of the Midwest.” — Rob (26:09)
• Dick’s Picks 33:
  • October 1976, Oakland Stadium with The Who as co-headliners—a glimpse of the post-hiatus Dead (27:35–29:29).
• Dick’s Picks 34:
  • Rochester, NY, November 1977 plus bonus tracks from Toronto. Mitch is skeptical but open.
  • “Coming in with low expectations, that’s usually when you get your mind blown.” — Mitch (37:01)
• Dick’s Picks 35:
  • Three 1971 shows from the “houseboat tapes”—tapes originally made for Keith Godchaux found decades later (31:46–32:31).
  • Rob dreams: “I want a life where I just have a houseboat for 35 years and someone... finds Grateful Dead tapes.” (32:43)
• Dick’s Picks 36:
  • Philadelphia Spectrum, 9/21/72—a legendary Dark Star (“Might be the best... we’ll see.”) (34:39–35:17)
  • The September ‘72 run gets much love for its transcendental jams.

6. Community Questions & Bonus Chatter (39:34–46:02)

A. Dick’s Picks vs. Dave’s Picks Art (39:34)

• Fans prefer Dave’s Picks for artwork, but nothing beats the classic red-and-black Dick’s Picks design (40:19).
• Rob:

  “Dave's Picks has better artwork... but the red and black Dick's will always be my favorite.” (40:19)

B. Dark Star vs. The Other One (41:04–41:31)

• Discussion of the greatest eras for each jam vehicle.

• "That's my favorite period of Dark Star, so I'll say Dark Star, but... the great thing about Dick's Picks 28 is you get a Dark Star AND an Other One." — Rob (41:20)

C. Songs Discovered and Learned to Love (41:55–43:44)

• Mitch: “Sugaree” and “Peggy-O.”
• Rob: “Big River”—surprised at how Jerry’s playing reinvented his appreciation.

D. Slide Guitar Disputes (43:44–46:02)

• Mitch prefers slide guitar “dripping with guitar effects” (cites David Gilmour).
• Rob: “I love all kinds of slide guitar... pedal steel is, like, one of my favorite sounds in all of music.” (45:06)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “If you're talking Brent era Dead, 87 to 90 is the golden era.” — Rob (05:01)
• “We're not going to get any Brent. We get one album of Brent, which we’ll get to...” — Rob (05:35)
• “It's all 70’s except for the 182. So... Man, straight 70’s, man. That's 70 season.” — Rob (06:55)
• “You don’t know ’til you’ve been to Alpine Valley. It's the Red Rocks of the Midwest.” — Rob (26:09)
• “I want a life where I just have a houseboat for 35 years and someone… finds Grateful Dead tapes.” — Rob (32:43)
• “You know, coming in with low expectations, that’s usually when you get your mind blown.” — Mitch (37:01)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Time | Segment | |-----------|----------------------------------------------| | 03:20 | Show start & T-shirt/Dead Era banter | | 06:27 | Overview: All-70s Season | | 07:46 | Podcast return, Wilco tangent | | 10:13 | Skull & Roses Festival & Phil Lesh chat | | 15:29 | Start of Dick’s Picks Season 4 Preview | | 18:19 | Dick’s Picks 28 – Season premiere | | 19:34 | Dick’s Picks 29–36 rundown continues | | 31:46 | “Houseboat tapes” story (Dick’s Picks 35) | | 34:39 | Dick’s Picks 36 and the ultimate ‘72 Dark Star| | 39:34 | Fan Q&A: Dick’s vs Dave’s Picks, artwork | | 41:04 | Fan Q&A: Dark Star vs The Other One; favorite songs rediscovered | | 43:44 | Slide guitar & pedal steel preferences |

Conclusion

The hosts wrap up with heartfelt thanks to listeners and sponsors, high anticipation for the marathon season ahead, and a casual “see you soon” to the Deadhead community. Their enthusiasm for the Dead—and for each other’s hot takes—makes this an essential primer for anyone following the band’s live archive or just ready to revisit the golden age of the Grateful Dead.

Next Up: Dick’s Picks 28 (1973)—the season premiere "heater."
Release: April 11, 2022

For More:

• Skull & Roses Festival Info
• [Follow @36ftv on Twitter for updates]