GOOD OL' GRATEFUL DEADCAST

Episode: Listen To The River: Fox Theatre, October 1972

Date: October 14, 2021
Hosts: Rich Mahan & Jesse Jarnow
Featured Guests: David Lemieux, Tony Dwyer, Sep Donahuer, Bill Weber, Tom Palazzola, Starfinder Stanley, and more

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the Grateful Dead’s legendary three-night run at the Fox Theatre in St. Louis, October 1972—an era considered by many fans and historians as one of the band's creative peaks. Through first-hand stories from promoters, venue staff, Deadheads, and band associates, hosts Rich Mahan and Jesse Jarnow revisit the context, production, crowd experiences, and of course, the transcendent musical moments. The discussion also highlights the newly released "Listen To The River" box set, preserving the energy of these historic shows.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. St. Louis 1972: Why It Mattered

• The Fox Theatre and St. Louis held special significance for the Dead, providing a "just right" venue size and receptive energy.
  • "The band belonged there. The acoustics were just so fucking ridiculous." —Tony Dwyer [19:45]
• The Dead’s career was at a transitional peak, having just returned from Europe '72 and introducing new members (notably Keith and Donna Jean Godchaux).

2. Behind-the-Scenes: Promotion, Booking, and the St. Louis Music Scene

• Promoters Tony Dwyer (Sky High Associates) and Sep Donahuer (Pacific Presentations) detail their grassroots, pre-internet ticketing hustle—expanding the audience beyond St. Louis into surrounding college markets to sell out all three nights.
  • "It was more out of love and devotion than the money, although that was involved." —Tony Dwyer [08:33]
• Ticket price was $4.50 (~$28 today), with general admission—no assigned seats, which fostered communal excitement but also logistical chaos during entry.
• Security was colorful: rugby players, off-duty police, and tales of the promoters being dosed by the band's crew ("Their favorite thing was to dose the promoter...They got me a lot…" —Sep Donahuer [36:20]).

3. Owsley “Bear” Stanley Returns

• Owsley Stanley, the legendary sound engineer and LSD chemist, had returned from prison and was back recording.
  • "Bear got out of jail after being gone for what, over two years, and he came back into a really different landscape than the one he'd left." —Starfinder Stanley [24:58]
• His role had changed, with others on the crew now established; he focused on making legendary “sonic journals.”
• Bear’s fastidious, non-EQ’d recording style is praised for its fidelity and consistency across nights.

4. St. Louis: Psychedelic Epicenter

• During 1972, thanks to chemist Nick Sand and legends like Owsley, St. Louis had an abundance of high-quality LSD; the psychedelic culture saturated the shows.
  • “For roughly six months in 1972, St. Louis was the psychedelic capital of the world.” —David Lemieux [28:28]

5. Experiencing the Fox Theatre

• Fans recall the splendor and slight disrepair of the Fox as spellbinding, evocative, and central to the shows’ magic.
  • "It was just so opulent and so magical...it felt like you were going into the past." —Bill Weber [33:57]

6. Musical Highlights & Jam Analysis

• Night 1 (Oct 17th): No "Dark Star" or "The Other One," but a standout "Playing in the Band," showcasing the band's discipline and exploratory reach.
  • "Nobody takes it to this limit." —Tom Palazzola [41:40]
• Bird Song: Played all three nights—musicologist Graham Boone provides an in-depth breakdown of the song's evolving, emotional, and improvisational qualities [44:12–46:08, 46:32–48:13, 50:32–51:47].
  • “Birdsong has a feeling of closure to it…with a wonderful jam to close and then this beautiful return to the instrumental theme.” —Graham Boone [44:12]
  • Timestamps for deep-dive analysis on "Birdsong": [46:32], [48:13] and [50:32]

Signature Jam from Night 2 (Oct 18th)

• The legendary “Dark Star > Morning Dew” sandwich: a hallmark of Dead improvisation, with dramatic lighting featuring a mirrored ball, and acclaimed “Philo Stomp” jam led by Phil Lesh.
  • "That gave him the bandwidth to think about the problems more holistically...that eventually evolved into the Wall of Sound." —Tom Palazzola, on Owsley's post-show listening habits [57:27]
  • Notable timestamp: [67:30] — Bill Weber: "I was on Some Other Galaxy for a while..."

Musical Technology

• Bear’s approach to live recording and his innovative drive laid groundwork for what would become the Wall of Sound.
  • “He joked that he couldn't get his old job at the mixer back, so he set out to make the mixing job obsolete...” —Starfinder Stanley [57:53]

7. Community, Acceptance, and Liberation

• Fan Bill Weber shares a deeply personal account: how attending these shows catalyzed his coming out and acceptance of his sexuality—a testament to the liberating culture of Dead shows.
  • "I had been struggling...and that is a direct result of having experienced those three shows. The liberation, the freedom, the expansion, the acceptance...I've known of no other rock band that offers redemption like the Grateful Dead do." —Bill Weber [86:08]
• Bill ties his journey to a broader sense of liberation many Deadheads experience, highlighting the inclusive and transformative power of the band’s music and scene.

8. Later Impact & Legacy

• The episode concludes with reflections on the failed 1986 Fox shows (canceled due to Jerry’s health), but emphasizes that the Dead’s relationship with St. Louis continued, and their impact reverberates.
• The collective memory of these shows lives on not only through the music, but the bonds, growth, and stories of those who attended.

Memorable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• On the magic of the Fox:

  • "What a fucking scene that was." —Tony Dwyer [05:29]
  • “The band belonged there…the acoustics were just so fucking ridiculous.” —Tony Dwyer [19:45]

• Promoter tales:

  • “We had people hanging out in front of the place at 8 o’clock in the morning. ‘Tony, you sure you can do three [shows]?’ ‘Yeah, we can do three.’” —Tony Dwyer [14:33]

• On being dosed by the crew:

  • "Their favorite thing was to dose the promoter...They got me a lot, many times, but for some reason, I'm able to maintain." —Sep Donahuer [36:20]

• Bill Weber’s transformation:

  • "The liberation, the freedom, the expansion, the acceptance...I've known of no other rock band that offers redemption like the Grateful Dead do." —Bill Weber [86:08]

• On Owsley “Bear” Stanley’s return:

  • “He was a constant innovator and innovation takes more time and effort...He was a little bit at ends. Came in and tried to figure out where he could fit in.” —Starfinder Stanley [24:58]

• Birdsong jam analysis:

  • “There’s so much emotion going on…this song captures so many things about loving someone and losing someone and about the specialness of Janis.” —Graham Boone [44:12]

• On the second night’s legendary jam:

  • "You felt like you were going on a musical journey, and then maybe they break into Morning Dew afterwards." —Tom Palazzola [77:26]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• St. Louis show background and venue context: [04:57] – [19:45]
• Dead's booking and promotion process: [09:36] – [16:41]
• Tony Dwyer & Sep Donahuer on ticketing/marketing: [13:44] – [16:41]
• Owsley Stanley’s return and sound innovations: [22:12] – [27:53]
• The St. Louis LSD scene: [26:58] – [29:47]
• Fan recollections of the Fox Theatre’s splendor: [31:18] – [34:48]
• Mirrored ball/light show during Dark Star: [68:17] – [70:27]
• Bird Song musical analysis with Graham Boone: [44:12], [46:32], [48:13], [50:32]
• Legendary jam: Playing in the Band > Dark Star > Morning Dew > Playing in the Band: [66:00] – [78:02]
• Bill Weber on personal liberation: [86:08] – [87:37]

Episode Takeaways

• The Fox Theatre 1972 run represents a pinnacle of both performance and community for the Grateful Dead.
• Technical innovation, audience devotion, and profound personal journeys converged at these shows, making them legendary in Dead history.
• The culture around the Dead was one of inclusion, freedom, and acceptance, fostering lifelong memories and even personal transformations.
• The "Listen to the River" box set and the recollections of participants ensure these nights—and their magic—live on for both the committed and the curious.

For more details, musical extras, and related links, visit dead.net/deadcast.