Article Contributed by Gratefulweb
Published on January 22, 2026
There are certain Grateful Dead shows that seem to hover just out of reach—spoken about in knowing tones, passed around on well-worn tapes, penciled into collectors’ notebooks, but somehow never given their proper moment in the official canon. February 1, 1978 at Chicago’s Uptown Theatre has long been one of those nights.
With Dave’s Picks Vol. 57, the Dead finally open the vault on the first complete, unreleased show of the 2026 Dave’s Picks subscription series—and the inevitable question follows: why did this take so long?
The answer may lie in just how perfectly this performance straddles two eras. Early 1978 still carries the muscular clarity of ’77, but with the band already pushing toward the looser, risk-embracing language that would soon define their next phase. Uptown ’78 doesn’t pick a side—it builds a bridge.
This was the Grateful Dead’s first run at the Uptown, and from the opening notes it feels like a band eager to make a statement. The first set moves with confidence and purpose—classic songcraft delivered with a little extra spark. “Jack Straw” snaps to attention, “Friend of the Devil” eases into a slower, more reflective gait, and the cowboy pairing of “Mama Tried” into “Me and My Uncle” lands with grit and swagger.
By the time “Sugaree” closes the set—an inspired choice even now—you can hear Garcia stretching, pulling long melodic threads that recall the best moments of May ’77 while hinting at the bolder phrasing to come.
The second set is where Uptown ’78 earns its reputation. “Estimated Prophet” leans forward into motion, “He’s Gone” dissolves gently into the rhythmic unknown, and from there the band commits fully to exploration. The post-Drums terrain is wide open—free-flowing, occasionally abrasive, always searching—before resolving into a deeply felt “Wharf Rat” and a triumphant “Sugar Magnolia.” Jerry’s guitar fills every available space, Phil pushes from below, and the Rhythm Devils seem less interested in keeping time than in bending it.
Adding to the significance here is the inclusion of the January 31, 1978 second set on Disc Three—a night many longtime listeners quietly argue is the run’s true crown jewel. The “Scarlet Begonias > Fire on the Mountain” pairing alone is worth the price of admission, and the extended journey through “Terrapin Station,” “Playing in the Band,” and beyond provides essential context for just how locked-in the band was during this brief Uptown stand.
The recording itself is a major part of the story. Captured by Betty Cantor-Jackson and mastered to HDCD specifications by Jeffrey Norman at Mockingbird Mastering, this release sounds alive—present without being polished flat. You can feel the room, the air moving, the band reacting in real time.
Limited to 25,000 individually numbered copies, Dave’s Picks Vol. 57 feels less like a routine archival entry and more like a long-overdue correction. This was a show that hovered on short lists for years—circling through Dick’s Picks discussions, whispered about in collector circles, and even flagged in Dick Latvala’s famously meticulous notes.
Now it finally has its moment.
Was it worth the wait?
You betcha.
