Article Contributed by Gratefulweb
Published on 2026-05-19
Newly mastered from Dan Healy DATs, Grateful Dead’s MSG 9/19/88 and 9/20/88 shows are now streaming in Hi-Res on Play Dead.
Newly mastered from the original Dan Healy DATs, Play Dead has released two more nights from the Grateful Dead’s historic 1988 Madison Square Garden run, with September 19 and September 20, 1988 now streaming in Hi-Res.
“Play Dead is a bona fide transport mechanism, and so is the Garden — yes, we’re back for MORE of this historic run,” says Martin Knott.
The September 19 show opens with “Touch of Grey” and keeps building from there for a fantastic first set. “Victim or the Crime” starts Set II and gets pretty dark, but the light is never far away. It arrives with “Playing in the Band” > “China Doll” > “Playing in the Band” before Drums and Space. “The Wheel” turns and takes the band into a standout version of “Black Peter,” then some “Good Lovin’” before “Quinn the Eskimo” arrives to close out the night.
The September 20 show answers with “Jack Straw” > “Althea” right out of the gate. A few cowboy tunes follow, along with “When I Paint My Masterpiece,” and a rare “Louie Louie” moves into “The Music Never Stopped” to close the first set.
The second set brings “Bertha” > “Cumberland Blues” and a huge “Terrapin Station” before Drums and Space. The boys come “Truckin’” out of Space and roll into “Goin’ Down the Road Feeling Bad.” A strong “Morning Dew” closes the set, and “Johnny B. Goode” ends the night with an energetic push.
Fans can dig deeper into each night on Play Dead socials and subscribe now for instant access to the Vault.
DEAD DROPS TUESDAY
Listen to Grateful Dead MSG 9/19/88
September 19, 1988
Madison Square Garden
SET I
Touch of Grey
Little Red Rooster
Dire Wolf
Far from Me
Queen Jane Approximately
Tennessee Jed
Let it Grow
SET II
Victim or the Crime
Foolish Heart
Playing in the Band >
China Doll >
Playing in the Band >
Drums >
Space >
The Wheel >
Black Peter
Around and Around
Good Lovin’
ENCORE
Quinn the Eskimo
Listen to Grateful Dead MSG 9/20/88
September 20, 1988
Madison Square Garden
SET I
Jack Straw >
Althea
Mama Tried
Big River
Peggy-O
When I Paint My Masterpiece
Louie Louie >
The Music Never Stopped
SET II
Bertha
Cumberland Blues
Looks Like Rain >
Terrapin Station >
Drums >
Space >
Truckin’ >
Goin’ Down the Road Feeling Bad >
Morning Dew
ENCORE
Johnny B. Goode
