Article Contributed by Gratefulweb
Published on 2026-09-29
It’s another Tuesday Dead Drop: “But I can’t stop for nothing, I’m just playing in the band…” This week, David Lemieux brings us the second of two nights from the Grateful Dead’s 1985 Springfield Civic Center run, along with the band’s stop in Portland, Maine, six days later.
“Springfield finishes with ‘Jack Straw’ > ‘Sugaree,’ ‘Bird Song’ and ‘Let It Grow’ before the first ‘Help’ > ‘Slip’ > ‘Franklin’s’ of the year. ‘Estimated’ > ‘Eyes’ follows, and after the Rhythm Devils, ‘Miracle’ > ‘China Doll’ > ‘GDTRFB’ > ‘Good Lovin’’ brings the house down.
“Then we skip ahead to Maine, where fewer than 10,000 faithful get a dandy. A ‘Music Never Stopped’ opener tells you immediately what kind of night it’s going to be.
“The second set is a party: ‘Iko’ > ‘Samson’ > ‘He’s Gone’ > ‘Miracle’ delivers an extended ‘China Doll’ > ‘Jam’ > ‘Drums’ > ‘Space’ > ‘Wheel.’ Then our band beyond description turns everything upside down with ‘Playing Reprise’ > ‘Playing in the Band’ before ‘Day Tripper’ closes the set.
“Two intimate rooms. Two ‘China Dolls,’ one upside-down ‘PITB,’ wild transitions and fearless setlists. Spring Tour 1985 is delivering. Stay on target! Enjoy!” — Martin Knott
Newly mastered by David Glasser from the original Grateful Dead F1 digital tapes, both March 25 and March 31, 1985, are now available to stream in high resolution exclusively on Play Dead.
Springfield Civic Center
Springfield, Massachusetts
Set I: Jack Straw > Sugaree > Little Red Rooster, Bird Song, It’s All Over Now, It Must Have Been the Roses > Let It Grow
Set II: Help on the Way > Slipknot! > Franklin’s Tower > Estimated Prophet > Eyes of the World > Drums > Space > I Need a Miracle > China Doll > Goin’ Down the Road > Good Lovin’
Encore: Keep Your Day Job
Listen to the March 25, 1985, Springfield show
Cumberland County Civic Center
Portland, Maine
Set I: The Music Never Stopped, Candyman > C.C. Rider > Loser, Beat It on Down the Line, Dupree’s Diamond Blues, It’s All Over Now > Don’t Ease Me In
Set II: Iko Iko > Samson & Delilah, He’s Gone > I Need a Miracle > China Doll > Drums > Space > The Wheel > Playin’ Reprise > Playin’ in the Band > Day Tripper
Encore: U.S. Blues
