Article Contributed by Gratefulweb
Published on 2026-06-30
Tuesday Dead Drops heads to Brew City this week with two nights of Spring ’89 Grateful Dead from The Mecca in Milwaukee. And honestly, is there anything better than Wisconsin Dead?
Spring ’89 is still running hot when the band arrives in Milwaukee for two unforgettable nights. Night one opens with “Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo” > “Feel Like a Stranger” > “Franklin’s Tower,” immediately setting the tone for another long, silky night. “Queen Jane Approximately” shines, Brent owns the room on “Blow Away,” and the second set delivers the goods with “China Cat Sunflower” > “I Know You Rider” > “Playin’ in the Band” > “Terrapin Station.”
After “Drums” > “Space,” “I Will Take You Home” leads into “All Along the Watchtower” > “Morning Dew,” bringing the house down before “One More Saturday Night” sends Milwaukee into the streets.
Night two keeps the momentum rolling. “Hell in a Bucket,” “They Love Each Other,” and an extended “Bird Song” highlight the first set. Then comes another monster second set: “Scarlet Begonias” > “Fire on the Mountain,” followed by “Saint of Circumstance” > “Truckin’” > “Drums” > “Space” > “The Other One” > “Stella Blue” > “Throwing Stones” > “Turn on Your Love Light.” “Box of Rain” provides the perfect ending to the run.
Two nights. Just exactly perfect. Enjoy! — Martin Knott
Curated by David Lemieux and mastered by David Glasser from the original DATs, both shows are now available to stream in Hi-Res.
Setlists
Grateful Dead — April 15, 1989
The Mecca
Milwaukee, WI
Set I
Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo > Feel Like a Stranger > Franklin’s Tower, Walkin’ Blues, When Push Comes to Shove, Queen Jane Approximately, Blow Away, Promised Land
Set II
China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Playin’ in the Band > Terrapin Station > Drums > Space > I Will Take You Home > All Along the Watchtower > Morning Dew
Encore
One More Saturday Night
Grateful Dead — April 16, 1989
The Mecca
Milwaukee, WI
Set I
Hell in a Bucket, They Love Each Other, Little Red Rooster, Stagger Lee, Mama Tried, Mexicali Blues, Bird Song
Set II
Scarlet Begonias > Fire on the Mountain, Saint of Circumstance > Truckin’ > Drums > Space > The Other One > Stella Blue > Throwing Stones, Turn on Your Love Light
Encore
Box of Rain
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