Nightfall of Diamonds

This Month in History

Grateful Dead, “Nightfall of Diamonds”

October 16, 1989

Meadowlands Arena, East Rutherford, NJ

This double-disc set released in 2001 highlights the Grateful Dead’s final performance of their five show 1989 run at Meadowlands Arena in East Rutherford, NJ. The night of the recordings, October 16, 1989, was guitarist/vocalist Bob Weir’s 42^nd birthday.

The Grateful Dead’s fall tour of 1989 coincided with the release of “Built to Last,” their 13^th studio release. Loosely structured and perpetually evolving set lists during this period allowed the integration of newer tunes with more established songs from the Dead’s 200-plus strong repertoire, AllMusic notes.

This includes “Picasso Moon,” the up-tempo rocker that opens the first set. “Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodleoo,” paired with “Feel Like a Stranger,” provides another first-set highlight with some strong ensemble playing. And a pairing of “Let it Grow” with an engaging performance of “Deal” concludes the opening set on the same energetic high on which it began.

A psychedelic rendition of “Dark Star” envelops most of the second set, which ends with the acapella encore “We Bid You Goodnight.”

Over the space of less than 80 minutes, every genre and stylistic approach of the Grateful Dead is uncovered. And put on forceful, reason-tattering display.