Home Jambase Watch Al Franken Rave About Grateful Dead’s ‘Hair-Raising’ Performance Of ‘Althea’

Watch Al Franken Rave About Grateful Dead’s ‘Hair-Raising’ Performance Of ‘Althea’

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Franken Long Strange 1200x675 1
Franken Long Strange 1200x675 1

Former U.S. Senator Al Franken was among the well-known Deadheads who appeared in the 2017 documentary film about the Grateful Dead, Long Strange Trip. Franken was introduced to the Grateful Dead in 1973 by his late Saturday Night Live writing partner Tom Davis and the two later appeared in the band’s Dead Head concert video.

As noted by @31daysofdead, in one of the Long Strange Trip segments featuring Franken, the former SNL writer raved about a particular standout performance of “Althea” the Dead played on this date in 1980.

“The ‘Althea,’ from I think it’s May 1980, Nassau Coliseum, to me is like the most hair-raising solo,” Franken proclaims. “My god that solo is unbelievable, it was so unbelievably great!”

Franken was referring to guitarist Jerry Garcia’s outstanding solo within the “Althea” played on May 16, 1980 at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. Coming out of a second set opening “Feel Like A Stranger,” the subsequent “hair-raising” version of “Althea” was included as part of the Go To Nassau live album that compiled selections from the May 15 and May 16 shows at the Nassau Coliseum.

Franken included the “Althea” recording on his Dead-centric Spotify playlist he shared during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.

See if Al Franken can sell the May 16, 1980 “Althea” as the best-ever in the clip (via Teach Rock) below. Scroll on to listen to see if you agree and for more of Franken in Long Strange Trip.

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Althea – May 16, 1980

https://www.facebook.com/LongStrangeDoc/videos/892637120877509

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Al Franken & Grateful Dead Coverage

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    Al Franken Talks Grateful Dead Fans In New Clip From 'Long Strange Trip'

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Grateful Dead May 16, 1980 Setlist (via JerryBase)

Set One: Alabama Getaway > Promised Land, High Time, Me And My Uncle > Big River, Row Jimmy, Minglewood Blues, Ramble On Rose > Looks Like Rain, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider

Set Two: Feel Like A Stranger > Althea > Lost Sailor > Saint Of Circumstance > Eyes Of The World > Drums > Space > Truckin’ > Morning Dew > Around And Around > Johnny B. Goode

Encore: Brokedown Palace

Source: JamBase.com

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