Help on the Way

Amphitheatre? I hardly know ‘er. This week on Help on the Way podcast, our hosts FiG and Knob are heading to sunny Sacramento, California. It’s May 3rd, 1991 and the Grateful Dad are playing at the Cal Expo Center. Discussions abound about the wrap-up of the West LA Giveaway, and the Grateful Dead and America (it was recorded the week of the 4th of July).

Bertha Greatest Story Ever Told West L.A. Fadeaway Queen Jane Approximately J...

I’ve got to moooooove. Because this week, our host FiG is heading to the Cow Place. It’s March 23rd, 1974 and the Grateful Dead are playing in Daly City, California. Along the way, discussions abound about Meet Up at the Movies 2025, The Wall of Sound, and a show of firsts.  U.S. Blues  The Promised Land  Brown Eyed Women  Mexicali Blues  Tennessee Jed  Black Throated Wind  Scarlet Begonias  Beat It On Down The Line  It Must Have ...

It’s not really square, and it’s not really a garden, and I don’t know who Madison is. But this week, our hosts FiG and Knob are joined by special guest Dew Roller to talk head to New York City. It’s September 22nd, 1993, and the Grateful Dead are playing Madison Square Garden. Along the way, discussions abound about Tiny Tim, the history of Dark Star, and what makes a good sit-in.  Watch FiG and Dew Roller appear on the Unmixed a...

Run Rudolph Run! It’s time for Christmas in… June. This week, our hosts FiG and Game are heading to New York City. It’s December 4th, 1971, and the Grateful Dead are playing at the Felt Forum at Madison Square Garden. Conversations abounded about the West LA Giveaway, The Felt Forum, and a very "farty" kick drum. Truckin' Sugaree Mr. Charlie Beat It On Down The Line Tennessee Jed Jack Straw Run Rudolph Run You Win Again  Me and B...

The Frampitheatre Comes Alive! This week, our hosts FiG and Knob are heading to Palo Alto. It’s April 30th, 1988 and the Grateful Dead are playing the Frost Ampitheatre in Palo Alto, California. Along the way, discussions abound about the passing of Sly Stone, the debut of Let the Good Times Roll, and rare encores

Good Times >  Feel Like a Stranger Row Jimmy Walking Blues Hey Pocky Way Ramble on Rose Let It Grow

Shakedown Street...

No better cure for the summertime blues than a quick trip to Winterland. This week, our host Knob is heading to San Francisco. It’s March 24th, 1971 and the Grateful Dead are playing the Winterland Arena. Along the way, discussions abound about Pigpen’s strengths as player and singer, how songs evolved in ‘71, and how Knob’s voice was shredded at karaoke.  Greatest Story Ever Told > Johnny B. Goode Next Time You See Me Loser Tr...

Happy sixth of July! This week, our hosts FiG and Game are headed down to Washington DC. It’s July 6th, 1986 and the Grateful Dead are playing at RFK Stadium. On the way, discussions abound about whether GD60 is streamed, Boss Baby Game, and the return of the West LA Giveaway. Hell In A Bucket > Sugaree Me & My Uncle > Big River Row Jimmy Cassidy Althea Let It Grow Saint Of Circumstance > Iko Iko Looks Like Rain &g...

Grab your gloves! This week, our hosts FiG and Knob are heading to Michigan. It’s June 8th, 1993, and the Grateful Dead are playing at The Palace in Auburn, Michigan. Discussions abound about JRAD in Asbury Park, the history of That Would Be Something, and our first ever West LA Giveaway… For giveaway guesses, please email helponthewaypod@gmail.com Picasso Moon Althea Queen Jane Approximately It Must Have Been The Roses It's All...

This week, we’re headlights on a southbound train. Our hosts FiG and Knob are heading to Louisville, Kentucky. It’s July 6th, 1990, and the Grateful Dead are playing at Cardinals Stadium. Along the way, discussions abound about the mixolydian scale, Dead and Co’s San Francisco shows, and what makes Standing on the Moon so good. Hell in a Bucket > Sugaree Easy to Love You Peggy-O Desolation Row West LA Fadeaway Picasso Moon Ra...

More like Dyladelphia, am I right? This week, our hosts FiG and Knob are joined by Knob’s dad, as we head down the golden road (well, really I-676). It’s July 10th, 1987, and the Grateful Dead are playing at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia, PA. Discussions abound about an iguana named Iko, the story of Black Peter, and, of course, the 2024 movie A Complete Unknown. Iko Iko Jack Straw Sugaree New Minglewood Blues Althea My Brother Esau...

Go to Haven! This week, our hosts Game and FiG are heading to New Haven, Connecticut. It’s May 10th, 1978 and the Grateful Dead are playing Veterans’ Memorial Coliseum. It’s the night before the mescaline show, and the band is having a lot of fun. Discussions abound about FiG’s trip to the sphere. Jack Straw They Love Each Other Cassidy Ramble On Rose Me and My Uncle > Big River Peggy-O Let It Grow > Deal Bertha > Good...

Don’t kick the Hornets nest! This week, our hosts FiG, Game, and Knob are heading to Charlotte, North Carolina. It’s March 24th, 1995 and the Grateful Dead are playing at the Charlotte Coliseum. Along the way, discussions abound about FiG’s upcoming trip to The Sphere, how audience energy feeds a show, and whether or not If the Shoe Fits is a good song. Feel Like a Stranger Stagger Lee Minglewood Blues High Time If the Shoe Fits ...

Two coasts, three decades apart. This week, our hosts FiG and Game are heading to Seattle and then taking a red-eye straight to Albany. They listen to a Spanish Jam from January 27th, 1968 at the [Go] Eagles[!] Auditorium. Then they check out all of March 21st, 1995 at the Knickerbocker Arena. Discussions abound about The Sphere, FiG’s new found love of 1995 Dead, and a surprising grade for this Scarlet > Fire. Hell In A Bucke...

As the Bucks make their way towards the playoffs*, we make our way to Milwaukee! This week, our host FiG is getting himself a mansion in Wisconsin. It’s October 23rd, 1972, and the Grateful Dead are playing at the Milwaukee Performing Arts Center. Discussions abound about the deextinction of the Dire Wolf, Dave’s Picks 54, and the free GD Channel on Sirius XM. *show description written on 4/10/25, Bucks may no longer be making the...

We got the Terminal Island Correctional Facility Blues. This week our host FiG is heading to San Pedro, California. It’s August 4th, 1971 and the Grateful Dead are playing Terminal Island Correctional Facility. Discussions abound about Bobby Weir and the Wolf Bros in London and Herb Greene’s passing. Truckin' Yellow Dog Story Bertha Me And Bobby McGee Hard To Handle China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider Loser Playing In The Ba...

Go to Nassau! This week, our hosts FiG and Knob are heading to Uniondale, New York. It’s May 8th, 1981 and the Grateful Dead are playing at Nassau Coliseum. Discussions abound about Ken Jennings’ favorite Grateful Dead songs, the start of the Sphere run, and the platonic ideal of a Loser. Jack Straw Peggy-O Me and My Uncle > Big River Loser C.C. Rider > Althea Let It Grow > Don’t Ease Me In Shakedown Street > Samson...

I’m in love with a Jersey show. This week, our host Knob celebrates their home state. It’s April 26, 1977 and the Grateful Dead are playing at the a Capitol Theatre in Passaic, New Jersey. Discussions abound about what to expect from the Sphere, the importance of Betty Cantor-Jackson and the transitional nature of 1977. Bertha Me and My Uncle It Must Have Been the Roses Cassidy Tennessee Jed Big River Friend of the Devil Estimated...

86 those blues, June 86 that is. This week, our host Knob is heading to Berkeley, California. It’s June 22nd, 1986 and the Grateful Dead are playing at the Greek Theatre. Along the way, discussions abound about the best year for Row Jimmy, what separates New Minglewood Blues, and the podcast becomes a true crime podcast about Terrapin Crossroads. Jack Straw It Must Have Been The Roses Cassidy Row Jimmy Minglewood Blues > Big Ra...

This week, our host FiG finds himself in Rosemont, Illinois. It’s April 11th, 1989, and the Grateful Dead are playing the Rosemont Horizon. Discussions abound about a rare off night for Bobby, Help on the Way LA, and executive producer Baby Game executive producing Game right off the show. Shakedown Street Little Red Rooster Friend Of The Devil Victim Or The Crime Built To Last We Can Run Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis ...