Three from the Vault

If the question is "What could possibly be left in those vaults?" then the latest installment in Rhino's Grateful Dead live catalog THREE FROM THE VAULT is the resounding, encouraging answer: loads. The third installment in the legendary-among-Deadheads "Vault" series, THREE FROM THE VAULT benefits from the same multitrack sound that the first two did, capturing the Dead at their early-'70s peak and creating a more shapely sound than the band's usual soup.
Recorded on February 19, 1971, at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, THREE FROM THE VAULT features the original Dead line-up sans second drummer Mickey Hart. The set is a whopper. The band tears through it with a ferocity that sometimes borders on garage-y. The absence of Hart leaves Bill Kreutzmann plenty of room to create lean, taut rhythms and Pigpen McKernan's usually downplayed organ is cranked, offering a refreshing third voice against the guitars of Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir. The highlights are many: a surprisingly funked-up version of "Loser," a riveting McKernan vocal turn on "Hurts Me Too," and the world premiere of "Bird Song." These moments just scratch the surface, as all the performances are stellar. There is a rare crispness and energy to the Dead's attack here. When the non-believers wonder why the 'heads love this band, THREE FROM THE VAULT should be the one of the first responses.