Culled from performances at the Warfield Theater and Radio City Music Hall in 1980-"Dead Set" is one of the finer commercially released live albums from this beloved band.It opens with an energetic "Sampson and Delilah" then goes into a slow and tender version of "Friend of the Devil" (which I like much better than the faster bluegrassy versions).Next is a fine rendition of the perennial favorite "New Minglewood Blues",with Bobby and the boys all doing their thing in earnest."Deal" is next,and almost as well played.There's a sweet version of "Candyman",a decent "Little Red Rooster" and a stunning treatment of "Loser"-one of the best IMO."Passenger","Feel like a Stranger" and "Franklins Tower" are all played with gusto before the Rythym Devils treat all the drummers & dancers to "Drumz".The finish is a bit anti-climactic-but maybe that's just my ambivalence towards "Fire on the Mountain" & "Greatest Story Ever Told"-not my favorites by a long shot!Lastly,we get a nice mellow version of "Brokedown Palace".There's plenty of variety,and lots to love on this recording.
