Grateful Dead at the Dome: Iowa Time Machine February 5, 1978

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On February 5, 1978, eight inches of snow and a -20 below wind chill couldn’t keep the Grateful Dead from lighting up the night with improvisational rock greatness.

The Grateful Dead's 1978 winter tour extended what fans now celebrate as the legendary sound of 1977, a year when the band hit a creative stride that produced some of their most beloved recordings. After closing out December with multiple nights at San Francisco's Winterland Ballroom, the Dead embarked on a journey through California and Oregon, then into the Midwest. By early February, they had completed shows in Chicago's Uptown Theatre before swinging through Wisconsin, playing Madison's Dane County Coliseum on February 3 and Milwaukee Auditorium on February 4. The Cedar Falls appearance marked the final date of this particular run.

The band's lineup featured the classic configuration of Garcia on lead guitar, Bob Weir on rhythm guitar, Phil Lesh on bass, drummers Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart, keyboardist Keith Godchaux, and vocalist Donna Jean Godchaux. The Dead's reputation for never playing the same show twice made every concert unique, with setlists varying dramatically and improvisational jams taking the music in unpredictable directions. The practice of taping shows had become embedded in Dead culture, with fans passing cassettes hand to hand, spreading the music through underground networks long before the internet made such sharing instantaneous.

On this February evening, attendees felt the rush of warm air as they entered from the brutal cold, their breath visible until they crossed the threshold into the heated interior. The Dead opened with "Bertha," a fan favorite that signaled the journey ahead. The first set moved through "Good Lovin'," "El Paso," "Tennessee Jed," and other staples before closing with "Deal." When the band returned for the second set, they launched into what would become the show's defining moment. The "Scarlet Begonias" to "Fire on the Mountain" transition lasted more than twenty minutes, with Garcia weaving melodic lines that built and released tension in waves. At the same time, Weir's crisp rhythm work provided the foundation. The jam has since been featured on Dick's Picks Volume 18, the official live album series that introduced this performance to wider audiences in 2000. Fans debate whether this particular version stands as the finest the band ever played, with the Cedar Falls rendition consistently ranking among the top contenders. #Iowa #OTD #GratefulDead #Rock #Music