Grateful Dead Mexicali Blues live versions: 424 shows
Explore 424 Grateful Dead performances of Mexicali Blues from 1971-1995, with first and last dates, venues, setlists, and listening links.
Use this song page to choose a version, compare eras, and open show pages with listening links.
Start with these Mexicali Blues versions
Best first listen: February 15, 1973 · Dane County Coliseum · Madison, WI, US
Madison is where the post-Pigpen band sounds newly elastic, jazzy, and curious. It is a strong bridge from fall 1972 space into the Eyes of the World era.
Another strong choice: August 27, 1972 · Old Renaissance Faire Grounds · Veneta, OR, US
Veneta feels sunstruck, loose, and mythic without losing musical clarity. It is a gateway show because the setting is famous, but the jams still hold up under close listening.
Another strong choice: May 9, 1977 · Buffalo Memorial Auditorium · Buffalo, NY, US
Buffalo opens with one of the sharpest Help Slip Franklin entries of the month and stays taut deep into the second set. It feels slightly less mythic than Cornell on reputation alone, but not by execution.
First catalog performance: October 19, 1971 · Northrop Auditorium, University of Minnesota · Minneapolis, MN, US
Last catalog performance: June 25, 1995 · Robert F. Kennedy Stadium · Washington, DC, US
Top shows featuring Mexicali Blues
February 15, 1973 · Dane County Coliseum · Madison, WI, US
August 27, 1972 · Old Renaissance Faire Grounds · Veneta, OR, US
May 9, 1977 · Buffalo Memorial Auditorium · Buffalo, NY, US
May 25, 1977 · Mosque · Richmond, VA, US
July 28, 1973 · Grand Prix Racecourse · Watkins Glen, NY, US
May 19, 1974 · Portland Memorial Coliseum · Portland, OR, US
May 14, 1974 · Adams Field House, University of Montana · Missoula, MT, US
July 27, 1973 · Grand Prix Racecourse · Watkins Glen, NY, US
December 14, 1971 · Hill Auditorium · Ann Arbor, MI, US
April 16, 1978 · Huntington Civic Center · Huntington, WV, US
April 12, 1978 · Cameron Indoor Stadium, Duke University · Durham, NC, US
June 26, 1974 · Providence Civic Center · Providence, RI, US
June 9, 1973 · Robert F. Kennedy Stadium · Washington, DC, US
July 31, 1974 · Dillon Stadium · Hartford, CT, US
February 23, 1974 · Winterland · San Francisco, CA, US
November 6, 1977 · Broome County Arena · Binghamton, NY, US
August 21, 1972 · Berkeley Community Theater · Berkeley, CA, US
November 17, 1973 · Pauley Pavilion, UCLA · Los Angeles, CA, US
June 28, 1974 · Boston Garden · Boston, MA, US
April 22, 1979 · Spartan Stadium, San Jose State University · San Jose, CA, US
January 10, 1979 · Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum · Uniondale, NY, US
September 18, 1974 · Parc des Expositions · Dijon, France
December 31, 1981 · Oakland Auditorium · Oakland, CA, US
April 2, 1973 · Boston Garden · Boston, MA, US
February 24, 1974 · Winterland · San Francisco, CA, US
June 30, 1985 · Merriweather Post Pavilion · Columbia, MD, US
June 18, 1983 · Saratoga Performing Arts Center · Saratoga Springs, NY, US
January 2, 1972 · Winterland · San Francisco, CA, US
August 6, 1974 · Roosevelt Stadium · Jersey City, NJ, US
November 17, 1978 · Uptown Theatre · Chicago, IL, US
March 5, 1972 · Winterland · San Francisco, CA, US
December 6, 1973 · Cleveland Convention Center · Cleveland, OH, US
August 1, 1973 · Roosevelt Stadium · Jersey City, NJ, US
June 22, 1974 · Jai-Alai Fronton · Miami, FL, US
November 7, 1971 · Harding Theater · San Francisco, CA, US
November 1, 1979 · Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum · Uniondale, NY, US
December 31, 1979 · Oakland Auditorium · Oakland, CA, US
May 20, 1973 · Harder Stadium, UC Santa Barbara · Goleta, CA, US
July 19, 1989 · Alpine Valley Music Theatre · East Troy, WI, US
December 31, 1972 · Winterland · San Francisco, CA, US
November 20, 1973 · Denver Coliseum · Denver, CO, US
October 18, 1972 · Fox Theatre · St. Louis, MO, US
July 19, 1974 · Selland Arena · Fresno, CA, US
December 31, 1971 · Winterland · San Francisco, CA, US
March 23, 1974 · Cow Palace · Daly City, CA, US
September 9, 1972 · Hollywood Palladium · Hollywood, CA, US
December 19, 1973 · Curtis Hixon Convention Hall · Tampa, FL, US
June 22, 1973 · P.N.E. Coliseum · Vancouver, Canada
October 31, 1985 · Carolina Coliseum Arena, Univ. of S. Carolina · Columbia, SC, US
May 26, 1973 · Kezar Stadium · San Francisco, CA, US
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