🚫

The Ban

After crowd control issues and fan incidents during the March 1988 run, local officials had effectively barred the Dead from returning to the Hampton Coliseum.

🧙

The Alias

To get around the ban and keep tens of thousands of ticketless fans from overwhelming the city, the band booked two secret shows on October 8 and 9 as Formerly the Warlocks.

🎫

Local Only

The shows were left off the official Fall 1989 tour itinerary, and tickets went on sale quietly at local Virginia outlets just 10 days before.

The Big Bust‑Out • 284 Shows Later

Help on the Way > Slipknot! > Franklin’s Tower

Set two opened with the suite’s first performance since September 12, 1985, ending a 284 show drought.

Second‑Set Momentum

Eyes of the World → Morning Dew

Victim or the Crime flowed into Eyes of the World, then Drums and Space built into a high energy closing run anchored by Morning Dew.

First‑Set Standouts

Foolish Heart • Bird Song • Promised Land

A Foolish Heart opener, an extended, exploratory Bird Song, and a punchy Promised Land to close the set.

Set One

Foolish Heart
Walkin’ Blues
Candyman
Me and My Uncle > Big River
Stagger Lee
Queen Jane Approximately
Bird Song
Promised Land

Set Two

Help on the Way > Slipknot! > Franklin’s Tower
Victim or the Crime > Eyes of the World >
Drums > Space >
I Need a Miracle > The Wheel >
Gimme Some Lovin’ >
Morning Dew

Encore

🌙 And We Bid You Goodnight