The Grateful Dead Live: November 4, 1977 – Cotterell Court, Colgate University, Hamilton, NY

There are some nights in Grateful Dead history that stand apart from the rest — moments when the band locked into a groove so effortlessly that the music seemed to breathe on its own. November 4, 1977, at Cotterell Court, Colgate University in Hamilton, New York, is one of those nights.

This concert captures The Grateful Dead Live in their purest form — loose but precise, relaxed but powerful, completely in the pocket. Every note, every lyric, every jam comes alive on stage, recorded beautifully by Betty Cantor-Jackson, whose work from this era remains the gold standard for Dead tapers everywhere.

And as always with The Grateful Dead Live, every song featured is the live version — played in the moment, no studio takes, no overdubs, no retakes. Just the Dead doing what they did best: playing music that mattered.

Set I: High-Energy Beginnings and Fluid Transitions

The band kicks things off with “Bertha”, a staple opener that bursts with energy. Jerry Garcia’s guitar immediately sets the tone, his leads weaving effortlessly around Bob Weir’s rhythm work. Without missing a beat, they flow into “Good Lovin’”, tight and funky, with Donna Jean Godchaux adding her signature vocal flair.

“Brown-Eyed Women” follows — always a crowd favorite — showcasing Garcia’s storytelling and the band’s impeccable harmonies. Then comes “Cassidy”, where the group begins to stretch out, locking into a groove that builds and folds in on itself before settling into the warm textures of “It Must Have Been the Roses.”

“Sunrise,” sung by Donna Jean, adds an ethereal interlude before things heat up again with “New Minglewood Blues” and “Dupree’s Diamond Blues.” By the time “Let It Grow” closes the first set, the audience is completely in sync with the band — the kind of unspoken connection that defines the very best Grateful Dead shows.

Set II: Deep Space Improvisation and Emotional Release

Introduced by the Jones Gang, the second set begins with the explosive “Samson and Delilah.” Phil Lesh’s bass roars, the drummers thunder in sync, and the whole band sounds locked in. “Cold Rain and Snow” follows, rich with tension and drive — a perfect warm-up for the improvisational marathon to come.

Then the Dead dive into the heart of the night:
“Playing in the Band → Eyes of the World → Estimated Prophet → The Other One.”

It’s a breathtaking stretch that showcases everything great about late-’70s Dead — intricate transitions, seamless tempo shifts, and melodies that seem to drift through time. Garcia’s solos on “Eyes” are pure sunlight; Weir’s vocals on “Estimated Prophet” are steady and mysterious. The transition into “The Other One” is thunderous, breaking open into the raw pulse of “Drums.”

From the rhythm storm emerges “Iko Iko,” full of joy and bounce, before the show melts into “Stella Blue,” one of Garcia’s most emotional performances of the era. The night’s music circles back into “Playing in the Band,” closing the set with the same hypnotic pulse that began it — a perfect loop.

Encore: Johnny B. Goode

The encore leaves no one standing still. “Johnny B. Goode” explodes out of the speakers, pure rock ’n’ roll energy to send the Colgate crowd home dancing.

It’s the kind of closing that only the Grateful Dead could pull off — celebratory, loose, and full of life.

The Band – November 4, 1977 Lineup

• Jerry Garcia – Guitar, Vocals

• Donna Jean Godchaux – Vocals

• Keith Godchaux – Keyboards

• Phil Lesh – Bass, Vocals

• Bob Weir – Guitar, Vocals

• Mickey Hart – Drums

• Bill Kreutzmann – Drums

Recording: Betty Cantor-Jackson

Don’s Pick Radio Show — Tonight’s Feature

Every Saturday night, fans tune in for Don’s Pick, a highly anticipated radio show that celebrates the art of live music with handpicked performances from across the musical spectrum. Hosted by Don — a passionate curator and lifelong Deadhead — each episode is a deep dive into music’s most transcendent moments.

Tonight’s Don’s Pick features this very performance: The Grateful Dead Live at Colgate University, November 4, 1977. Expect the full show, the full jams, and expert commentary on what makes this one of the most powerful nights of the 1977 fall tour.

From the graceful lilt of “Roses” to the cosmic spirals of “Playing in the Band,” Don breaks down each movement and moment, giving listeners the full context of why this show still resonates nearly five decades later.

Tune in tonight, turn it up loud, and let the music carry you back to that November night in Hamilton, New York — when The Grateful Dead Live meant exactly that: alive, spontaneous, and unforgettable.

The Grateful Dead Live — November 4, 1977 — Cotterell Court, Colgate University, Hamilton, NY
Every Song Played Is the Live Version.