We will start with these particular shows even though its more about Space than drums though it was convulated, literally. The Grateful Dead’s Haunting “Raven Space” Performance – A One-of-a-Kind Tribute to Edgar Allan Poe
Grateful Dead in Hartford, 4/18/82: Phil Lesh Shakes the Earth in a Legendary “Earthquake Space”
Among the countless psychedelic journeys the Grateful Dead delivered over their 30-year run, few are as bone-rattling and mystically unforgettable as the “Earthquake Space” that erupted during their April 18, 1982, show in Hartford, Connecticut.
Performed at the Hartford Civic Center, the band was in high gear during their spring ’82 tour, but it was the “Drums > Space” segment of the second set that night where Phil Lesh truly took the reins — and seemingly split the planet in half.
The “Earthquake Space”
This particular “Space” wasn’t just exploratory — it was seismic. Phil Lesh took center stage with his custom quadraphonic bass rig, and what followed was a barrage of low-frequency explosions that rippled through the arena. Fans on the floor reported feeling the actual ground shaking beneath their feet. The vibrations were so intense, many believed a literal earthquake was occurring inside the venue.
With Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann laying down otherworldly rhythmic pulses on percussion, Phil layered in throbbing, resonant bass bombs that sounded more like tectonic plates shifting than music. The effect was disorienting and transcendent — one of the rare moments where the Grateful Dead’s “Space” segment lived up to its name not just spiritually, but physically.
Why It’s So Legendary
- Phil’s Bass Rig: Lesh’s custom setup at the time featured multiple subwoofers and a quadraphonic speaker system that allowed him to pan sounds around the venue, creating a 360-degree immersive experience. On this night, he used it to devastating effect.
- Audience Reactions: Tales of the “Earthquake Space” have become the stuff of Deadhead lore. Some fans clutched their seats in disbelief, while others let themselves be completely absorbed by the trembling, trance-inducing bass waves.
- Unscripted Brilliance: Like all “Drums > Space” segments, this moment was unplanned and unrehearsed — pure sonic alchemy born in the moment. But it stands out due to the sheer physical impact it had on the audience and the power of Phil’s low-end experimentation.
- A True Wall of Sound Echo: The “Earthquake Space” is often compared to the sensory power of the Dead’s 1974 Wall of Sound — not in volume, but in how sound was sculpted and spatialized.
A Night to Remember
The rest of the show was solid — with highlights like a strong “Shakedown Street,” a heartfelt “Stella Blue,” and high-energy rockers in the encore — but it’s the “Earthquake Space” that fans still talk about over 40 years later.
It’s one of those once-in-a-lifetime Dead moments — when the music, the gear, and the atmosphere aligned perfectly to create something primal, powerful, and utterly unrepeatable.
Then, on April 19, 1982, in Baltimore, Maryland, the Grateful Dead delivered one of their most eerie and experimental live moments — a performance now known among diehard fans as “Raven Space.” In a surreal blend of music and literary homage, the band infused elements of Edgar Allan Poe’s iconic poem “The Raven” into their signature “Drums” and “Space” improvisational segments. The result was a semi-structured, wholly unique piece that blurred the lines between song, soundscape, and performance art.
Here are the key details that make “Raven Space” a standout moment in Dead history:
- Poe-Inspired Atmosphere: Drawing directly from the dark, brooding energy of Poe’s “The Raven,” the performance mirrored the poem’s gothic tone with layers of unsettling sonic textures.
- Hometown Tribute: Fittingly, this singular performance took place in Poe’s hometown of Baltimore, adding a layer of reverence to the poetic homage.
- One-Night-Only: “Raven Space” was a one-time-only experiment — as far as known, it was never performed again, making it a rare gem in the Dead’s vast live catalog.
- Improvisational Roots: As with many of the Dead’s most memorable moments, “Raven Space” was a blend of improvisation and loose structure, keeping both the band and the audience on the edge of the unknown.
- Sound Exploration: The piece featured ambient percussion, groaning noises, distorted laughter, and the unmistakable phrase “Quoth the Raven, ‘Nevermore’” — all layered to evoke a spectral, dreamlike atmosphere.
- Nitrous-Tinged Madness: Rumors and audience recordings hint at the influence of nitrous oxide during the set, contributing to the surreal mood and frenzied crowd reaction that surrounded the performance.
“Raven Space” remains a testament to the Grateful Dead’s willingness to dive into uncharted territory, merging literature, psychedelia, and musical improvisation into an unforgettable moment of live art.
There’s nothing in live music quite like a Grateful Dead “Drums” segment. Every show, it arrived like a portal — a mind-expanding, rhythmic voyage led by the iconic duo of Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart, affectionately known as the Rhythm Devils.
Long before jam bands embraced extended percussion breaks, the Dead made “Drums” a nightly ritual. It wasn’t just filler. It was a full-on sonic exploration, often followed by “Space,” and it gave audiences a spiritual breather before the final stretch of the second set.
And now, there’s an entire radio show dedicated to it.
🌍 Weekly Planet Drum Circle – A Show on Dead Set Live That Only Plays Drums – 11AM Every Sunday for an Hour
Kicking off this weekend on Dead Set Live, Planet Drum Circle is an hour-long rhythmic odyssey featuring nothing but Grateful Dead “Drums” segments — and occasionally, rare tracks from Mickey Hart’s Planet Drum and Rhythms of the World projects. Hosted by longtime Deadhead drummers and curated straight from soundboard and archive gold, the show is a celebration of rhythm, spirit, and the magic of percussive improvisation.
🎶 The Most Iconic “Drums” Segments of All Time
Here are some of the most incredible “Drums” segments ever performed by the Grateful Dead — the ones that will blow your mind and rattle your bones:
🔥 1. Egypt, Giza Plateau – 9/15/78
The ultimate cosmic convergence: Mickey and Billy pounding rhythms beneath the Egyptian stars. Tribal, hypnotic, and entirely surreal — this “Drums” was quite literally legendary.
🌋 2. Red Rocks Amphitheatre – 7/8/78
Set in the stunning natural acoustics of Red Rocks, this “Drums” hit like a thunderstorm. You can feel the rocks echoing with primal energy as the duo pulls from deep polyrhythmic pockets.
🌀 3. Providence Civic Center – 4/4/82
A peak ‘80s performance — this “Drums” segment is both chaotic and dialed in. Billy and Mickey stretch the limits of what two humans can do on a kit (plus gongs, bells, and digital pads).
🌌 4. MSG – 9/20/90
New York City witnessed one of the most otherworldly “Drums” ever performed. It’s meditative and haunting — almost ambient, yet filled with tension. The transition into “Space” is chilling.
🌿 5. Oakland Coliseum – 12/31/81
The New Year’s Eve vibes were off the charts. You can feel the ceremony of it all — temple drums, cosmic spirals, and audience claps syncing with the heartbeat of the Earth.
🌎 6. Giants Stadium – 6/17/91
This one featured special guests and electronic percussion galore. A rare “Drums” with MIDI samples and global textures. It was a masterclass in how percussion can tell stories.
🔮 7. Any Show from 1977–78
Let’s be real — pick any show from the late ’70s, and “Drums” was on another level. This was the era when the Rhythm Devils were in peak sync, laying down grooves you could orbit around.
🥁 Why “Drums” Mattered — Then and Now
To casual listeners, “Drums” might’ve sounded like a break in the action. But for Deadheads, it was the pulse of the show. It was experimentation without limits. Billy and Mickey drew from every tradition — African, Latin, Indian, Native American — to create something entirely their own.
And that’s what the new Planet Drum Circle on Dead Set Live is all about: honoring that fearless spirit of rhythm, exploration, and connection.
🧿 TuneIn and Zone Out
🎧 PLANET DRUM CIRCLE
📍 Sundays at 11AM ET
📻 DeadSetLive.com
All live. All Grateful Dead. All rhythm. Join us for a journey where the beat never stops.
