New Year's Eve [VHS]

One of the saddest times for Deadheads since the death of Jerry Garcia is New Year's Eve. The Dead's legendary performances in the Bay Area ushered in a couple of decades worth of new years, and even if you couldn't make it, it was comforting to know the band was carrying on the tradition. Well, that tradition is gone, but there's a video experience that comes pretty darn close--The Grateful Dead: Ticket to New Year's, taped on New Year's Eve 1987 at the Oakland Coliseum. It's a creatively photographed and extraordinarily performed concert film that ranks among the best Dead performances on video, packed with delightful surprises. Some of the best: a robust "Terrapin Station," a rare rendition of the stoner fave "Dark Star," and an unflinchingly bluesy "Knockin' on Heaven's Door." The effect of the whole performance is that of a bittersweet valentine to a way of life that may be gone but is still beloved. --Anne Hurley

Price: $29.95

Click here to buy from Amazon