Grateful Dead

dead.net the official site

This is the best Dead show I saw. I have been to many live events over the years but I have never felt the air in an arena so electric. The place was just tweaked out. Then Jerry hits the first notes of Cold Rain and the place goes absolutely nuts. Just an unforgettable moment. The music was terrific. But my most lasting memory of this show is not a song but watching the iconic frame of Jerry Garcia slowly ascend the back stage stairs, cigarette in hand, to perform the show's encore. I became a fan for life.

I was at this show, I remember the parking lot, I remember the road trip, remember being in the arena--I really don't remember the specifics of this show at all. The Weight and Loose Lucy? If you say so. I'll have to find the audio of this one to see what it brings back. It's bad I didn't get to stay for the rest of the stand as the next two nights were so great. Anyway, this ended up being where I got off the bus, though I didn't know it at the time. Got hassled by the cops on the way home, sucked. I bought tickets a couple months later for Deer Creek, ended up selling them when I had an opportunity to go to Europe that summer. Then Brent died, and for whatever reason, I never went to see the Dead again. I suppose there were several factors, but really I think it was just time for me to go do something else.

High Time and Queen Jane were highlights of 1st set. Foolish Heart and Looks Like Rain were not my first choice for the beginning of the second set. Cumberland was ok and the Weight was totally unexpected. Pockey Way was fun. Post drums was ok and I thought Revolution was sloppy. I was glad I was going to the next 2 because this night didn't really knock me down. I remember leaving hoping the next 2 would be a little better....