Notes:
"Twilight Zone Theme" tuning before "Scarlet"
Set List:
Alabama GetawayPromised Land
West L.A. Fadeaway
Mama Tried
Big River
Dupree's Diamond Blues
Smokestack Lightnin'
Deal
Scarlet Begonias
Fire on the Mountain
Samson and Delilah
She Belongs to Me
Truckin'
Comes a Time
Around and Around
drums
U.S. Blues
Satisfaction
Brokedown Palace
Comments
Community college stadium
This was a small stadium about the size of a 1/4 mile track. Excellent show. Prepare yourself for a higher form of intellegence was being handed out. Years later returned to see Jerry play there.
chula vista
I'm pretty sure they did not play U.S. Blues, I do remember them playing "I need A Miracle'
Nice Scarlet Fire
Was there with my brother. Great show! Definitly US Blues, no "Miracle", though that would have been sweet!
Chula Vista '85 - my favorite show outof 275
Attended this show at little Southwestern College, right down by the Mexican border - after a three-night run at HJK in Oakland. I saw more than 275 shows and this was my favorite. It was weird and wonderful. Super location, weather, vibe and music. Bill Graham in attendance on stage. Extremely unusual show had treats of "Smokestack Lightining" and "Dupree's" in the first set.
Second set was off the hook.
"Scarlet," "Fire," "Samson," (always a Sunday fave) - so far so good, but nothing out of the ordinary.
Then we go "Truckin" (OK).
"Comes a Time" (always a treat) then "Around and Around" (What?! Were they ending the show now? "Around and Around" was ALWAYS after the drums. Either this show was gonna be real short, and the first show without drums/space in many many years, or we were in for a real treat).
"Drums/Space" (Whew, that was close - the show continues) "
U.S. Blues" (What? Now were in completely uncharted territory! "U.S. Blues" was always, always and encore in those days. Also, note the Sept. 15 date to go with the lyric, "summertime done come and gone my oh my."
"Satisfaction." Sure, song was in the Dead's repertoire then, but after "U.S. Blues" to close that show was a real screamer.
"Brokedown" (Fine fare-ye-well).
And you can quote me on all that. AlanSheckter, 10/07
Chula Vista '85 - my favorite show - 1 more thing
Oh, and how could I forget the sweet Garcia crooner, "She Belongs To Me" before "Truckin'," which means we had a legitimate seven songs before the drums - way unusual - including two fairly uncommon Garcia ballads...
Alan
Satisfaction!!
I have fond memories of this whole weekend. Went down to Rosarita Beach south of the border for a couple of days and came back with fireworks.
The Satisfaction blew me away. Bobby and Brent were exchanging primal screams toward the end.
Of course, we lit off a bunch of our fireworks at the end of the show.
possibly my favorite show of all
I have to agree with Alan Sheckter above in that this was possibly my favorite show of over 300 shows so that is some kind of statement. This show has been burned into my mind for years for so many reasons. The place was relatively empty, the grass on the field was like the cushiest carpet ever, the scene was totally cool. Think cop cars playing Hendrix tunes over their car PA kind of cool. I mean it just had a vibe that I never really saw again. The show itself was pulled out of the sky for the last night of that tour, and I really think they worked it for all it was worth. Seven tunes before drums? What? Smokestack/Deal to close the first set was ripping. I used my unused Boreal ticket to get in as I blew off Donner at the last minute and figured I could use it in Chula Vista. Right again! Got very high and had a very interesting road trip back to Arizona with some friends. This whole day encompasss the Dead scene both musically and spiritually.
Thanks to the boys for delivering a great musical day in the sun drenched little football stadium in southern Cal. One for the books!
A great show
Alan,
I agree wholeheartedly with your comments. When I heard the Dead were playing Chula Vista, I couldn't believe it. I felt like I attended a private lawn concert. I would love to hear a tape of this show. The vibe was terrific, the band was friendly and I recall talking to Phil Lesh beside the fence. The band was loose and seemed to be enjoying themselves. Bill Graham was hanging out by the fence and I recall the the concert looked like it didn't sell out. Always wondered why. For those who did make the show like yourself, and others here, we were treated to a very special, generous dose of magic!
What a Weekend
Drove in from AZ, Friday night in Ocean Beach was a trip in itself. Crazy shit and an all nighter on the pier. Saturday morning was off to Mexico for a very short TRIP that led to a "Tijuana Fadeaway" for one of us!!! The rest of us spent the afternoon on the beach trippin' and playing frisbee! Sunday was sunny and warm and the "Twilight Zone" sound check could be heard from Shakedown Street. Yes, there was a U.S. Blues, thought it was gonna be the encore but there was more yet. Brent was electric during Satisfaction, thank you Jerry and I rested my bones.