Grateful Dead

Rusted Root opened

 Comment: Soundcheck included It's A Man's World and Truckin'

man did it ever rain! i was soaked but loving it!

This was my first and last Grateful Dead Show- Always wanted to hear SOTM, got to see this songs last performance, had a bit of a tear in my eye. Great song, very well played/sung by the Big Man. I thought the show was really quite good, however since this was my one and only G.D. show to ever see, I really do not have any basis to say it was a "GREAT SHOW", however I have read other reviews by deadheads who have seen the dead several times, including several times durring that last summer tour (1995), and all seem to agree this show, 6-30-95, in Pittsburgh, PA, was all-around a failry good, perhaps one of the better shows of the Summer Tour, which may not be saying much, given the rest of the Summer '95 shows were preaty shitty. Anyway I liked the concert, had a good time, got to hear a fairly well played SOTM, a preaty hot Hell in a Bucket, and a nice ripper of a G-L-O-R-I-A to close the show out...I had a good time, and have some good memories, so what else could I ask for? ...I know what I can ask for...anyone have a GOOD AUD. Recording of this, or better yet a SBD?? If you do send me an e-mail amvedock@hotmail.com

you can find the show at archive.org

At first I thought that after Rusted Root had torn the place up, the boys would have to step it up a notch. As you could guess they did. My buddy and I got through security during the deluge and were way up behind the band turning the big knobs on the big screen in the upper deck for all to see ( at least we thought all could see). Eventually the police did see and they escorted us back out into the masses...Next shows for me were the Chicago pair, which so sadfully eneded my 15 years of touring in what could be the greatest traveling feast ever.

Rusted Root was pretty good and had the crowd pretty worked up.The song and Rain timing was pretty unbelievable even for me. Like my friend Steve said, "This is so Grateful Dead its pathetic." The SOTM was pretty powerful, Garcia was as into it as he possibly could be IMO. Some good versions of songs are overlooked here due to the "Rain Story" Wanna know something even wierder? That was one of the best Samba's ever. No joke. hehe! Gloria was a PERFEFT encore and Bobby rocked it hard. No Richmond '85, but didnt care. Cause its not fair to do that anyway. In retrospect I am really glad I went to this. It was kinda last minute. I will never forget anything about that day, even with all that 'lectricity. Cheers! JG “The Omnipotent Grateful Dead!”

For obvious reasons, I will never forget my last show with Jerry. The pouring rain along with the Rain set. Awesome!

Introduced 3 very good friends to Jerry and the Boys, Last time for us to see the band and they went down Jammin!!!!

My friend thinks the dead were in cahoots with the airport weather man that day! Replying to Johnnyq

This was my last show, I was soaked!!! It was great fun though. I had brought my two college roomates to this show, it was their first and last. Since we were in school in PGH, we were very excited to see Rusted Root opening. The timing of the songs was incredible. Good last show if there is such a thing.

It was very rainy but I loved every note. I will forever miss Jerry and his awsome finger picking.They are one of the best things that ever happened to me.God Bless The Grateful Dead!!!!!!!!

Rain and Jerry not feeling well, Bobby took the leads while Jerry stumbled though.. Had a bad feeling it would be the last Jerry would tour... Jimmy Mac

The novelty of the "Rain Set" overshadowed the sloppy playing throughout the show, but man, the energy level was something that you could only find at a dead show. INTENSE!!!!!

SPENT THE FIRST SET IN BAD SEATS.TRADED OUR RAIN COATS TO A SECURITY GUARD TO LET US ON THE FLOOR (FIELD). SAW THE SECOND SET FROM CENTER STAGE ABOUT 40' BACK. I REMEMBER THE RAIN FALLING IN SLOW MOTION KEEPING TIME WITH THE MUSIC. WAS IT ME OR DID THE BAND WAIT FOR THE RAIN TO START TO START BEFORE PLAYING THE SECOND SET ?

I got 4th row tickets for this one, so I actually went to my seat. Yeah, Jerry was ailing, but he played some nice leads during West L.A. and Bird Song, which had a great jam.The skies were getting dark and it looked like rain was a-comin'. When the boys came out for the second set, there was a longer pause than usual. Bobby was up at his mike, talking to somebody on their little system, and seemed to be delaying things. He kept on stepping back and then up again, and then finally gave everybody a signal. I don't know if he was talking to somebody who was out on the edge of the parking lot with a walkie talkie or the weatherman at KDKA, or maybe he just knew, but when they suddenly starting singing "R-A-I-N..." the raindrops started to fall, as if on cue. AMAZING! I mean, who else could incorporate the elements into their stage act? What a tremendous experience that was. The storm brought a power to the music that only a collaboration between Mother Nature and the Grateful Dead could create, and the rain continued to fall through all of the rain songs, finally letting up sometime during the L.L. Rain. Watching Jerry was bittersweet because he was pale and obviously a bit "sick," but the Terrapin had a beautiful jam in the middle that was long and poignant and he belted out and played the ending to SOTM with the heartfelt power that only he could bring to a ballad, hair blowin' in the wind. "I'D RATHER BE WITH YOU!"

i've been tryin to find this show and have been unlucky, anyone have it...please let me know mridge420(at)yahoo(dot)com

Thanks to everyone who sent info on where to find this show. This was my first Grateful Dead show, (I've seen "the Dead" since). Before this show, I had missed a few opportunities to see them, thinking "I'll catch them next time around". However, when they came to the 'burgh, I couldn't pass up the chance. Man, how I miss those times. The rain, the crowd, the whole vibe was completely electric. As we've all gotten older, and time slips by, I long for those times and the people. Feel free to drop me a line...peace. Chris

I get chills every single time I think about this show. It was a very hot day in the 'burg and just about the time that Mickey got on stage for the second set you could hear the sound of distant thunder rumbling through the valley. Mickey flashed his impish grin and pounded out something that sounded like thunder. Apparently someone heard him, and responded with progressively louder cracks of thunder. Mickey seemed pleased to be bantering with mother nature in this way, and so it continued for 10 minutes or so while the sky grew darker. Everything then went dark for a minute- the sky, the stage. Then, in an instant, the hot muggy night chaged as if by order of Jerry himself... bright white floodlights filled the stadium wiht light, the band starts into sing the opening chord- RAA-AAA-AAAIN, I don't mind... That is when the sky OPENED UP the cool, refreshing rain poured down. Magic- no other word for it. Then to top it of we got a SWEET Terrapin and a SOTM that made us believe Jerry was singing right to us. This was my last show... and of all the shows I've seen, I'm glad this was it. It was pure magic.

how ironic, saw my first show in pgh at the now defunct stanley theatre in 1981and the last show in pgh at the former 3 rivers stadium. this show really did have the writing on the wall, know what i mean. the crowd had really evolved into a bunch of low life, selfish immature drunk dope heads. aside from a medium level show quality, it was the worst crowd i'd ever been a part of. sad to say it ended on such a bad note, hardly ever listen to the show.

Gotta disagre with tcerneskie. I had 0 problems with the crowd. Took 4 friends to this show, 3 were rookies. They had a great time and we all still talk about it. They probably would be traveling around with me if everything didn't end that day. Miss Jerry and so do my friends. I guess everyone is entitled to there oppinion though.

I have followed the dead for many years and when they come to my home town it's always gr8. I will never forget the rain. I was soaked and feeling wonderful! Peace to all.

This was my last Grateful Dead Show! What a Thyme It Was!!! Like The Song Might As Well Says I Would Love To Take That Ride Just One More Thyme!!!!!!!................................What a Thyme it Was!!!!!!

This was the first time i ever experienced the world that is the grateful dead. I was so wet and so drunk among other things, and after this show i never got the chance again to see the dead with JERRY!!!!!!It changed my life in so many ways.....HIPPIE:)

What a show!!!! It was extra special to see my favorite Band in the stadium of my dear and forever Champion Steelers! This was my last Dead show and will be forever in my mind on the floor in the water and muck and mud; the fellas were great!!!! God Bless Jerry and the Dead!

....loved the rain themed show....funny...my first show was april 6 1982...when it was raining and snowing that day....and my last show was raining....hence the rain related songs. Maybe now i know why I love RAIN!!!!

yet another rain show 4 this kid,would'nt hat it any other way 4song rain set!!!! it was good to be wet on that summer eve. in retro... this girl i went with at the time wanted 2 leave when the sky started opening up b4 the second set,FOOL I SAY..... SHOULD'VE SEEN HER FACE WHEN AFTER SAMBA SHE REALIZEDI WAS TRIPPING BALLS 2 THE WALL. then the little school girl thought she could just walk over in 2 downtown pittsburgh like it was a fair or something STRANGERS STOPPING STRANGERS JUST TO SHAKE THEIR HAND.... WAS STILL AN AWESOME SHOW JUST WISH I COULD'VE DONE IT WITH MY SUGAR MAG OF 12 YEARS NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SMILE SMILE SMILE

this was my last show with Jerry. Bittersweet to say the least. Most memorab;e for me was the wall of rain that washed over the stadium at the EXACT moment the band statred the rain set! They must've had somebody that knew exactly where that rain was, it couldn't have been coincidence. Plus, the boys seemed to fiddle around on stage longer than usual before they started playing, like they were waiting for it. I would imagine with all the electricity flowing around on stage and it being outside, it would make sense for someone to know exactly when bad weather is going to hit. The Dead have gotten shocked before, I forget when though. All in all, a good last show to have seen Jerry in. I was fortunate enough to be right up front for most of the show. If I can walk, then I'm sure that I can dance...

my last complete dead show and yet another grate one! the rain and lightning sure helped the great trip i was on! rip jerry

This was my last show and I can hardly think about it without tearing up. The rain set was unbelievable. We had great seats, something like 13th row. I remember trying to get into Pittsburg was crazy and we had to walk over the bridge on the way back to the car. I am glad my last show had SOTM. peace, love & happiness

I will never forget the rain & the timeing of the songs . good friends, good times !!!!

I got a miracle for that show. A floor ticket of all things. Rusted root brought the house down that night. As I worked my way up front, Jerry looked down as Fast Eddie and I jammed out and he gave me a look of, who's the new kidd. The rain set was great.

My girlfriend was at this show when she was 14, and it was by far the most meaningful musical experience of her life. I'm trying to find a video of the show to give her for her birthday, and I'd really appreciate any help. You can email me at bean1o1@hotmail.com. Thanks so much in advance.

This was a solid show. Arguably the last "normal" show though the St. Louis Shows might be able to stake a claim on that (except for the arena lighting and the death at campground). Rapid decline at Chicago obvious enough to makes me thinks a stroke or adverse health event may have been involved. Sure 1994 was usually better but the difference between this and say 7/8/95 is too marked to miss. In fairness I started the tour at Detroit and had only heard the smoking 2/26 soundboard with the wicked visions of johanna. I understand there may have been some serious shakiness earlier in the tour too.

A really close friend of min and I stood in line at a local Kaufman"s Its a chain dept store. It was also the only ticketmaster outlet in my neck of the woods at that time. They had a lottery to determine who would purchase first. I WON! 10 rows back Jerry side!

Man, you guys have me with tears in my eyes here at the keyboard! I am from the 'Burgh and saw my first and last shows at Three Rivers (7/8/90 was my first and this one was, of course, my last). This wasn't the best show I have seen, but it was purely magical, being in my hometown and with the rain set. I had some wonderful friends by my side, from home and other places, and I will never forget it. Had a great time in the lot and inside. We miss you Jer :-) And yes, your SOTM went straight to our hearts - A lovely view of heaven, but I'd rather be with you...who knew how true that would be, in such a short amount of time :-(Glad we are all still EVERYWHERE!

Immediately after this show, which was my 3rd and final show, I thought that 6/25/95 (my 2nd) was better. Once I got those sweet FOB tapes I realized that this one was on par with 6/25. Those tapes, available for DL on archive.org of course, and now all the youtube videos of the RAIN that opened the 2nd set make this one, even without a SBD or an offical release, a well documented experience. Also of note is the DRUMZ, specifically about 3 minutes in, when Mickey just goes NUTZ after a nice setup by Bill.

it was there a couple of years ago anyway

This show wasn't a great one, but was probably one of the better ones of '95. Jerry was a train wreck this tour and the band was in desperate need of a vacation. But it was a really interesting opening to the 2nd set. During the set break, we see the sky turn black as night. An absolute hell storm was about pound us and I thought that the band may wait out the brutality and come out late, but just before the sky was about to unleash it's fury the boys come back out on stage. So they start doing the opening lines to Rain. You know how after the little vocal intro part they start the meat of the song off with this giant drum beat? Well right on cue during that big heavy drum sound the sky just opened up and it poured and poured. Absolute pinpoint timing! You can go watch for yourself on You Tube. Didn't stop until right before Terrapin and for whatever reason that fact helped Terrapin feel more majestic. Gloria was always a cool encore. Billy comments in his new book that this show was the Grateful Dead's last great prank, rolling through 4 "rain" songs in a row while we got soaked. It was fun!

My last show (~);{

agree with all previous comments about the Rain set...really, really awesome phenomena (and i mean awesome as in truly awe-inspiring, not in the casual, tossed about way many of us use it. me included) i had 1 weird experience. I got into downtown pitts really early (glad i did as i heard the traffic was abysmal causing many people to be late). anyway, i was there before the people whom i was supposed to meet arrived, so i started wandering around. Pittburgh's finest were out in numbers that day...foot patrols everywhere!! Anyway, i saw a guy selling nitrous balloons from his van in one of the lots. I, trying to actually help him, advised him to be careful as i had seen many cops walking around and one really close-by. i can't recall exactly what he said but it was along the lines of "STFU and mind your own business". i just smiled, said "OK" and continued walking. Well, 10-15 minutes later as i headed back to my car and cooler for a refill, i saw him cheek up against his van, cuffs on and getting patted down by the same cop i had seen and warned this guy about. we made eye contact...i'm pretty sure he remembered me, and the look on his face was not so antagonistic anymore. i sometimes wonder if he thought i turned him in (I didn't), if he really did recognize me (I'm pretty sure he did) and if he kicked himself for not listening to a kind stranger (he has every right to kick himself). anyway, it sucked for that guy. i often saw blatant dealing in the lot, which is ok with willing sellers and willing buyers who are not 12 years old, but the lots this day were really downtown office building parking lots, not the typical dead lot scene. a little discretion would go a long way, i suppose.

This was my first concert of any kind ever at age 18. I was raised in a strict household. But I was going with my older brother and his two friends from college. So the parents must have been sufficiently fooled. How cool is it that the GRATEFUL DEAD is someone’s first show ever. So suffice to say it was an amazing experience. Jerry would be gone in about a month. My brother joined him in ‘98. The only concert my brother and I saw together. So it will always hold a special place. Now I get to teach my kids about this very beautiful and majestic band. Which helps keep their uncle’s memory alive.

My best friend, Dave Coleman gave me to do the rest of tour.
But I had to go elsewhere.
I had a great time now, and I will be forever. Thankful for the shows I did get to attend.

On the way in, a shirtless guy in khaki shorts slips in next to me and says- " Just pretend I'm not here so I can get in." I did, and when I looked over, he was nowhere to be found.