Robert F. Kennedy Stadium - June 10, 1973

If you release it, they will buy ...

Dave. People will buy, Dave. They'll sign in from everywhere for reasons they can't even fathom. They'll follow their fingers not knowing for sure why they're doing it. They'll arrive at your order screen as innocent as children, longing for the past. "Of course, we won't mind if you shop around", you'll say. "It's only $75 for the box set". They'll pass over the money without even thinking about it, for it is money they have and shows they lack. And they'll bask in the sunshine; wandering through the cosmos on a perfect summer afternoon. They'll find they have perfect sight lines among the general admission faithful, where they danced when they were young. And they'll listen to the release and it'll be as if they dipped themselves in magic waters. The memories will be so thick they'll have to brush them away from their faces. People will buy, Dave. The one constant through all the years, Dave, has been the Dead. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But the Dead have marked the time. This mindset, this band, this show; it's a part of our past, Dave. It reminds us of all that once was good, and that could be again. Oh … people will buy, Dave. People will most definitely buy. RIP JPB ... wheel to the storm and fly.

Wet Willie, then Allman Brothers Band opened - first "That's Alright Mama" - first "Train To Cry" - final "Wave That Flag" - "Half Step" appears on some tapes but is likely from a different show

setlist

Morning Dew
Beat it on Down the Line
Ramble On Rose
Jack Straw
Wave That Flag
Looks Like Rain
Box of Rain
They Love Each Other
The Race Is On
Row Jimmy
El Paso
Bird Song
Playing in the Band

Eyes of the World
Stella Blue
Big River
Here Comes Sunshine
Around and Around
Dark Star
He's Gone
Wharf Rat
Truckin'
Sugar Magnolia

It Take A Lot to Laugh. It Take A Train to Cry
That's Alright Mama
Promised Land
Not Fade Away
Goin' Down the Road Feeling Bad
Not Fade Away
Johnny B. Goode

show date

Sat, 06/09/1973 - 17:00

Venue

Robert F. Kennedy Stadium

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My First show!

My First show! What an awesome introduction, eh! Gratefully, been a Dead Head ever since! Peace!

My First Show

My girlfriend and I attended this show. It was quite a trip. We got so blown away by the music that various crazy things happened including getting lost in the parking lot. We found our car but could not find the exit and asked for directions from another lost soul. There was a very small rainbow in a cloud over the stadium that we saw from the parking lot after a short rain. We got married the very next week and we have both been such Dead Heads ever since that we play their songs together.

My First Show

Seems this was a day of firsts. This was a wild scene on a hot day in DC. An incredible introduction to the Dead, and have been a Dead Head ever since. Have been to over 100 shows since, and get to Phil, Ratdog and DSO shows whenever possible.

Drove down from NY...

...for the show with a bunch of friends from college. We were seated down on the infield not too far from the stage and I was never so scorching hot in my life. Actually, it was dangerously hot. If not for water being distributed and thrown on us (by who I have no idea), there might have been real health issues. I was fairly wasted and what I remember as much as the show was the pre-show sound track being played. Though B.B.King and Janis were two of my favorites, they never sounded better to me than that afternoon waiting for the boys (and Donna) to take the stage. And, of course, the show was great.

Another great show!

2nd Dead show I attended. Went the day before. Nothing like attending an Allman Brothers Band and Grateful Dead show! They played about 12 hours the day before, but I was too wasted to remember how long they played on Sunday. lol Back then, concerts lasted really long, and you certainly got your money's worth. I was only 17 at the time, and had just graduated from Langley High School in McLean, VA that summer. What a great way to celebrate one's graduation by going to RFK Stadium to see the Allman Bro's and Dead play, who, without question, are two of the greatest 'live' bands ever! Just doesn't get any better than that. Too bad Jerry is gone because even though the Dead still tour, they definitely miss his voice and guitar playing. No doubt about it! Also went to the '87 show at RFK where Dylan and Tom Petty opened before the Dead came on. What a hot day that was during that show! PEACE-OUT!

what I remember

2 days of great music, great people, sharing and enjoying, got hit by a fire cracker, still have a scar on my leg, that's OK, know where I got it. Best memory though, was they had huge towers of scaffolding on the stadium floor and people were climbing them, so they put up security guards at the top. Turned around to look at them during either Sugar Mag or Playin in the Band and the guards were all dancing. Nice if it could have gone on forever.

I'm listening to this show right now

On Sirius radio. Incredible music , incredible sound.

...ABLAZIN IN THE SUN--INTERNALLY& EXTERNALLY

AND IT TAKES ALL YA GOT TO STAY ON YER FEET--- ALSO DOUG SHAM AND HIS BAND PLAYED.

Sound Check

What a day!! The Allmans came out about an hour before Wet Willie and did a 3 song, half hour sound check, making this longest Dead show ever (I think) even longer than documented.

An inadvertent first Dead show

Three buddies and I went down to DC to to catch the Allman Brothers. We had heard of the Dead, but had not listened to them. Wet Willie and the A Bros were fantastic, the heat was oppressive, the pot haze was choking us (we weren't aware then), and we actually debated whether or not to stay for the Dead. The whole scene was so different than anything we had seen at Asbury Park or Madison Square Garden shows, we convinced ourselves to stay until midnight (we had to be back for graduation rehearsal at 8 AM Monday morning). What a way to be introduced to the Dead! We were so bummed we had to leave, as it was clear the concert was nowhere near over as we left our seats and headed off to the car. We heard the strains of "Not Fade Away" through the car windows as we pulled out. I remember saying something to the effect of, "They do that tune?" Ah, youth! Stephen Dill "Show me something built to last Or something built to try"

Secretariat and The Dead all in the Same Weekend

This was one helluva weekend. I went up to NYC (from Philly) with some friends (who went to Penn and lived in my building) to see Secretariat, and party w/Fats and friends in Manhattan. After that, either late Saturday or early Sunday we drove down to D.C., hung out with some more friends and then went to RFK stadium. After that it was a blur, I was hot, wasted and fadin' in and out all day. All kinds of crazy sh#t went down. At one point some folks wanted to hand me - hand-over-hand - through the crowd to the stage. It was at that point that I went off into the stands. Still though...it was a great experience. the Dead will always hold a special place in my heart...and to Tinker and Freddy, Fats and the rest of you (you know who you are)...Keep on Truckin' Brad By discounting, segregating, ignoring and classifying a whole group of people, one shall never see its full value. The lumping together, of so many by so few, fosters a generality preventing us from seeing the collective individuality which is the motley, the fabric, that makes society what it is. - R. Bradford (1999)

Drove up from Atlanta, in '73 Red Toyota Wagon w/lotsa crazies

"Wet Willie" (great Southern Band)opening, and two really HOT DAZE wl/ "ALLMAN BROS" and "DEAD",, when DUANE was still Livin' remember Jams and MMDA (???) wahat;;;;;;;;;;;;;

GD Radio 2011 playback of entire show

Thank You for Re-Occuring Good Times ! During the midst of a November FURTHUR east coast Tour 2011, on the first "day-off" for the band,crew & fans since the tour started last Thursday. This morning we were treated to hear this entire show-playback started before check-out.. All 3 sets plus a Grateful Dead Head hour break included. The 1st song of set 3 is famous for the Bob Dylan cover with Dickey Betts: "It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry. but I never heard Elvis Presley's "That's Alright Mama" too. Great sounding soundboard recording, no hi-cupps. Clean n Mean. Cheers ! Cubby

RFK 73

please please make this a HDCD release!!!

Hot time in the Nations Capitol!!!!!!!!!!

Hot summer by the Anacostia River!! My favorite Eye's of the world out of a number of regularly jammed Eye's in 73. Fourth set store the show with the Allman Bros. and the Dead ripping it up. Great show, they don't build them like this anymore!!

My Favorite please give us this one beautifully remastered!!!

Can we get this one on Cd, DVD or any other format you can think of. The nasty heat and humidity were mitigated by a great set list and superior versions of many songs. My favorite is the Eye's contained within. It was rocking and thoughtful and went places that others do not. Birdsong always pleasure and a Playin while not the all time best has many treasure imbedded. The Truckin is an underrated gem to be sure but it's the fourth set that makes this show. The Allman Brothers returned to the stage to join the Dead whose many parts were already well lubricated and simmering just below a boil. Jerry and the gang coaxed the Brothers into a full set of familiar songs play at a nice full pace. It was all quite well done and not to be missed!!! VaDead

It was very hot

I remember being on the field near where second base would be, it was very hot. I left my shoes at my spot and started walking around during the Allmans set. Toward the end of the night when the Dead and Allmans were jamming on Going Down the Road Feelin Bad I went back to my spot and there were my shoes where I left them. They had there own little space and were never disturbed. I just remember it as a great show.

Show Archive

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RFK Stadium - 1973

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