Grateful Dead

This was my first show of only five attended. My brother and his girlfriend were heads and constantly tried to enlist me for the bus ride. I was a young Hooligan/head banger who had overheard bootlegs during some of our parties, but hadn't taken interest yet. I listened to several good 'ol PigPen shows and loved the blues, but wasn't very keen on the "newer" sound. We discussed the upcoming show and the excitement involved with the lot, the scene and I was convinced I should attend. We arrived early and the the parking lot was hummin! After about forty-five minutes of mingling and marveling, we decided to enter the coliseum and find our way to our seats. I remained in my seat, anxiously awaiting the beginning of the show and I realized I was in the middle of a circus full of freaks. Oddly, I felt incredibly at ease and welcomed the conversations with the heads around us. The lights dimmed and the show began! I made it threw the first set and was quickly questioned by my comrades regarding how I felt about the show. Considering the ceiling had already flown away, I was enjoying the show, but had not been hit by the bolts yet. The second set opened with victim and for me this is a dark sinister sounding song, given the circumstances, and I was intrigued. Next eyes of the world/L.L rain, being my first time even hearing this, I was immediately entranced and found myself thoroughly enjoying this mystical/magical song. Finally my life changing moment, the song in which the bus pulled up and I hopped on and continued to ride , even to this day. Terrapin Station. I have obtained a SB of this night and this continues to be my favorite version. As they began to pick away at the notes, I was hit by the lightning and this was when I knew. The remainder of the evening was fantastic and I managed to make four more shows.

That's right. The great pot famine of 1991. The Charlotte area had been plagued by numerous, large busts and there was no weed this whole summer. They even sold bootleg T-shirst in the parking lot: " I survived the great pot famine of 1991...I suggest we shake out the rug!" Went to the show with buddies Brian, David, & Chris. With no weed, we strolled the parking lot and picked up hits of Vitamin A from three different sources (just to make sure we got at least one that was good!). Inside, we had seats at the back of the arena in the lower section behind the board and the tapers. Arena security was hassling everyone trying to dance around, wanting to keep everyone in their assigned seats (yeah right). Me and my buddie Brian tried to slip the security and get down to the floor which we did but then they wouldn't let us back up to where our seats were so...tripping our balls off we went around under the bleacher style seats and tried to find our row (yeah right!). Fortunately, some friendly heads helped pull us through the bleachers below and back into our correct section (only after we missed about three songs). The show was average at best. I thought Bruce's keyboards were a little heavy and Jerry's vocals weren't spectacluar BUT, I have to admit, this was one of the best Not Fade Away's I saw. The echo and reverberation in the arena was perfect for that song.

Tonight I was thumbing thru my thoroughly worn out "The Official Book of the Deadheads" and came across a small slip of paper with scribbled songs. So, after a little bit of research realized it was my set list from this show. Then it all came back to me. Nothing too special about the show but I had taken my younger sister to this one - her first and only show - and we had a blast. Great setlist. I remember Bob being very animated during Throwin' Stones and NFA - he was way up at the edge of the stage. I can't wait to call my sis tomorrow and relive some good ole' times.

Arrived in NC with a tours worth of Northern California's finest kind. Cops w/dogs everywhere and the buzz was on about all the busts. Twisted a few for the show & stashed the buds securely in the motel room. The next morning while packing for the road heard a ruckus in the hallway across our room. It was a bust. Heads in cuffs, dogs rummaging through their room. We split as fast as we could and never looked back.....until half way to DC when we realized the STASH WAS STILL IN THE ROOM!! Turning back was NOT an option! Our "famine" was on...