Grateful Dead

JGB at the Warfield was an honor and a priviledge. Had my friend all set to see his one and only chance to see JGB there he extended his trip to SF by a day so he could catch the first in that run and Bam They came out and canceled the show. Bummer for my bro but man I saw so many JGB shows there while living on Potrero hill I am forever thankful!

I was too young to catch the Grateful Dead at the Warfield. But like many folks, I saw quite a few Jerry Garcia Band shows there. The Warfield became kind of my "home venue" in the years 1992-'95 since my dad had a rented flat just a few blocks west of the Tenderloin. I'd drive up from college for a weekend and catch a show, maybe two if I had the money.

But one of my best Warfield memories is from the Phish show on Friday 5/27/94. It was the final night of a three-night run. We had scored second- and first-row balcony seats for the Thursday and Friday shows. Good shows, one and all, but on Friday, things got interesting in set II. First a fiddler (Morgan Fichter) came out and joined the band for several numbers. Then they debuted "Simple" in the middle of Mike's Song. By that point it was clear that it was an unusual night, but we didn't know the half of it. Because next, an opera singer (!) came out on stage and began singing O Mio Babbino Caro. Apparently she was unmic'd - I don't recall that specifically, but what I do recall is that her voice absolutely FILLED the space. It was spellbinding.

Meanwhile, as this aria was being performed staffers appeared in the aisles and began passing out boxes of Flintstones-themed Kraft Macaroni 'n Cheese (that date was the premiere of the Flintstones movie.) We were told that these boxes were to be used as shakers, and so that's what went down for the Possum closer and the Fire encore. It was one heck of a way to close things out and give the audience something to remember and talk about.

And after the show, on the sidewalk outside stood a man handing out posters. This was back in the day before eBay, so he wasn't even mobbed... he was having to sort of proffer the posters at passers-by. I still have both my poster and my box...

The Warfield Theater most certainly still exists! There's an event up on the marquee for tomorrow. That building is now just over 100 years old - for California, that is quite venerable.

Back in the day - 35 years ago - when I lived right off the Panhandle, we'd get to the Warfield by walking all the way down Golden Gate Avenue. A decently long walk, but a straight shot until the street terminated at Market Street, with the theater right there on the corner. We'd preparty as we went. Today, though, I don't think I'd make that walk... the 4-5 blocks closest to the Warfield could be renamed "Fentanyl Avenue"...

Check out Meet me at the bottom video…surprised at Micks behavior, especially since it’s Billy that’s the instigator.
Whole rabbit hole of shite there…
On a happier note, man I love 85!

I went to the SF Blues Festival at Chrissy Field twice, I think. I remember one year seeing BB King, not sure what year that was. Lovely outdoor venue, spacious and low key, everybody really chill hanging out and digging the tunes. I recorded at least one year. Someday I'll upload the recording to Archive.

The Warfield in SF indeed does still exist. It is one of the jewel theaters originally built as a movie palace. You can google it. It holds 2,300. It used to be run by BGP, but sometime in the 90's (I think) it was taken over by southern Cal promoters Goldenvoice. This was really Jerry's home base for his JGB and JG Acoustic shows. A beautiful venue. At some point in the 80's Graham tore out the movie seats on the floor and built tiered levels and a dance floor, which made it really cool. You could be on a tier above the dance floor, see the band over the dancer's heads and place your drink on the tier wall. So many wonderful memories, not only the Dead and Jerry, but many other bands, Neal, Heart, and many more.

My friend Larry and I sent away for tix for all fifteen (?) nights. We met in my upper Haight appartment and divveed up the tix, sharing the extras with friends. I went every night, the whole run. The hardest thing was when I had school at San Francisco State in the day, then took a long bus ride to downtown. There were nights on the bus when I was exhausted wondering what I was doing. Then each night when the band came on stage for the acoustic set, I knew I was in the right place. Fond memories.

Is sweet! Perfect set up. Saw JGB shows June of 90.
Think their fixing it up as I streamed a Phil show from there last year, or early this year?
Can’t imagine seeing the boys there, well, maybe as my first was in small theatre…

does it still exist?

Isn't/wasn't it a tiny place?

D averock, the S. F. Blues Festival ran from 1973 to 2008.. It was held in various sites, Golden Gate, Park, McLaren Park , Crissey Field, . It was free for years, but when they started chaarging nobody cimplained, it was such a cool event. Type in S. Ff. Blues Festival, they have their own web site, you can see all the posters and performers.