Grateful Dead

Hey now everyone, as requested, here is a rundown on the 11-28-80 Lakeland Civic Center show.
It was a Friday, the day after Thanksgiving and the boys had just done a show down in Pembroke Pines that we did not travel to, but we heard it was a scorcher. Having had Thrusday off for Thanksgiving I nor any of our party had to work that day and we left around noon for the hour and a half drive to the Center. We were looking forward to this show as we had traveled up to Atlanta back in April of this year to see the boys at the Fox Theatre, but that's another story.
It was a beautiful day, about 75 and sunny with a few clouds and a bit of a breeze. The traffic was constant but not heavy on the way west to Lakeland from Orlando.
My parents at the time lived in Lakeland and I knew the town pretty good so we slid into the Center from the back way down 33 off of I-4, which was a great way to get to the Civic Center, knida like the back door.
As we arrived we could see that it was not too crowded, there were heads here and there throwing frisbees and listening to music, but all in all for the early afternoon, not to crowded, yet. It did fill up later on but we liked to get to shows early so we could get good seats, and we had fine seats up off the floor on Jerry's side about half way back. I always brought my binoculars with us so we could get some good looks at the boys and the equipment.
Of course we came loaded for bear and had the usual paraphernalia with us, some good smoke, a wine sack full of sangria and tequila mixed the way the Spanish did it and of course some doses, Purple or Red dragons, can't remember the color now, but they were good.
As we enter the Arena about 6 or so we walked right in which was a bit strange because Lakeland had become the place where there was always a big heat presence at shows, especially Grateful Dead shows and when we didn't see but a couple cops, we were relieved and walked right in, no pat down or searches. {Turns out they were all inside dressed like heads, undercover).
The lights went down and we dropped the doses and they opened with Jack Straw which during the line we can share the women we can share the wine we broke out the wine sack that my buddy had smuggled into the place under his arm and slung over his shoulder and cover by his jean jacket. Sangria and tequila is quite a potent mix but it is also quite sweet, so down it went in no time. After Jack Straw came just one of the best Peggy-O's ever, Jerry's voice was pure butter and his playing was top notch. Then into little red rooster where Bobby again fucked up his slide work and it took Jerry stepping in to help out to finish the song. Jerry could play some slide, unlike Bobby, who kind of just raked it over the strings. Then Tennessee Jed, which the crowd got into, most of them being from the south and they could relate to this song, once again Jerry in fine form, punching out the vocals with great pronunciation. A good Jed for sure. A killer Passenger followed, with Phil just up and down the neck like he was playing a lead guitar, awesome. Then came Deep Elem Blues, a favorite of mine and done electrically, which was rare and quite good, Bobby in good form for this one and the next one which was Looks Like Rain, again done very well and the set ends with a smoking Deal, with Jerry tearing it up, a big star beside that one and a great set ender like it always was.
By this time the doses had taken hold and we were wasted, laid back in our seats and just toe tapping and smiling, good times for sure, the lights came up and we headed to the drink line and I went to the long bathroom line, standing there tripping was to say the least, weird, a lot of folks were off too, but some were screaming for doses and looked like they weren't having such a good time, I shied away from the rabble rousers and did what I came for and walked among the heads during intermission. That was fun, found a cool tee shirt that had a skull smoking a joint and "on the road again" under the skull, a cool shirt with the only color being the red dot on the end of the joint.
Back to my seat and the light went down and Jerry starts with this killer wah wah that leads into Feel like a Stranger, an excellent version, check it out if you have a copy of the show from the 30 trips box, it is trippy and different and very cool. The song ends the crowd goes crazy and then Jerry starts off To Lay me Down and the crown goes quiet, you could hear a pin drop as Jerry pours out his heart and soul into the song and his guitar work is out of this world. An awesome version of another tune that they had not done for quite a while. After that deafening applause comes Let it Grow into a fantastic Terrapin Station, wow, just...wow. The song continues into Drums and Mickey and Billy tear it up, lots of folks get up and head out but I loved the drums>space part of the show and I sat there mesmerized as the beast with 8 arms rears it head and performs it magic. The space is short but it goes into Not Fade away with Brent holding down the keys with some sustain and with that the tune slow forms and then burst out on us like an exploding sun, "I'm gonna tell you how it's gonna be....." everyone's up and rocking now. A beautiful Black Peter follows and once again Jerry's voice is like butter, loved this year with Jerry being on so many times. Sugar Magnolia takes us home with a U.S. Blues encore to send us out dancing. A great show and the exit was fun as the moo's coming from the crowd as we piled out making me laugh hard. Still tripping we sat in the parking lot smoking joints until we thought we could drive, and we did, all the way back to Orlando with three mile smiles on our faces.

I'm hip to some 1980 Dead, another trip back to Florida sounds fun.

That Slipknot! on 5/22/77 just kills me. So good, it's imprinted on my psyche. And hearing the "Inspiration" just come shining out of the fog, that's the stuff.

DV - I'd love some rereleases of the incomplete shows, but I think that type of reengineering effort is not top of mind. Rather we continue to go Further!

As a want to be archivist, I really appreciate Dave's approach of not releasing stuff unless they can do it right, which wouldn't of been possible without Dick's trailblazing efforts to begin releasing this material in the first place. Alas the 5/22/77 release was a gear in the cog to get where we are now. The new transfer has the reel flip in Eyes patched now. Aww.. the Dead Head freak nature of obsessing about minutia, I scoffed at it once and now it's a part of me.

Also, that Pink Floyd Dark Side doc was great! Thanks for the tip, I enjoyed that.

Bob T - Putting those Blue Suede Shoes back on and hitting the road again! December '73?
Feels like you'd have to kick it off with 11/30 for sure. Maybe I can get catch a ride and get some tickets at the shows? Boston could be Sold Out though from the looks of things... hmmm.

Ever heard the 11/28/73 Jerry & Mickey dated material from the Palace of Fine Arts? I was just looking at December '73 run and noticed it. Seastones performances with Phil & Ned, I might have to listen to that again. I think it circulates with Tarot outtakes. Some weird shit.

Okay now I'm ramblin'...
Lil surprised that the location I was looking for today on 30 DOTD wasn't listed. How can be?

Don't want to give away anything, but that should be corrected, but not if it means I got it wrong cause I chose the only other option. If you haven't given the track a spin, do! It's a freakin' epic version and it was off my radar.

Good stuff.

PS - UNKLE SAM - Got any 11/28/80 tripping stories?

Thanks man.. planing a big stack of rough cut cherry for indoor trim in the bathroom. Perfect wood making music for a mostly sunny Sunday.

here's my pick for the day, a day late, well, it is still 11-28 for about 8 mins.
I was at this show and we were tripping balls, Jerry's voice is pure butter during this Florida run and so is his exceptional playing. enjoy

The full show is tight. This is another 77 barn burner. This Miller transfer sounds fantastic. That second set is something. That Estimated-Eyes-Wharf Rat-Terrapn minus the lady with a Fan, into Morning Dew is crazy good. Thanks for the pick GOGD!

Here is an idea for Rhino, go back and release this full epic show and other chop jobs. Call it Dick's reloaded, put out 10,000 copies. People would eat it up.....

So great Oroborous, is there a better release than Dark Side, not too many.

Frampton Comes Alive. I still play this and within the last ten years picked up a DVD Audio copy. And it sounds unbelievably good in Multi Channel. And you get Bill G!

It is good to keep this great music rolling!

Just spent 2 days painting the living room (including sanding and wiping down the walls for prep).
Tomorrow will shampoo the carpet (rake leaves while the carpet dries), then hang TV on wall (drilled the mount holes before painting), move the furniture back in, and reconnect CD/stereo and BluRay/theater systems.

I hooked up the stereo in an adjacent room for tunes while working.
On Thanksgiving I moved a bunch of shows from a torrent HD to a music player (shows I haven’t heard and upgrades of shows I know and love).

The playlist so far (in reverse order):
9-30-72 8184.sbd.Clugston (playing now)
9-24-91 138150.dsbd.GEMS
6-10-73 89730.sbd.miller
5-26-73 83535.sbd.miller.patched
9-21-91 138148.dsbd.GEMS
7-27-73 27779.sbd.miller
10-21-72 Set2% 94409.sbd.miller

As you can see, a fine helping of 72/73 with a couple of Bruce palate cleansers.
Groovin’ with GOGD is the only way to paint.

Both are awesome!!!! Same feel and level of play, for me at least!!! Good call on the Sportatorium for today!!! By the way, Boston Music Hall anniversary from 1973 is right around the corner!!! Don't forget 12/1/73 hasn't been released yet!!!! 11/30 &12/2/73 got the 4 disc treatment on Dick's Picks!! I am going to pack my bags for another virtual tour... First stop Tremont Street starting Monday.... Bobt

Yeah, haven’t gone there in forever...
Anthem to Beauty is awesome! Fortunate to have scored that on DVD back when...
That VHS doc also is good fo shore!

DV, too funny, you said Dark Side was one of your first CDs, it was probably the second album I bought after Framptom Comes Alive! On vinyl of course as that would of been mid seventies lol.
It’s so cool how this great music has stood the test of time and still very interesting to these younger generations.
I read about a record store guy in Jersey I think who said most of the young teenage male shoppers that come in have the same Zeppelin tee shirts, or Hendrix, or Dead and buy all the same albums we did. If they do go with something else, it’s a Greta Van Fleet or something very similar, next gen? or what not....pretty cool and a testament to how remarkable it all was and that we’re hopefully not JUST some old nostalgia duffers stuck in the glory days.
I guess thinking minds are thinking minds and no matter what the generation they can tell the difference between market driven, path of least resistance, machine like “creation” and something genuine and unique....ya know, like a band we all know and love!
Long Live Rock & Roll

EDIT: interestingly, the first CDs I bought when I bought my first player in 1986 were Blood Sweat and Tears Child is Father to the Man and Sgt. Peppers. Interesting because of how being a dead head for almost 10 years at that point had influenced my precious decision to get the weirdest, most psychedelic things I could find (didn’t get Dead cause I had all that on vinyl and wanted to expand my collection rather than replace it, yet here we are all these years later still doing both every chance we can! ; )

Love that video, it's amazing and prior to LST it was my go to Dead documentary video.
VH1 Legends from 1996 is a good one too if you come across it.
But Anthem To Beauty is great.

Funny, I was revisiting LST last night :)

Great Stuff!

I am for sure in on 5/22/77, thanks GOGD. I will also check out the full release. Hopefully, there will be an upgrade on the recording.

Yesterday, I watched Classic albums, The making of Dark Side of the Moon on Amazon Prime. This was really cool. What a release. I think this was the first CD I purchased in maybe 1985. When this ended, guess what pops up, classic albums The making of Anthem of the Sun and American Beauty. I have never seen this before. This was really cool. Came out in maybe 1997. Really great old footage. The most Hunter interviews I have ever seen. Produced by David Gans. Gans makes the comment that The Dead were about self determination. Amen! I think that is something that has always drawn me to the band.

Anyway, check this out if you have never seen it.

Stay well.