Grateful Dead

I use the term "attended" here liberally...I'd dropped a monster V8 into the camper pickup and decided to road test it with 3 pals and a Dead run. Guzzled half my pocket money on fuel alone on the trip up. We got up there from LA on the 29th and overnighted for the 30th show. Saw Bill Graham buzzing around out front. Pals Joe and Ralph found tickets and enjoyed the great 30th show while Mike and I heard the rumbles and rattles of the hall from my truck. I'd secured one of the last hotel rooms in the "Bay Area", which turned out to be Concorde with no Dead New Year's broadcast reception, so we went back to SF and the venue with a ghetto blaster tape recorder/receiver to get a broadcast tape. Before showtime, Mike and I were the only ones walking behind the hall a fair distance apart when a guy walked out the back door and holds up a plain white paper label with absolutely nothing on it and asks if I want one "backstage pass" for $30 bucks. Sounded unbelievable, but he DID walk out the back door. I felt kinda bad that I'd dragged Mike up here with no tix (and I'd spent most of my $ anyway), so called Mike over, he pays the dough, the guy simply walks off into the night and local neighborhood, and Mike cautiously walks up to the back door and disappears inside for hours. We could hear the rumble of the gig starting from out front, but the broadcast didn't commence until 3rd song Minglewood. The three of us stood around the blaster with other Heads. We were also joined by some noticably loopy locals including a big bearded guy who was very amazed the concert in the hall was coming out of the blaster, and some very nutty black cat who would keep rolling his eyes toward heaven and holding a sililoquy with a repeating yowl and falsetto of "Ooowwwwww! Mutha!". Finally, Maria Muldaur joined the band for Goodnight Irene, we've bagged a tape of the new songs Esau and Ashes To Ashes (Mickey sounded very gushy when interviewed moments later), and Mike comes out after "breakfast" with backstage tales of folks in various states of doo-dah, dispatch, and disrepair!

my first new years show.myself and three friends mail ordered,they all recieved ticket denial notices,what a surprise it was when i recieved all 4 tics requested.took the 3 to the shows.bill G. gave everyone sack breakfasts after show.

Another of Charlie Miller's offerings, lovely sound Looking forward to the encores with Maria and Rick Bob W - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Spanish Jam