Grateful Dead

These were the days! The Dead was still our private little band and we could slip into obscure places like the long gone El Monte Legion Stadium, a really decrepit boxing arena, for great shows sans crowds.

Those were the "Good Ole Grateful Dead" indeed. I don't think there were very many people there. The venue had actual fireplaces on the side walls.It was very cold in there and I thought it was a full house because we were bunched up together pretty good there on the dance floor, but after the show we turned around and saw the crowd with the lights on and there couldn't have been more than a few hundred people there.The freaks behind us probably were huddled togehter for the warmth. Brrr! I think it is the 1st time I heard the phrase "Deadhead" We were standing in line talking with other people and someone said something just kidding like "the only good freak is a dead freak" then my friend Mark said "the only good Head is a Deadhead." Laughter ensued and we used the phrase ever since. I don't assume he started the phrase but who knows. Saint Michael

There were few people there, makes me wonder today how the hell the band got by on so little ticket sales... I remember leaning on the edge of the stage during a break after Beat It On Down the Line and chatting with Lesh about some nonsense.

Cold Rain & Snow, Mama Tried, The Frozen Logger, Easy Wind, Till The Morning Comes, Truckin', Friend Of The Devil, Me & My Uncle, Candyman, Big Railroad Blues, Minglewood Blues, Black Peter, Beat It On Down The Line, Morning Dew, Casey Jones Dire Wolf, China Cat Sunflower-> I Know You Rider Good Lovin encore Uncle Johns Band

This was my first show. All I remember was I was knee-high to a married grasshopper, had a couple of GD lp's and it was only a 5 minute ride to go see the boys from my house! I wasn't about to turn that one down! wuzzat? the Grateful Dead playing in 'my' backyard???.... let's hit it!!