Grateful Dead

I'd seen the Dead before, but this was the one where I "got it" in spades. I'd arrived solo the night before and slept in the car. Early next morning was the long lineup, then both Angels and horse cops compacted the line; I remember only being able to see just a girl's hand and head from under a knot of Heads saying "Yeah, I'm alright, don't worry about me". Thankfully for her, gates opened a bit early.When we briskly walked in the gate I was astonished to see that monster sound system in the morning sunshine, looking like a giant Martian hieroglyphic. Planted myself a couple dozen feet in front of the stage and lo and behold there are two high school guitarist buddies Neil and Mike. We did the dots and waited. Mike kept saying "I don't feel a thing" and we keep telling him "You will". This is repeated at regular "are we there yet" intervals, so we finally tell him he'll sink to the depths of hell or something to shut him up. Eventually, there's an eerie quiet and we look down to see Mike with a white knuckle grip on his lawn chair, lest he lose his grip and slip loose into the sky! ...and it was show time. I really enjoyed Maria Muldaur's set, with John Kahn on bass, and became a life-long fan on the spot. John came back with Jerry on banjo in a bluegrass band incarnation named Great American String Band, which was my closest brush with the Old & In The Way thing. Finally the Dead came on with a meaty new US Blues which immediately had everyone, Mike included, dancing and bouncing around. My only concern was staying clear of Neil's flailing elbows, but I was having a ball! Scarlet and ChinaCat/Rider were big faves in that first set as yellow passenger jets climbed into the blue sky in the background from the local airport. Break-time included the obligatory "Sgt Pepper's" album on the PA (guaranteed good vibes), and a chance to grab a drink and a Monster LightningSkull/Weed T-Shirt. Back into it with Promised Land, then another newie (Ship Of Fools), then rippin' into the Truckin>Let It Grow (no Prelude) medley. We were bathed in crystal clear sound that could crack like close thunder or drop to the quietest nuance of Jerry's little pinkie on the fretboard. Just too right for words. Eventually to the energetic end; Sunshine Daydream>GDTRFB>Saturday Night, then DRIVING THAT TRAIN just to squeeze every last synapse into harmony. It was simply a perfect perfect day, and it's true; the music never stopped for me. (p.s. I swear I wrote this review already a few months back, but it's presently AWOL, so if the computer sends it back here again sometime, please don't be cranky, okay?)

We took one look at the stadium and headed for the only spot w/shade, the last row in the upper deck, directly in front of center stage. By sitting with our backs up against the stadium wall we managed to stay out of the sun and avoid a nasty sunburn.

This show was awesome. According to the setlists, I'd seen Scarlet Begonias before, but this one was the one that opened my ears up. It's the epitome of how tight they could be. It didn't take long for them to lose the tightness either! Yes, a sunny, hot day, many minds were blown. Listen to Bobby's parts on Tennessee Jed too!