

- Post reply Log in to post comments235 repliesizzieJoined:Which would it have been? Most life-changing, for whatever reason.
- slingshotJoined:My first show...
1972. I left my job managing a large headshop in a poster and blacklight manufacturing company in
Houston to go hitch-hiking with a friend to Colorado and then out to Hermosa Beach, California. While
out in Hermosa Beach I got word that the Grateful Dead were playing at the Hollywood Bowl. I went to
my first Grateful Dead concert. I had been a fan since 1971 but my stereo got stolen and my "Dead" album
was on the turn table. I have never been able to find a video of that concert. Life-changing? You bet.
Their music and videos take me to a better place. - BT ProvidenceJoined:On the bus nearly 50 years
Ever since 1971 when I first heard Bertha and 3/28/73, I've been on the bus and never getting tired of it. All the energy combined to help produce our (with Barry Barnes) recent book: The Grateful Dead's 100 Essential Songs: The Music Never Stops. (We hope you'll like it.) Still listening to the Dead every day -- it never gets old.
- BT ProvidenceJoined:On the bus for almost 50 years
Since 3/28/73, it hasn't been the same. All these years the energy grew, culminating in the publishing of my co-authored book (with Barry Barnes): The Grateful Dead's 100 Essential Songs: The Music Never Stops. Still listening to the Dead just about every day -- it never gets old, at least not as old as I am. :-)
- Row-jimmyJoined:Sacramento... 1-17-78. It…
Sacramento... 1-17-78. It led me on the road to being a "born again x-tian" of all things. I had a home-made sign that said "Welcome to Sad Sac" They must have seen it. They did "Black Peter " that night. Could've sworn they did it just for me! It was psychic!
- Anonymous (not verified)Joined:Death don'tShoreline was always my favorite venue. The sun setting through the spinners, the vibe of the crowd, good sound.. and mostly because they always seemed to kill it there. September 29, 1989 was no exception. China rider into set 2 was sweet, terrapin into drums and space was crazy... but when Jerry dropped his glasses to the end of his nose, looked at Brent like a father about to give his boy a whoopin, then pushed them back up and started Death Don't... ho - ly - shit. I still get goosebumps. Leaving the show I remember the buzz - the simultaneous elation over the fact they just pulled one out they hadn't done in almost 20 years (giving credence to the hope they would someday do more than tease St. Stephen or others) and a sort of panic trying to figure out what it meant.. quickly overridden by the aforementioned elation. Brent was gone 6 months later.
- TurtlelipsJoined:Life changing showDidn’t see the Dead until 1972, so am a newbie. But my life changer was Fare Thee Well. Yeah, hokey, I know. Must have been half a million Deadheads in downtown Chicago. No, Jerry didn’t do the lead work, but they were back. The old and the young laughed and cried together. A five month old baby in headgear to protect his hearing, sat thru his first Dead concert, behind me. I felt in a very timeless place, watching a new birth. Love to all
- drb888Joined:Life Changing Show9/21/82 MSG. It wasn't my first show, which was also awesome (3/9/81),but although I already considered myself a deadhead, it was the first show where I let the music take me totally away. OK, the red gels helped, but I had dosed many times before. It was a magical night, opening with PITB, and the first set ending with an astounding China>Rider. And the second set was great too- I recall a really soulful Black Peter. Someone mentioned east coast vs west coast deadheads. Growing up in NYC and the environs in the 70s and early 80s, when you saw someone with a GD shirt, there was an instant connection, like we were brothers or sisters. When I moved to California in 85, it was very 'so what'. Strange.
- RoczillaJoined:Best Of Both WorldsFor Me , the life changing show was Jerry Garcia Band and Bobby and the Midniters at New Haven back in 1982. The reason was I was able to see both sides of the coin,as well as have it stand on end! Jerry and His band opened and played extensive sets.Then Bob Weir came out and did the same, then both bands jammed for a tremendous encore set or two! If anybody has the set list for this show please reply to this comment. The reason it was a life changer, was I found out that their music inspired me to appreciate what life is all about!
- Heywood JablomeJoined:It wasn't a particular showIt wasn't a particular show for me it was the copy of Bear's Choice I got in the cutout section of whatever the record store was at the time. I must have played side 2 a thousand times, Smokestack Lighting and Hard to Handle. Then flipped it over to hear Katie Mae and the rest. That was in 1974 I was 14 and I never looked back. Even today I don't listen to much else besides the Dead, I'm currently on a 74' kick streaming every show for that year, pretty much the best year in their history.