Grateful Dead

... Dancin', smokin', drinkin'... what a great weekend, what a great time, what a wonderful concert... Jerry and Bob were in perfect form. Greg F. introduced me to the Dead, I still miss him and wonder what happened to him... oh well. Life was great back then... still good when you listen to the Dead.

Beautiful Summer day. I had just dropped out of CU Boulder and was living on the hill, selling shrooms and pot for a living. Working part-time at the Youth Hostel for free rent and change, where I met my future ex-wife. Tripping and laughing at Warren Zevon jumping around the stage, thinking his music really did not fit. The show was memorizing. I was just getting into their music, having being turned on to them by some friends. Beautiful hippy girls throwing flower petals. Thought I recognized the chubby guy who introduced the Dead after shadow-boxing as someone who tried to pick me up a week earlier. Bought a Mr. Natural T-shirt outside the stadium.

Drove out from Long Island in a VW diesel rabbit. It was a little cramped but as I recall we made it on two tanks of gas and in 36 hours. Arrived Friday morning went to the campus of Colorado U and checked out Folsom Field. The gate was locked but we met Uncle Hock who told us about the last time the Dead played at Folsom Field. Still early morning we wandered across the street and found the Lazy L motel. Couldn't pass that up! The show was late afternoon with Warren Zevon opening both days. On the seventh I remember clouds and sun with clouds taking over by the end of the day. First set started with Jerrys' volume down. Listening to tapes later Jerry was smoking but didn't hear it that way the first time. First set songs were well played and enjoyable. Second set started with a smokin Bertha -Greatest. I was ready for take off Althea and Lost Sailor/Saint were not the songs I was looking for in that spot. The space out of drums was very nice. NFA ,Wharf Rat and Good Lovin seemed off the mark. I wasn't cleared for take off Token encores - even 2, seemed lacking. Went back to the Lazy L subdued, hoping for something that could at least take us to the heights of the Flat Irons at the next show.The Saturday night at the Lazy L was one of those scenes. Fun loving heads fear and loathing in Boulder.

This was my FIRST show!

This was my FIRST show!

Ended up going to Alpine Valley and Grand Rapids too. The best of memories with one of my most favorite people, Jeff Bayer.

The late great Warren Zevon opened things up for this show in the south end "horseshoe" of Folsom Field where I was attending college. The girl I was craving at the time went with me and we parked ourselves right in the middle about 15 yards from the stage. Zevon did a very nice set and was in good voice that day. Dead came out and just knocked us over. Remember this really trashed/drunk guy tried to hone in on our spot, crashing into people and shoving his way in until a couple of other guys who got these spots helped me "guide" him to the side but not before the clown tossed his cookies all over our blanket and two others. Really impressed the lady but she was still having a great time at the show, we just had to watch where we sat in between sets. Got a couple of pretty good photos which are buried in a box somewhere. Even after we split up she joined me for Dead (and Kinks) shows on several occasions. We remain good friends to this day and chat about our love of the music.