U.S. Blues Empire State Building Takeover

Features

July 4, 2015
https://www.dead.net/features/50th-anniversary/us-blues-empire-state-building-takeover

U.S. Blues Empire State Building Takeover

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Happy 4th of July from the Grateful Dead! We're waving that flag, high and wide, atop the Empire State Building.

This "U.S. Blues" production was specifically designed for the Soldier Field Anniversary crowd, where members of the original band were reunited for the “Fare Thee Well: Celebrating 50 Years of Grateful Dead" tour 20 years to the day after the band’s last performance together.

ESB lighting designer Marc Brickman teamed up with the band to create the vision and technical design of the music-to-light show, which featured an assortment of Grateful Dead imagery in the mast of the building.

About the Empire State Building
Soaring 1,454 feet above Midtown Manhattan (from base to antenna), the Empire State Building, owned by Empire State Realty Trust, Inc., is the “World’s Most Famous Office Building.” With new investments in energy efficiency, infrastructure, public areas and amenities, the Empire State Building has attracted first-rate tenants in a diverse array of industries from around the world. The skyscraper’s robust broadcasting technology supports all major television and FM radio stations in the New York metropolitan market. The Empire State Building was named America’s favorite building in a poll conducted by the American Institute of Architects, and the Empire State Building Observatory is one of the world’s most beloved attractions as the region’s #1 tourist destination. For more information on the Empire State Building.

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U.S. Blues Empire State Building Takeover

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Happy 4th of July from the Grateful Dead! We're waving that flag, high and wide, atop the Empire State Building.

This "U.S. Blues" production was specifically designed for the Soldier Field Anniversary crowd, where members of the original band were reunited for the “Fare Thee Well: Celebrating 50 Years of Grateful Dead" tour 20 years to the day after the band’s last performance together.

ESB lighting designer Marc Brickman teamed up with the band to create the vision and technical design of the music-to-light show, which featured an assortment of Grateful Dead imagery in the mast of the building.

About the Empire State Building
Soaring 1,454 feet above Midtown Manhattan (from base to antenna), the Empire State Building, owned by Empire State Realty Trust, Inc., is the “World’s Most Famous Office Building.” With new investments in energy efficiency, infrastructure, public areas and amenities, the Empire State Building has attracted first-rate tenants in a diverse array of industries from around the world. The skyscraper’s robust broadcasting technology supports all major television and FM radio stations in the New York metropolitan market. The Empire State Building was named America’s favorite building in a poll conducted by the American Institute of Architects, and the Empire State Building Observatory is one of the world’s most beloved attractions as the region’s #1 tourist destination. For more information on the Empire State Building.

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John Perry Barlow

John Perry Barlow

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tfonts

9 years 4 months ago

Oh...it was WAY REAL !!!
And spectacularly way amazing, live, Saturday night 7/4 at Soldier Field. Kudos to the Shapiro brain-trust behind that accomplishment - unrivaled by any comparison. God Bless America and God Bless the Grateful Dead !! :-)
MJE

9 years 4 months ago

So, THAT'S what it was about!
I was at a Fathom presentation and couldn't figure out why they kept cutting to the ESB during "U.S. Blues." It got a little irritating after a while, since I wasn't even noticing the coordination between the music and the lights. NOW, it all makes a whole lot more sense!
wilfredtjones

9 years 4 months ago

U.S. Blues Empire State Building Takeover
Would be a great way to introduce a couple of east coast fare thee well shows, something that at least Billy K. seems game for. (as seen in the following interview)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXXCS23PCwE bonus interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEdhlX-hdNk

Happy 4th of July from the Grateful Dead! We're waving that flag, high and wide, atop the Empire State Building.

This "U.S. Blues" production was specifically designed for the Soldier Field Anniversary crowd, where members of the original band were reunited for the “Fare Thee Well: Celebrating 50 Years of Grateful Dead" tour 20 years to the day after the band’s last performance together.

ESB lighting designer Marc Brickman teamed up with the band to create the vision and technical design of the music-to-light show, which featured an assortment of Grateful Dead imagery in the mast of the building.

About the Empire State Building
Soaring 1,454 feet above Midtown Manhattan (from base to antenna), the Empire State Building, owned by Empire State Realty Trust, Inc., is the “World’s Most Famous Office Building.” With new investments in energy efficiency, infrastructure, public areas and amenities, the Empire State Building has attracted first-rate tenants in a diverse array of industries from around the world. The skyscraper’s robust broadcasting technology supports all major television and FM radio stations in the New York metropolitan market. The Empire State Building was named America’s favorite building in a poll conducted by the American Institute of Architects, and the Empire State Building Observatory is one of the world’s most beloved attractions as the region’s #1 tourist destination. For more information on the Empire State Building.

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Happy 4th of July from the Grateful Dead! We're waving that flag, high and wide, atop the Empire State Building.

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50th Anniversary

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that was real?!

Holy cow that was awesome. I saw it and was like wow is that real? Way to go guys! Way cool. Great show. Loved the fireworks! My 1st and best Dead show!

Empire State Building

The only place it was announced was on the Empire State Building website - but I caught a few moments of it while watching fireworks...amazing.

Empire State light show

I was sitting on my hotels rooftop bar on 37 Street and Lexington on the 4th of July watching the fireworks. Just a few blocks from the Empire State. Before they started my girlfriend came up to me and told me the Empire State building was putting on a special display and it was to music. She said there was a radio station playing the music but did not know which one. I watched the entire light show and never knew it was the Grateful Dead. We had a great view of the building along with the Bank of America building (founded in North Beach) which was sending red, white and blue lights up and down it's antenna. I was grooving to the street noise and thinking about Phil Lesh's description in his new book about his first night in Manhattan. Of course I was also wondering about what was going on in Chicago at that very moment. I had been following Micky Hart's Facebook posts and admit I was jealous I was not there. It's just funny how a long time deadhead like me could be just as in the moment without even being there. I just got back home from NY and found the video on deadnet. Very cool!