Grateful Dead

Guess I should check in more often.

Where in Iowa?

This was a weird show for me. The first time I saw the Dead was in 1972 in St. Louis. This was the second time. They had slowed their touring down quite a bit in between. And rumors that they were breaking up were around (at least in Iowa where I went to college). The band's sound changed drastically between the two shows and I was not ready. The first show was like a cross (or maybe I should say was a cross) between Skull and Roses and Europe '72. Donna didn't sing. Pigpen was alive but sick, and Keith was decidedly in the background. It rocked (I had third row seats). By the time we hit Chi-town the band had changed speeds and I was taken aback and largely disappointed. More importantly, Garcia just seemed out of it. Bobbie was tryin' to rock, but it just seemed like when the band handed the song off to old Jer he wasn't ready. Very soon after this I heard an acquaintance of mine was helping Garcia shoot up heroin. I have no idea if this is true. But, of course, his drug problems became a matter of record soon thereafter. I haven't heard tapes of the show. So, I could have it all wrong. It was thirty years ago. My least favorite show. Oh well.