Grateful Dead

Symphony orchestra entered in formal dress by back side door to enjoy the 2nd set...very delightful people keep your character, enjoy living, share your fortune, OXOX Merple Reddin

CosmicloyedThe 4 of us from around the USA (Chicago, Oakland, Hawaii) i was born in Fla., so it made sense for me to drive, until lunch in Ft.Myers . we had theese empty glass vials lead sealed, so the 2 of us that probably set some sort of record for carelessness.

What a wonderful scene it was, heads everywhere, roads closed all over downtown, camping right next to the venue. 2 of our crew had rooms in the hotel right next to the venue, as did a lot of dheads, and the hotel looked like something out of the haight, heads everywhere, tyedye everywhere, hanging out of windows, streets full of parties and partying people, enlightment everywhere for 2.00 a hit. This was a great two night run in st. pete.One of the crew wrote the hotel after the show, stating that they had gone to the hotel for a nice quite weekend, and what they got was hippies hanging out all over the hallways, of course, this was not the case as they were heads and was just trying to scam the hotel, guess what, it worked, they got a letter back appoligizing for the mix up and got free weekend stay at hotel of choice anywhere in US, plus a refund for the weekend. I had stood in line for 24 hrs to get tickets for everyone, got them for first night, but could only get ticket for myself for 2nd nite, which is another story.

I remember standing on the floor just behind third row center when the lights went down. I hopped over into the seat in front of me and its owner never showed. Weir's under-drum-riser guitar cabs were pointed right at my head and they were LOUD! Good times, although I bet my memory of it is better than the tape.

Drove up from the Miami show, got a hotel room right across the street, and hung out. That night (or the next) hung out with some blond girl blowing bubbles on sitting on some steps, playing with my "trippy toys" (halographic paper in strips on a stick that looked like sparklers - sold them there and they were a hit!).

Still look back fondly on this weekend as one of the best ever. Miami and the 2 St. Petes were shows 2-4 for me. This is when I really got into the whole scene. The camping/shakedown lot that was set up a few blocks from the arena was one of the best, most chill I experienced. “Ice cold California doses”, beautiful guitar playing/singing hippie chicks that looked like twins, partying all night. Smallest venue I ever saw the band in, too. Those 2 nights in St Pete were special.

I've a deep abiding love for the music performed at this GD show. I didn't attend but fell hard for the music the first time I heard it on my friend Stan Roberts' audience recordings shortly after he got back from tour, and to this day those recordings and shows can raise the hairs when you have the opportunity to really listen (loud). It's fun to read the comments from those who attended, especially to the extent that descriptions are so consistent w/ what I imagined that run of shows was like & what the scene was like, given the sound of the music and sound inside the venue.