My First Show

Findng your way into a new phase of your life starts with a initial step forward. Becoming a DeadHead, might be the most accepting society to matriculate yourself into although there are bums along the road. Some times you'll be made felt less than because you didn't tour with band in the Fall of '89, Spring of '77, or saw a show with the Wall of Sound. A lot of that ageism has fallen by the wayside being that a freshman in college was not alive when Jerry walked the earth. I don't think I've held anyone to this standard because I was 16 in 1994, when first exposed to the Grateful Dead and it is my opinion that it is awesome that kids are still finding their way to the music of the Grateful Dead. Their mystical musical journey stretches across the ethos and the off shoot bands that keep the music alive. Phil Lesh's son just had a baby boy.  One day will he want to perpetuate his grandfather's legacy and be playing the music of the Grateful Dead at Terrapin Crossroads into the next millennium? Jerry in an interview in the 90's, said that he'd like to live to 2000 to see what that millennium had in store. Even though he did not, Jerry Garcia's musical legacy continues to grow and could continue to reach people until "there was no ear to hear, you sang to me."

I saw my first live music concert 20 years ago today. I was a little grunge boy, who was pretty obsessed with Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, and of course Led Zeppelin. This had begun to change with tapes like Junta, Seven Turns, and American Beauty slowly being put into my rotation. So when my friend Matt asked, "Do you want to go see the Dead with me?" My answer was pretty ambivalent and if not for his persistence I probably would have skipped out.

We got bracelets to get our place in line. I skipped buying a bag so I would have the 35 bucks needed to get a ticket. His number put us in a better position to get tickets and I gave him money so he could go into the Toy Box and pick up the tickets. So weird a spot for a Ticketmaster but it had been like that for a long time. Across the street from the Toy Box, there is a large park along the water where I used to play baseball. I remember seeing weirdly dressed kids sitting in folding chairs in front of there while I maned Left Field. "What are they doing there?" I used to think and six years later I was one of the kids there. After getting the tickets, I basically forgot about the up coming event as I got sucked back into hockey and my life as an emotionally troubled high schooler. 

Days beforehand, Matt and I realized that we didn't have a ride to the show. I didn't have my license and his mother wouldn't let him drive over the bridge to Long Island. So we recruited a friend who was a year older to give us a ride. As I mentioned in 'If It's The End Or Beginning', JP, all these years later would give me my first tattoo. Since he did not have a ticket he got two friends, Matt and Brian to join him in partying in the lot. 

That afternoon we all met up and piled into his Jeep as the rain poured down. First we went to Deli Express to pick up road brews, I bought a four pack of tall boys. I remember sitting at a 45 degree angle drinking my tall boys as it rained buckets driving to Nassau Coliseum. As the only Islander fan in the car I laid out the directions to the venue. So the lull of the road, the angle, the raindrops, and beer swept me off into a daydream. By the time I snapped out of it we had missed our exit on the LIE. We got off at exit 42 and backtracked to exit 38 to jump on the Northern State to the Meadowbrook. We pulled into the parking lot as the rain tapered off and as most fans had already made their way into the venue. 

We briefly walked around the parking lot; I bought a shot of Vodka and a gooball and walked into the venue. We made it to our seats just in time for lights and the opener "Let the Good Times Roll," an old R&B song that I was familiar with thanks to my mom's oldies radio station. I watched the guy next to me, who was about forty dance along to the music. It made sense to me and I kind of emulated it. I was getting into the groove. I felt very comfortable with these new surroundings. I wasn't going to drop out and go out on the run but I was very happy to be there then. Most of the first set was a blur. I didn't know any of the songs but it didn't matter. I was catching lightning in a bottle and it was just a matter of harnessing it's energy. 

After the set ending, we walked out into the concourse and I made my way to the merchandise table. I scanned all the shirts and bought the cheapest one. It so happened to be a spring 94 show itinerary shirt. It's a shirt that I kept and still have today, despite that it's gone a little yellow with the years.  

A massive choir of "Rain," flourished as the second set opener, filling my eyes with stars. I didn't connect the downpours that we drove through with this song, even though it seemed so simple. When my eyes were open to it, a new portal of music speaking as a melody but as a commentary of the surrounding is inspiring. As mentioned, I owned"American Beauty" at the time and yet didn't recognized the two songs that I saw from that album. Instead, the song that stuck with me is "Going Down the Road Feeling Bad." Although I don't remember knowing the song the easy lyrics stuck in my head. It must have been cemented in the less then comfortable ride to the venue.
After the show we walked out into the parking lot and ventured over to a large bus that was bopping dance music. A dance party had erupted in the middle of the parking lot, where some cars had cleared out of the way. We had started to move into the mix when the mounted police came through to break up the fun. I remember almost getting tramped by a horse, whose leg came up to my shoulder. We jetted back to the car and met up with the guys who had had their own adventures and we talked about it all the way back home.

I don't remember school the next day. I probably wouldn't remember the concert all that well, minus the "Going Down the Road," if it wasn't for the tapes. A bunch of other friends from high school experienced that show also as their first. The guy I had gotten 100% of my tapes from, Jeff, acquired the tape and circulated it among the seven of us that saw our first Dead show. It was of course the most cherished in my collection because I was there. So take a friend to a Ratdog, Phil and Friend, Dark Star, or Mickey Hart show. It might just be one of those life changing events for that person.

Download the SBD HERE and HERE, or the AUD HERE. At the AUD link and THIS link you can read the glowing reviews of this show by fellow Heads that might not be as bias as I am.

I: LTGTR, Bertha, Greatest Story, West LA, Masterpiece, Roses, BIODTL, Peggy-O, Music
II: Rain, Victim, Box, He's Gone, TWBS, GDTRFB, Drums, Space, Watchtower, Days Between, Lovelight E:Brokedown

Some updated pics that I've found d of this night. Also my friend at Setlist Tee's made a shirt of this night also. Oh then I got a new guitar too. 

The Compass Always Points To Terrapin

Today in Grateful Dead history we go back to the famed year 1977. Although this is the third show of 1977, it's the first one that exhibits the tightness that makes this year so famous. This was the first night of a three night run at Winterland. They played 10 gigs at Winterland in 1977; three in March, three in June and four in December. The three June shows are an official box set and pieces of the two of the December shows are part of Dick's Picks 10. Yet of all these shows, this was the first one of any of them that I got as a teenager. I only seeked out this show because it had the first "Fire on the Mountain" and the only time that they used the coda "Terrapin," the "At the Sliding" instrumental, which is titled "Alhambra." Download the soundboard of this night HERE and HERE.

The first set soothes like a thin piece of butter on warm piece of toast. The rare extended solo over the verse of "Mississippi Half Step," the vibrant "Cassidy," and the delicate "Peggy-O," all set up the first ever "Scarlet/Fire." There is much less "Scarlet" than there is "Fire" in this first combo, but the new vehicle is their chance to explore. The band is full speed ahead on the melody even though Garcia is no where close to being set on the lyrics but "More that it gives the more it will take." Clearly jazzed the band excel as they build and build the "Scarlet" rift that ends this set.

The second sets starts with a crashing "Samson" and sparkling "Good Lovin'," before getting to the nitty gritty in a dark beautiful "Estimated." Although this is just the tip of the iceberg for this song, it does start the band's exploration of this time signature. The "Terrapin" is more formed than the previous two. As it seems like they are more comfortable with the tune. As the jam crashes to a halt there is some indecision with the band as what to do next. They have obviously enjoyed the tune and want to stay with the groove which props Garcia into the "Alhambra" jam with Phil in tow. Jerry is not at all prepared for the "At the Sliding" lyrics so it's just a jam before the drummers take lead. The band cuts loose on the "Not Fade." Listen at the 10:38 mark, where Garcia makes a sound with his guitar like a balloon letting all it's air out. The crowd goes nuts as the band starts to make the ascension to the conclusion verse. As the lyric chant fades they pick up the often paired "St Stephen" before closing with "Around and Around." The night cap is "Uncle John's," which was the most common encore of 1977 along with "US Blues" and "One More Saturday Night," all being preformed ten times there. 

I: Promised, Half Step, All Over Now, Sugaree, Minglewood, Peggy-O, Cassidy, Scarlet, Fire

II: Samson, BE Woman, Good Lovin', Ship, Estimated, Terrapin, Alhambra, Drums, NFA, St Stephen, Around E: Uncle John's

Thank You For A Real Good Time

Today is the anniversary of the first show from what is dubbed as the last great Grateful Dead tour; Spring 1990. It might be unfair to call it the last great tour because it was more than that. Spring 90 was the last exceptional tour. This tour shook the fabric of the Grateful Dead's patchwork quilt. Night after night the band treated the audience to titillating shows. Download the Matrix copy of the show HERE and HERE.

This show might have started with the lyric "well I married me a wife" but the line that sets this show apart is when Jerry sings "Loose Lucy is my delight." Listen as the audience goes absolutely ballistic afterwards. Most audience member know that this is the first one in almost twenty years, it is actually the first one since 10/19/74. The song fell out of rotation during the Grateful Dead hiatus; just like "Black Throated Wind," "Jack Straw," and "China/Rider." "Straw" and "China/Rider" got reinserted in 1977 but "Loose Lucy" seemed to be forgotten after 33 performance of the song. But after this re-introduction the song, "Loose Lucy" was regularly preformed with the final one appearing in the forth to last show on 7/5/95.

Spring 90 are shows that you can expect the unexpected, like this unusual second set opener of "Crazy Fingers." This sets up a steamy "Playin'/Uncle John's/Playin'" sandwich. The first "Playin'" is a mind bending and expansive and ranging before landing at the familiar "Uncle John's," which as it starts to jam into a close is quickly poked and prodded at by Bobby. As he pulls the and stretches "Uncle John's" back into the "Playin'" jam. A fantastic "Black Peter" highlights the second half of the set before they crush the "Lovelight" closer. Although Jerry struggles with the lyrics, the "Black Muddy" is the icing on the cake of this show. 

The band returned to the Cap Center the following night to celebrate Phil Lesh's birthday and busted out "Easy to Love You" for the first time since 1980 and "Revolution" for the first time since 1985. Then they closed the three night run with another bust out of "Black Throated Wind," and features Bobby showing off some alternative lyrics on the song. Both these shows are official Grateful Dead releases. One is "Terrapin Limited" and the other is included in the "Spring 90" boxset. 

I: Cold Rain, Stranger, Never Trust a Woman, Mama Tried, Big River, Loose Lucy, Memphis Blues, Row Jimmy, Let It Grow

II: Crazy Fingers, Playin', Uncle John's, Playin', Drums, Space, Mr Fantasy, Miracle, Black Peter, Lovelight E: Black Muddy

This is the result of the tattoo session I mentioned in my last blog. And I'd like to wish a happy birthday to Jeff, one of my oldest friend and regular reader of the blog. 

If It's The End Or Beginning

Today is the anniversary of the first show of 1977. The board of the show can be downloaded HERE and HERE, although it should be noted that the "Playin' Reprised" is missing. Accidentally delete some years back and with Archive.org being audience only, I've been unable to replenish my copy.

Although the calendar states 1977, this show still has the loosely goosey style of playing that was typical in 1976. These first two shows are like that before they tighten things up starting three weeks later at the Winterland. They tighten things up because of the producer of "Terrapin Station" requested they do so during the recording process but also because the new song "Terrapin" demanded it too. The song was not something that the band could willy-nellie their way through. In this regard "Terrapin" is very similar to "St Stephen," which is why 1977 saw some of the band's best performances of the song. 

Of all the great Garcia/Hunter collaborations, "Terrapin" might be the most complicated epic of all them. So much so that Hunter didn't want the story to end. He continued to write coda's to epic, which he couldn't get Jerry to bring to the table with the Grateful Dead. Although Jerry co-wrote the music Robert Hunter on his record "Jack o Roses." Garcia might have wanted to let the song conclude with it's immaculate conception that delivered the song originally. Robert Hunter moved into a empty house, while cross town Garcia was driving around San Francisco. A monstrous thunder storm hit the Bay Area and Hunter started scribbling in his notebook while Jerry started singing a melody, and the next day they got together to fit melody to lyric page. Garcia said that writing a song was not normally a easy thing for him. In a 1991 interview he said, "I don't think I ever actually written from inspiration, actually had a song just go bing! I only recall that happening to me twice; once was with Terrapin and other was Wharf Rat." 

This is the only time that Grateful Dead opened a show with "Terrapin." It is one of two times that it appeared in the first set of a two set show. The band did struggle at times with the song but the song had the ability to evaluated the audience and turn a mundane show into a wow event. Like they did on 3/28/91 when an uneventful show turned into the first time since 7/8/78 and last time the band ever encored with "Terrapin."
So a couple of weeks ago, I met with an old friend of mine from High School. He was actually the one who gave me a ride to my first Grateful Dead show, since I didn't have my license yet. He and I set an appointment for this evening, so that I could get the Terrapin Turtles tattooed to my arm with my boys initials in the instruments. 

I: Terrapin*, Minglewood, TLEO, Estimated*, Sugaree, Mama Tried, Deal, Playin', Wheel, Playin'

II: Samson, Jed, Music, Help, Slip, Franks, Promised, Eyes, Dancin', Around E: US Blues

* First one

A couple of news bits, first there is a great new website for searching Dead shows and songs called deadstats.com. Then the most recent Rolling Stone (with Philip Seymour Hoffman) has Dave's Picks Volume 9 as number 30 on their list of Top 40 Albums. Lastly please sign your name to the petition to vote the Grateful Dead to the Kennedy Center Honors for 2015, which would be their 50th anniversary by following this link. 

Close Encounters of the Dead Kind

After coming off what is considered by most to be their greatest year, 1977, the band auspiciously started 1978 with two gig where all the vocals were handle by Bobby. The Jerry laryngitis shows started 1978 and fall tour would end with the band canceling multiple gigs due to Jerry's illness. Yet in between there are some very special and invigorating shows. This is the first great show of 1978, download the SBD HERE, HERE, and HERE.

This show like their most famous Cornell '77 show opens with "Minglewood." They follow it up with an upbeat. "Dire Wolf" like they would later do on their best show from this year 7/8/78. I draw this two comparisons because this gig is right in between these two legendary gigs and it provides some context to it's place on the GD timeline. This has always been one of my favorite "Cassidy" for whatever reason. It all fits together well and is white hot. The "Row Jimmy" here is electric. This is a clear graduation from the slow and steady 1973 versions that I love. The slide playing is spectacular. Bobby really seems comfortable playing over this chord progression. 

The second set "Samson" also features some extra vigor, which is a complete foreshadow to the bands April tour. April 78 features some of the liveliest versions of the bands song catalogue. It you ever need a three hour energy shot of music just pull a show from April and you'll be at SPAC in no time. The "Terrapin" is much more textured as the puts their heart on the line. 

"The Other One" is a mind altering substance as they toy around with it as Bobby crushes both the verses. Afterward the band gives Garcia room to insert of of his ballads but instead he teases the Theme to "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." Although he doesn't play the full chromatic theme the audience picks up on it and cheers him on to keep up the jam from one science fiction fan to another. Most didn't realize that not only was Garcia a fan but he appeared in the film, his second ever appearance in a movie. In 1977, Garcia appeared as one of the stars of "The Grateful Dead Movie" (of course) and as an extra in "Close Encounters." He is one of the many people who is standing on the Indian hillside in the first twenty minutes of the film. I don't think that even Jerry could have picked himself out of all the extras there. Jerry uses this "Close Encounters" jam to segue into a crushing "St Stephen" bypassing the ballad.
This wouldn't be the only time in 1978 that pop culture snuck into to Grateful Dead rotation. On 4/19/78, Bobby was practicing his slide to the radio. He yelled over to Steve Parrish that was walking by, "Tell Garcia, I'm not going on stage unless he sings this song tonight." So that night they encored with the first ever "Werewolves of London."

I: Minglewood, Dire Wolf, Cassidy, Peggy-O, El Paso, Jed, Straw, Row Jimmy, Music

II: Bertha, Good Lovin', Ship, Samson, Terrapin, Drums, Other One, Close Encounters, St Stephen, NFA, Around, E: US Blues

…Reason Taters The Force Tears Loose From It's Axis

 If you turn up disc 3 of your copy of "The Closing of Winterland," you'll hear a DeadHead shout "Dark Star" moments before they play the opening notes of the song. The crowd rejoices as they play the song for the first time since 10/18/74 in the building that was now officially closing. The band did not make DeadHead's wait another four years after this as mentioned in what was Part 1 of my "Dark Star" post. This is Part 2 and is going back 35 years to Shea's Theatre in Buffalo New York. Download the Charlie Miller FOB Audience tape of this show HERE.
This setlist is very similar to the last show I featured, minus the smoking hot Shakedown that propels Phil to intro the song, but this show is one that I can only listen to during the colder months. I put it on for a drive to Buffalo over the summer and had change it midway through the first set. Yet I've listened to it 3 or 4 times this month and it feels great like a warm fire. It's strange how some shows can do that. Because the Nassau definitely does not do that to me.

The "Bertha" on this show is another example of why Keith was on his way out. A song that he's bright keys would sparkle on is mysteriously absent from until the solo break. He ticks the ivory for a little bit and then slips off as the song jumps into "Good Lovin'."

This might be the most mysterious "Dark Star" of them all. The band an "Other One" sandwich that holds the "Drums/Space" there is the slow descention into what seems to be "Stella Blue" before twisting it into this magnificent "Dark Star." Just like the Winterland version the jam somewhat progresses into an "Other One" type jam before Bobby leads them into a spacey rhythmic "Not Fade." Again only one verse was sung on this version 1/10/79 and the New Years one. 

After playing "Dark Star" three times in twenty days, the band would only play it twice until the Formerly the Warlock gig from Hampton in 1989. The two version were played it on New Year's Eve 1981 and the Greek Theater on 7/13/84. That means over the span of 766 shows "Dark Star" was played twice and both were on the West Coast. Pretty amazing and it was this rarity and the songs abstract format that made "Dark Star" the holiest song of them all.

I: Promised, Sugaree, El Paso, Peggy-O, All Over Now, Jack A-Roe, Minglewood, Stagger Lee, Straw

II: Miracle, Bertha, Good Lovin, Loser, Estimated, Other One, Drums, Space, Other One, Dark Star, NFA, Sugar Mags E: OMSN

After announcing "Something new is waiting to be born" on Jerry's 71st birthday, the new jerrygarcia.com has launched. But I caution you, don't go on it unless you want to be sucked into its vortex. It's a beautiful web design and there is suppose to be addition infrastructure add, so don't get frustrated if you can't add your shows. 

Pouring It's Light Into Ashes…

Today is the anniversary of a marvelous show from the Nassau Coliseum from 1979. Coming off what was considered by some to be their best New Years show, the Dead rolled into NYC for their first two gigs at Madison Square Garden before shooting out to the Island. (The New Years show was second on the DeadHead's request to be released as Dick's Picks 3 to Cornell 77 according to DeadBase.) This first of two nights is important because it's the first East Coast "Dark Star" since 1974, and briefly gave DeadHeads the hope that there would be many more to come. If you want to narrow it down further, this is the first New York State "Dark Star" since Utica since March 21, 1973. Just before this gig the band played their three gigs at the Nassau Coliseum and the middle show featured "Dark Star."

Being that the full New Years gig at the Winterland was played in 1979, this gig is the second of three "Dark Star" played in 1979. This is the longest of these three "Dark Star," and interestingly enough Jerry only sang the first verse in all three cases. This one like the Winterland feature some fantastic fluttering notes by Jerry. This one is also very Bobby and Keith  heavy. Keith tries on this one to stay very close to the theme and Bobby, and is an example of his mimicking which the bandmates found annoying causing him and Donna to exit after this brief winter tour. Bobby is a catalyst on this "Dark Star," leading the band to explore and give it legs to stretch into "Drums."

This show is also the last time that "Dark Star" and "St Stephen" were played at the same concert. The pair were linked on 8/20/68. Previously they had been using "Dark Star" primarily paired with "China Cat," but the band believed that "Dark Star/St Stephen" was the combo that they wanted to develop for their "Live Dead" album. The final time the two songs were combined was at their final Fillmore East show on 4/28/71. "St Stephen" went on hiatus after this show until 10/15/83 at Madison Square Garden, it appeared 3 times in 1983 and then permitly left the Grateful Dead's rotation, for more on "St Stephen" check HERE.

DeadHead's at the New Years Winterland show brought a sign in forming the band how many days since the last "Dark Star." It had been 1535 days but because of the 1975 hiatus it only figured out to be 189 and it wouldn't even figure as the longest show or day gap in the song appearance. This appearance is only a four show gap and you can download the best Audience copy of it HERE.

I: Promised, Dire Wolf, Mama Tried, Mexicali, Jed, LL Rain, Stagger Lee, El Paso, Row Jimmy, Passenger, Loser, Music

II: Shakedown, Miracle, Bertha, Good Lovin, Dark Star, Drums, Space, Wharf Rat, St Stephen, Around E: JBG

If you want to get hip to a really cool Grateful Dead side show, check out the recent show by Furthur drummer Joe Russo and his Almost Dead project. They played a recent gig on 12/27/13 and is posted on Archive HERE.