Greg from Chestertown

I talked to two local boys who went, one caught Phish and a friend of a friend caught Dead and Company. They both said the same thing. It’s a sensory overload, almost over stimulation. Sober sounds like the way to go. Performance enhancing drugs aren’t necessarily necessary. You’ll get stimulated enough.

I went to a James Taylor concert in Philly at the Mann in 1980. Debbie DelCollo and I are rushing into the show as we’re running late and about a dozen of our friends are already in the venue. Two guys are arguing in the parking lot, 30, no 35… I walk up to them and ask them what they’re arguing about. Guy says two tickets for the Grateful Dead Saturday night. I said , I’ll give you 35. ……that’s when it all began…..

Wow! That was a pretty good job of describing the indescribable. Thanks

Read yesterday that Bill Walton had passed. It musta been September, ‘80, going back for sophomore year of college. My roommate has a copy of Rolling Stone magazine with an article about the Dead and Deadheads. The centerfold is a handful of various Deadheads in their typical attire posing for the camera along with Bill Walton. Roommate is showing me this, points to one kid and tells me that he met him on tour and the kid was telling him about hanging out with Bill Walton and what a cool guy he was. Yea, the tall guy has been part of my Grateful Dead universe since the Big Bang.

Any show or weekend that starts with Let the Good Times Roll, …..you just can’t lose.

So, I Just Want to Make love to You was sung by Pigpen in 1966, a couple of times by Brent in 1984, and once by Jerry in 1995. Showstopper stuff there.

Sounds like a good time was had by all. I’m digging Believe it or Not. That’s a showstopper in my book.

So, it’s a 69 weekend?

The only thing I picked up from reading other year’s posts, the cops are looking for the hippie types when you depart the venue. Behave accordingly.

Ah, Kin-A , I needed that. August 17, Slower Delaware. There’s a show on my horizon. Life is good.

Green sky bluegrass is supposed to be some special stuff too

Early eighties, it seemed like they were off a little on purpose, I think they call that singing in a round. … since I first left, left home, that’s what I hear.

Always look forward to certain lines in certain songs to see ol’ Jer Bear would lay them out. First and foremost is in Terrapin, the word inspiration. Honestly , we would use that one to gauge Jerry’s health. When listening to Peggy-O, I check out how Jerry sings “What would your momma think?”. Early versions of Althea have some interesting deliveries of the lyric, Baby, I hope you don’t get burned. China Cat has Bobby and Jerry taking turns with Well, the sun gonna shine… and Jerry’s light shining through the cool Colorado rain. Any thoughts? Jump in…

The stars go fading one by one…..

The version of the spooky old Tree done by the Berenstain Bears is better than any hard to handle. My favorite book to read my kids back in the day. ….back in bed!

I found a website once that had the songs that the Grateful Dead played listed in the order of number of times played, from Drums/Space, Me and My Uncle right on down to quite a few that were only played once. The end of that list is quite intriguing. Some are associated with one off benefit shows with other artists on stage with them. Some, like the Master’s Bouquet are from spontaneous acoustic shows. I’m fascinated with the songs they tried and decided to shelve after just a few attempts. If I Had the World to Give is kinda the holy grail with Jerry giving it three tries. Woulda been nice to see him get that worked out like he did with Visions of Johanna. Late in the game creaky voiced Jerry would have done that one justice. I think. That’s what’s so beautiful about Dark Star Orchestra. We get to have these songs. It Makes No Difference would be sweet to catch.

That’s what I thought. I guess Dark Star could cover it in the filler spot.

Did the Grateful Dead ever cover Willin’ ?

Back in the day, I had a bootleg album of a show from Santa Monica ‘82 that had the same blank white album center and album cover.

I maxed out at seven shows a year for both Dark Star Orchestra and Grateful Dead. Fortunately for me, Dark Star played a lot of mid Atlantic area shows back in the day. We got New Year’s in Philly and Baltimore. They played my home town and summer home town, more than once. I swear they were following me.

Is there tax on condoms? No, they stay on by themselves.

Kinda weird, working on the Eastern Shore, looking across the bay and not seeing an entire bridge that’s always been there on the horizon.

That’s the best set list I have ever read.

Yea, gimme that or any other elective show any day of the week. How else you getting Pride of Cucamonga?

Many times as show opener also, if my fried brain serves me correctly. Dark Star had a few Bertha>Good Lovin’ combinations in their set lists a little while back which triggered some investigation on my part. Bertha rocks, one of my favorites, going back to my beginnings. Always loved watching the crowd bounce to that one. ….and Good Lovin’, come on, that’s Bobby channeling PigPen. Even a blind man knows when the sun is shining, cuz he can FEEL it…..!!!