Grateful Dead Music Forum

I was just looking through my box of old tickets and reminiscing about some great shows that I had seen:

Dylan at the EMU Ballroom in Eugene in '99. He had just played with Paul Simon for a crowd of about 60,000 and then announced this show on a Thursday for the coming Monday eve. The place holds about 900 people and it wasn't even packed. I was online behind Ken Kesey for tickets! Dylan was incredible, playing in this small venue trying out new songs (it was the first time he played Down Along the Cove!) and generally having fun!

Patti Smith and Neil Young at the Gorge. Can't remember the year, but it was incredible. Peter Buck from REM came out with Patti for a Not Fade Away encore and then Neil came out, pouring rain, and rocked the place so hard I thougth the Gorge would cave in. It was filmed for the Neil Young movie and if you've seen it, you can get an idea of what it was like to be there.

The Stones, Hampton VA in '81. It was Keith Richards birthday and we went because...we thought they were getting old and might not be around too much longer! It was the Tattoo You tour and they played for a long time, incredible show, and it was broadcast on cable tv so I've since found a double dvd of it and it was as good as I remember!

Bruce Springsteen, Nassau Coliseum, New Years eve.'80. Right after the River came out. I had never seen anyone take that crowd and OWN them like Bruce. He had people rocking, would calm them down, talk, played for 4 hours and people sang every word. It was perhaps the greatest concert I have ever seen.

Others that popped into my head...Zappa at the Greeks, Frank Black acoustic in a small bar for free, REM coming to my college, Elvis Costello at Duke (playing Ship of Fools), Tom Waits standing next to my seat waiting to take the stage, Lou Reed shaking my hand after a front row show, Santana coming out to jam with Clapton in Charlotte, 12th row for one of the many WHO farewell tours, Ten Years After opening for ZZ top in Greensboro after a smoke-in, 2nd row for Warren Zevon, etc...

Anyhow, it got me to thinking that some of you may have some great shows that you went to other than Dead shows that I'd love to hear about. Well?

Not quite old enough to have seen the Dead with Jerry. So, I'm including Phil and The Other Ones in this....

The Other One's first tour, Deer Creek ('97 I think). First song: Shakedown Street, Bobby doin his rock star thing. Instantly fell in love. Plus did it right by going with some very experienced Heads who showed me how to REALLY enjoy a show...

Front Row Center for Widespread Panic at The Murat in Indy in '98. I swear me and Schools were eye to eye the whole show.

Dylan and Phil Lesh at Deer Creek '99 I think. My first psychadelic experience......I can't quite recall all the songs, but I KNOW I had a good time...

Vegoose '06 was really great too. Got to see the Flaming Lips and Ween for the first time and they both really turned me on. I recommend to anyone, CHECK THESE BANDS OUT! They put on fabulous shows.

Springstten at the Academey of Music in NYC in November 76. I was also at the Nassau show on new years eve in 80 which was great but I would give the nod to the earlier show.
Joan Armatrading at the Beacon NY touring in support of the Walk Under Ladders album great band and innovative lighting.
Richard Thompson at Webster Hall in NY supporting the Hand of Kindness album.
Los Lobos at Irivng Plaza. Right after their EP on Slash came out. I believe it was their first show in NY. Absolutely great!

Jerry Garcia Band: 9/15/89
Garcia & Grisman, Dec 1991 Warfield

King Crimson ("Thrak" sextet) June 1995 Milwaukee, WI

Phish (faves of each year before 96):
10/2/91 Barrymore Th, Madison
5/2/92 Cabaret Metro, Chi, IL;
4/12/93 SC Ballroom, UofI, Iowa City
10/26/94 Orpheum Th, Minneapolis
11/28/95 Knoxville Civic Ctr.

Frank Zappa: Auditorium Th, 1988
Bill Monroe: July 1994, Taste of Chicago

Neil Young with Booker T and the MG's (w/ Steve Cropper) at Shoreline around 93-94. They pretty much went through Neil's whole career including a mini-acoustic set in the middle.

It was sweet.

Hey Tigerstrat, any chance you have that JGB Alpine show? I was there, and ha ve been searcing for it ever since. Please let me know.

Gov't Mule. 2004, I think. First time I saw them... I was blown away. Not the best show I ever saw but definitely up there. 12th row in a small, small theater. You could see everything. And the bass drum was just about direct in front of me and it was miced loud. I could feel the pressure from the drum every time he kicked.

ELP in the 70s was a wild act also. Rotating, strobed mini-stage for the drums when they did CarnEvil No. 9. And Emerson absolutely smashing a Moog synth to bits and breaking everyones ear drums.

Also saw Lynyrd Skynyrd absolutely steal the show at a Wet Willie, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Winter Bros. concert in the 70s. Crowd called them back for three... three encores and they were the second act. Winter Bros headlined. After the third encore, you could see one of the Winters and a couple guys from Skynyrd talking behind the stage. Would give a lot to have heard what went on there.

That is a few of the cooler ones I have been at.

Dave

For me, the most "blown away" I've been outside a non Jerry Garcia/Dead Show show:

1> Radiators at the Aladdin Casino
2> Zero at the Hog Farm
3> Talking Heads "Stop Making Sense"
4> Widespread Panic at the Warfield Theater

Parliament Funkadelic, Roger Waters!

SCI put on a fine show! No votes for SCI??

hands down best other then the dead for me is Medeski, Martin, and Wood....fuckin unbelievable

last time String Cheese rolled through the Northwest I saw them at the Cuthbert Amphitheatre in Eugene,OR for only the 1st night of a 3 night run.....so incredible...outdoor shows are the best. Widespread Panic's 3 hour festival set at Vegoose last year was also mind-melting. Umphreys McGee at the Roseland in portland last tour was one of my favorites also...

WSP 1988 0r 89 or so in Als electric warehouse Greenville, SC for about fifteen people and me and my two buds. Any and all of the Georgia Theater early panic shows. Pink Floyd in Clemson's Death Vally Stadium. The Other People at some farm in Pacolet, SC.

Merl Saunders and the Radiators
Capitol Theater in Olympia, WA

Sometime, I think, in 1997.

Merl came back to my buddy's house after the show, and we all jammed out till sunrise.

Have to go with Jane's Addiction at MSG in October of 2001.

Absolutely insane!