Grateful Dead Music Forum

Just curious as to what venue everyone likes the most…..and please tell us why. I know The Gorge and Red Rock are pretty much no brainers but tell us why and even a little story would be nice. However, don’t be fooled by this poll because I’m sure your going to vote for the only one you have been too. Then again, if I stand corrected and you have been to all venues…well….kiss my ass!!! Lucky SOB!



I'm know there are others but lets start here...

I've been to the Greek too, back in the 80s, but I voted for the Gorge cause its the only really good venue within driving distance of home.


Calaveras County Fairgrounds was my all time favorite place to see a dead show.

Red Rocks!!!!!!!!!!

Ive never been there but Im planning on it and its just gorgeous!

Out of the places Ive been I really like SPAC and I dunno its name . . .. an outdoor arena in Hartford, Conn, that the Dead played at in like the early 2000's.

I doubt if 5% of rukinders have been to the Goodfoot Lounge! And...The Palace? Palace Theatre in Louisville is certainly the most BEAUTIFUL theatre I've ever seen music in, and that includes the State Th in Kalamazoo, the Orpheum in Minneapolis AND the Warfield. Palace of Auburn Hills OTOH is just another b-ball arena.

Red Rocks gets my vote, three words: You Enjoy Myself (6/11/94)

I like the small spots...

Mishawaka

Of all venues to choose from and all venues I've seen the boys at it's hard to beat msg. Now I know it isn't the most intimate setting (understatement of the day warning) but of all the place I've been to you could not possibly beat the garden for energy when the boys were "on". (parochial sentiments warning!) Unfortunately for me I never traveled further west than alpine valley so I missed out on a bunch of great venues.

Frankly it really didn't matter where they were playing as much as HOW they were playing. But all else being equal there were definitely some venues that had a leg up on others.

Another favorite is spac. Great shows there, Ive seen. (yoda alert)

Harrisburg was reaaly nice. I remember jamming under some bridge with a bud, scarlet begonias comes to mind, on the banks of the Susquahanna? maybe? It's a bit of a blur but a highlight non the less.

Boy there's a bunch more.

Winterland was my favorite, not because it was the prettiest or acoustically best, just the for number of shows I saw the Dead play there. It was their "home" for a while; with the giant Rolling Stone Lips and Skull and Roses banners, the black lights on the ceiling, the cracking plaster and the steep balcony seats- if you were too stoned you could always sit down and see the band even if someone was standing in front of you.

Out of the places Ive been I really like SPAC and I dunno its name . . .. an outdoor arena in Hartford, Conn, that the Dead played at in like the early 2000's.

SPAC Saratoga Performing Arts Center. I saw the Dead play there in '04. a few days later we trucked on over to Hartford to see them at the Hartford Civic Center.

SPAC was nice though. the campground after the show got stormed by everyone. the poor people who owned the grounds tried to turn back the first few cars. as soon as the first car to just drive around the guys went we followed. crazy.

CaptainTrips wrote:Red Rocks!!!!!!!!!!

Ive never been there but Im planning on it and its just gorgeous!

Out of the places Ive been I really like SPAC and I dunno its name . . .. an outdoor arena in Hartford, Conn, that the Dead played at in like the early 2000's.

i live really close to spac, heard it's a nice venue but i've never seen a show there myself

As an east coaster for the present list I'd have to go w/the Beacon...saw them there in 76...Best place I have seen them however was in Jersey City at the Stanley Theatre(1972) an old 1930's Movie Palace with a balconey,chandelieres'velvet walls a procenium ...you know the whole 9 yards...I think there is a different Stanley Theatre in Pittsburg...Capt. Trips in 72 and 74 they played an outdoor venue in Hartford called Dillon Stadium...Don;t know if this is the place your thinking of.

I would have loved to see them at the Stanley and Winterland....

was born too late!

I have to agree with the gorge on this one. I love red rocks, but ther beaty of the columbia river gorge and the mountains! I love the pacific northwest!!!

Spac is a great venue too

i havent been to red rocks, but the pics look amazing, im going out there this summer to see a show for sure.

I guess Alpine 'cause I never been to the other arenas-not even MSG.

Been to the Garden and Beacon. Never saw a show at the Rocks but did bike to it and walk around and it does not take much imagination to say a dead show there would be memorable. The Garden has a lot of energy but it is far to big, the acoustic suck, and you are forced to walk through long cooridors with billions of people, not a good thing when your in a concert frame of mind. Then again to hang out in Manhattan before and after a show is pretty sweet. Beacon is a great spot but so are alot of nice theaters that size.

Been to the SPAC sometime in the late 80's to see a show. Had a great time in the lot before the show but when I got out of the bus I was in no mind set to deal with the mass of people so I watched from the fringe. One of the worse shows I saw the Dead play so my feeling are mixed on that place.

My favorite present place to see a show is the State Theater in Falls Church, Virginia. Classic old theater with plenty of room to dance by the stage and lots of comfy chairs for space and R&R up top. They also have good beers at a reasonable price, great acoustics, easy free parking, don't hassle people, and it is easy for me to get to.