I caught the original band the first swing through. You'll forgive me if I sit this one out.

Enjoy yourself though. Really! The (Grateful) Dead shows were some of the most fun and enlightening experiences of my young adulthood.

To be a quibbling Deadhead, the last 20 years of their career would have been from 1975-1995.  I'm thinking there are a couple two or three shows in there that would qualify as "prime."

Have fun at Furthur.

2 words - donna jean

zra,

There were some moments with Brent I agree. His harmonies, for me, were much better than Donna ever contributed. Some of the China Dolls were downright beautiful. As a player I really liked Keith's acoustic piano better than the Hammond of Brent. 

I used to hold 77 in the highest regard, esp. May, but I really don't think that they hold a candle to that Ark run in '69. I'd actually take some of the jazzy '74 sets (louisville, jai alai, etc.) over those peak '77s.

We could go on and on about this :)

I can't tell you how many times I have been completely entraced and blown away by an early 70's Playin' only to have Donna come in after an incredible jam to shatter the whole thing. I cannot figure out for the life of me why the boys, who must have had great ears as musicians (esp. Phil with his formal musical education), added Donna Jean to the lineup. Sure, it must have been nice as a 'head in the crowd trippin' hard to just stand there and watch her sway in the purple light but she never really added anything IMHO musically.


I hear you about Lakeland 77. I'm also partial to Binghampton that fall and of course San Bernadino in Feb.

donna was (is) tone deaf. they never figured that one out.

she's also one of them born agins now ain't she?

Good discussion.  I never understood Donna in the band.

Right, Donna can sing when she can hear herself. I don't really think that she added much flavor to the band however.

I'm walking on eggshells heading down the Northrup in November. Been a long time since seeing any incarnation of GD. My run of shows wasn't that long ('81-'87) and I never listen to that era. It pains me to hear JG's voice start to "age" in the late 70's. It will be very weird to see Bob and Phil in their more mature phase. Certainly the setlists leave me drooling which is why I'm going. Hopefully the music will be good and the patchouli won't choke me out.

the thing keeping me from the northrup is its ready to cave in around you. i was stuck in the balcony for a joan armitrading show and it was moving so much just due to foot tapping that i thought we were all done for.
overheard at dead shows:
"look at that dude's ballon! it fits his face"
and my all time fav from the 5-0
"shut it down mr. falafal pita man"

*"it's all because of nitrous."* ~ out of it deadhead carrying a double fist full of balloons to his friend. dead lot, autzen stadium, eugene OR, 1994

i think that was the same year we were sitting behind the stage up in the stands (more shade than the stadium floor, provided by the scoreboard...

behind the band on the stage was a couch with about 5 folks sitting on it. each had at least one balloon. on a equip crate next to the couch was a green army duffel and a tank inside. for the better part of an hour, we watched as these folks hit off the tank over and over. after a while, the on;y one left was a woman who'd fill her balloon, drain it, fill it again and repeat...she did that a few times, passed out on the couch for a half hour and then woke up and started it all over again...

so many brain cells...

hippie crack is (or was, as of 96-2000) pretty popular around the spreadhead community. i used to work harmony park, and did for the first two spread shows. we confiscated so much goddamn x and a dozen tanks...still didn't get them all...