nm34@sdcc12.UUCP (nm34) (04/15/85)
Well, it had been a year and a half since I had last seen the Dead.
I got to recharge my Dead bateries again for another year or so on
Saturday night.
I left the show with definite mixed emotions. To start to explain
my feelings, as if anyone cares, I will say that I had a good time. The
Dead played well and the crowd was excited and full of the good people I
always meet at the Dead shows. There were several things I was
disapointed about. First of all I didn't like the Irvine Meadows
Ampitheater for a Dead concert. It was much too restrictive. There was
nowhere to dance. The concert authorities did not allow you to bring
food or water into the place. I can understand them not allowing bottles
or cans, but a plastic water bottle or a wine flask is not a dangerous
item and they just wanted to maximize their returns at the concession
stands. Another example of the concerts sites need for money being more
important than the concert-goer's comfort and enjoyment. I suppose if
they let me bring in an orange or a sandwich, I might have thrown them.
Next, I didn't feel that the Dead were really up to par. The
played their instruments well, but it only got "magical", as we Deadheads
know they can be, a few times during the show. High points were in the
second set. Bob was quite good in his songs. He practically carried
the show. I enjoyed "Throwing Stones" and "One More Saturday Night" and
"Truckin". Jerry was not at his best. THe one song I really wanted to
hear was "Crazy Fingers". They played it, but Jerry screwed up the
words and his guitar licks were adequate. I was dissapointed. Jerry
messed up the words in a couple of other songs also. You expect him to
screw up a few times in a concert, but this was too much. His singing
was also off on most of his songs. The oncore, "Baby Blue" was his best
song of the night. However, the crowd was restless by this time, so it
was hard to hear, at least where I was standing.
I was so unhappy about the Ampitheater, that during
"Truckin" I decided to take the songs advice and head on home instead
of staying a night at a nearby campground and go to the second show on
Sunday night. I gave my ticket to a friend to get rid of.
There were many reasons that I might have been disappointed; it was
my first Dead concert that I went to alone (although I met a few netters
that I hope to continue friendship with), or maybe I missed my wife (we
ussually go to the shows together), or maybe it is my prejudice towards
L.A. and the proximity of Irvine to it (dirt streaking off of my
windshield wipers after the show and only a couple of stars in the sky).
I want to emphasize that I did have a good time, and I cant wait for
my next Dead concert. Hopefully it will be somewhere that I want to be
instead of Southern Cal., where I wannt to leave.
- Ready to Leave San Diego
- Andy Bindman
"Looking for a chateau, 24 rooms but one will do..."