Grateful Dead

The only times I saw the band in California was this 2-night stand at Golden Hall. This was a great show - better than the night before. The cops insisted on hassling us for playing Frisbee while we waited to get in, but the staff inside were super friendly. The place only held a couple thousand people (if that), and there was a nice bar out back that would gladly serve you a drink in an actual glass - that's the only time that happened for me at a Dead show. The crowd went nuts when they opened with China Cat and the I Know You Rider was ripping. An outstanding Sugar Mag to close. We went home happy......

jerry could duck walk but he couldn't sing that night...the whole band pitchen in an played a rocking ruscus rarely ever seen ! one more saturday nght indeed

Set 1-China Cat: great slow solo, very nice buildup in jam, definitely a highlight -Rider: VG 1st solo, great 2d solo; Hot HOT start to show -Mama: hot 2 run solo, VG version -Mexiali: energy still very high -Peggy: slow things down; solo-slow & pretty 1st 2 runs, beautiful 3d run, nice 4th run; VG version -Cassidy: nice solo; great backup vocals by Brent; jam-Jerry soaring out of the gate, awesome -Easy to Love: reward for Brent, short pretty solo, VG version -Althea: solos are good but nothing special; outro is pretty hot though -Passenger: good energy, screechy Bob solo, Jerry fans at end of the jam, VG version Set 2 -Alabama: energetic, nice solo in the middle -GSET: band really playing off each other in the jam -Ship: solo 3:55 – 6:35 , very good (close to great), Bobby tries to return to chorus halfway through; VG version -Terrapin: wonderful solo, despite some flubs; transition jam is short but pretty spacey for Terrapin, Jerry hits some beautiful highs at the end and just before the “since the end is never told” verse; great tension and excitement; Jerry is unbelievable from about 10:44 -11:14; great version -Playing: jam 3:15 – 14:37 (end) , spacey right away, loses a little steam, then comes on strong with a crazy peak around 11:30; VG version -Drums: -Space: very short -Lost Sailor: well-done -St of Circumstance: good energy, toe-tapping -Wharf: good solo 6:00 – 7:20; good outro 8:17 – 9:34 -Sugar Mag: let’s dance; short, soaring 1st solo; excellent jam 3:05 – 5:25; VG version -Saturday: good rockin’ finish Overall: Energetic show, band sounds like they are enjoying themselves. Highlights are China > Rider, Cassidy & Terrapin. VG show, 1st set very hot, 1st half of 2d set too, then post-drums a little less so, but still pretty good. 8.5/10 overall.

This was my first live Dead show. From the start, I had good luck. A week or so earlier, my friends and I went to see the Grateful Dead Movie at a great old theatre in Pacific Beach, and they had a raffle for some prizes. The grand prize was two concert tickets, which I won! I had already bought a couple of tickets, but these were better seats. So I gave those to two other stoked friends, who hadn't seen the Dead yet either.

I believe you are mistaken. The shows Jerry did not sing were January 7 and 8,1978 at Golden Hall. Check out those set lists. This show was actually ewplayed just yesterday on The Grateful Dead Sirius XM station and Jerry was in fine voice.

These 2 nights were my first shows also then we went to Pauley Pavillion for the next show. Both nights in San Diego were exceptional. Had a friend from the Bay area down with a few friends. R.I.P. MIKE, I think of you every time I listen to this music my friend.

not sure if this is the exact show, but I snuck in backstage at Golden Hall about this time... great show, aided by the chunk of Afghani hash I ate courtesy of Marmaduke, who was nibbling on what looked to be a quarter once of it...