How Do You Explain a Dead Show?

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January 22, 2009 - 5:17pm

65 replies

marye

Joined:
May 26, 2007

By suggestion from phatmoye: "A lot of my friends and co-workers have never been to a fest or Grateful Dead show. I've tried to explain it to them but I'm at a loss of words. All I can do is smile, smile, smile and tell them that it's nothing but kindness. i'd love to get some feedback from some heads on explaining what to tell them."
The question seemed to strike a nerve in the tour topic, so we're giving it a home of its own!

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January 24, 2009 - 5:52am

#41

GratefulGigi

Joined:
July 20, 2007

A Grateful Dead show....

:)
January 24, 2009 - 5:43am

#42

Mr. Pid

Joined:
December 22, 2007

I think

Gypsy Cowgirl has nailed it. You don't explain it. You can't explain it. The shows explain themselves. Until you've been to one, you can't possibly comprehend. And once you have, you never need to ask again. It's an experience that traverses more dimensions than mere verbal language can communicate. Admittedly, it's not going to work for everyone. But for those who do "get it," they all seem to get it instantly and intuitively. Best taken with eyes, ears and mind open. Conversation is always more interesting than recitation, so speak your mind and not someone else's.
January 24, 2009 - 3:14am

#43

TigerLilly

Joined:
July 2, 2007

OH Phatmoye!

Grate poem, Grate idea for explaining. Will take the liberty of doing the same-post a show poem here that I put in the poetry thread ages ago! Drops fall softly While the notes flow through our ears We keep on dancing Our fingers draw the music Patterns in the air Our feet mimic the rhythm Drums on the grass My neighbor smiles at me As a rainbow appears over the stage The melody changes Sunshine daydream We are still dancing Twirling our own rainbow Along the moon-path ********************************** It's the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine
January 24, 2009 - 12:04am

#44

Gypsy Cowgirl

Joined:
August 14, 2007

There is no

explanation.....ya just have to do it..Well, other than FUN ...xoxo Gypsy Cowgirl
January 23, 2009 - 11:38pm

#45

GratefulTwinz

Joined:
January 4, 2009

Run Forrest Run For The Roses!!!

To semi-quote a Great American:"A DEAD SHOW IS LIKE A BOX OF CHOCOLATES:YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU'LL GET."
January 23, 2009 - 10:44pm

#46

Moye

Joined:
January 11, 2009

explaining the dead

Went to a show,People were spinning, Looked at the crowd, People were grinning, Their about to come on, I heard someone say Then I got lost in the music, From the first song they played, Didn't take long, To find myself there, Everone was happy, No one seemed to care, After it was over, And all said and done, Twas then I awoken, To the grateful dead fun! Phatmoye So the kids they dance and shake rheir bones!!
January 23, 2009 - 9:42pm

#47

Hal R

Joined:
June 13, 2007

and sometimes you do that

over and over without even knowing it If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear to man as it is, infinite. William Blake
January 23, 2009 - 9:39pm

#48

Hal R

Joined:
June 13, 2007

can't explain

You just drop your jaw, your eyes get big and you start dancing. If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear to man as it is, infinite. William Blake
January 23, 2009 - 9:39pm

#49

Hal R

Joined:
June 13, 2007

can't explain

You just drop your jaw, your eyes get big and you start dancing. If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear to man as it is, infinite. William Blake
January 23, 2009 - 8:53pm

#50

theotherone2

Joined:
January 1, 2009

Splainin the Dead

On a good night it was bettern the best sex. The interplay between each other, the sometimes silent, somtimes thundering ques, the ability of any one member to lead the rest of the band down a new path with a simple phrase or chord was improvisation at its finest. Never stuctured, always right on the edge. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't. On a bad night like a plane crash. Did someone say coverband??? Who else can pull off Merle Haggard and the Stones in the same set. The mix of country, folk, bluegrass, jazz, blues, and straight ahead rock and roll have never been equalled. Uncle Bobo said it best "Theyre not only the best at what they do, theyre the only ones who do what they do" And then there was the cat in the GD movie "The bottom line is quite simply stated, there is NOTHING like a Grateful Dead concert

By suggestion from phatmoye: "A lot of my friends and co-workers have never been to a fest or Grateful Dead show. I've tried to explain it to them but I'm at a loss of words. All I can do is smile, smile, smile and tell them that it's nothing but kindness. i'd love to get some feedback from some heads on explaining what to tell them."

The question seemed to strike a nerve in the tour topic, so we're giving it a home of its own!

Love, Peace, & Harmony

The worst thing I ever saw at a Dead show was at W. Palm Beach in '82. I was sitting in the 5th row before the show and people were still filing in when some "friend of the Devil" threw an empty half-pint bottle out of the stands and it hit a pretty young woman in the head. She was really freaking out and had blood streaming down her face. Her boyfriend did a good job of trying to calm her and getting her out of there to seek help. Besides that I'd never even seen so much as a fist-fight. There were easily over a million people at the 71 Grateful Dead shows I saw and for the most part it was a million acts of kindness that I remember.

yeah...

at Jerry shows at the Keystone I used to just leave my camera and ask the perfect stranger next to me to watch my stuff for a minute. Sometimes a completely different stranger would be there when I got back, but I don't think it entered anyone's head to rip me off. Ripping someone off at a Jerry show would just be an off-the-chart bad thing to do, or so we all seem to have thought.

I took 3 newbies to a show this year....

They were used to going to heavy metal shows, and told me they were used to most of the attendee's at shows to stay within their own circle of friends. They said they were used to seeing fights break out , and everyone wearing black clothes.We carpooled to the show and arrived 3 hours early. They were shocked at how warm the feelings were amongst the entire crowd. They were also completely surprised to find so many people who travelled across the country for the show they were about to see. So if I were to explain it to a newbie, I'd just tell them that it's not just the music you're there to see. They should expect the unexpected, and be ready to see a flea market with clothing-jewelry-smoking needs-bumper stickers-posters-etc.etc.etc. Lotsa love, and no hate!!

I wouldnt explain it..

I would have them watch one.. They are actually playing one on MSG this Friday at 9PM.. tell them to watch it.. theres a preview of it here: http://video.msg.com/Home/This-Week-on-Music-Fridays

All these stories and

All these stories and descriptions make me wish even more I could have seen it.

Not like anything you have been to before!!

Either you Love em!Or Hate them! Or just there for the party:( Just my View. Smiley D Do For Other's You Will Feel Better. Guaranteed!!!!

HA!!!!

The circus is in town....sort of...and we are the exhibits!!

i have absolutly

no explanation at all its simply magical

One of my first Dead Memories...

When I was eight or so... in the late 80's... I was allowed to go out in the open arena. Dancing and running about, because there were such great people. I was out dancing and having fun then, the music ended, I was still playing/dancing as people were putting down their blankets. I moved to the other side of the stage to find my dad. A couple who had set up their blankets on the floor got very upset at me. Telling me I was being rude for stepping on their just laid down blankets. Because I had no idea what was going on they felt the need to scare me... As I stood there being berated by these jerks. I was slowly surrounded by a group of AMAZING people.. they explained that the need of a child to find their parent was much larger then the need to keep a 5*5 square of seating area. I felt so protected. So undeniably safe. I still remember that feeling of being hugged after feeling so scared. One woman came over and held my hand asking if I knew where my parents were. I said I did, and pulled her with me. I took her back stage, and introduced her to everyone I knew. I talked her up as the coolest woman of all time. I don't know what happened to her. I do know that I cannot explain how much I appreciate knowing how amazing it is to feel loved, supported, and protected as a small child. That is what I got from dead shows, a knowledge of a very large hug.

like a desert spring

The approach to a spring or running brook was the occasion for life and activity. ... Nor can you, who have never stood by a bubbling spring, in a strange, wild land, with the thought that it may be miles and miles to another drinking place, comprehend the satisfaction afforded by the full-mouthed swallows from its cooling wealth. George B. Currey, 1853, Oregon Trail

So, you can't. You have to…

So, you can't. You have to take them. Which I've done to my children and husband and brother and brother in law and nephew and friends and the response is always, "Ohhhhhhhhhhhh! Now I get it! Let's do it again!!" LOL!!
Now, with Jerry gone, we have to do the best we can to expose new peeps to the music and the vibe and the best shows that I've attended that help to bridge the gap, so to speak, are the Dead & Co. shows in the summer. Outside venues with large Shakedowns, in the East SPAC, Blossom, etc. tend to be best for impromptu villages. I've also taken children to Dark Star Orchestra which is a fantastic show and a good scene.
Dance on everyone!