The only regrets I have in life are those things that I did not do. The Oxford Plains Speedway shows are at the top of the list. And the fact that today happens to be the first day I look at this “Today in the history of GD” and it just so happens to be on that fateful day in ‘89. I was supposed to go, had a ticket, was ready and waiting. This was to be my first Dead show. My older cousin got me a ticket, as well as one for my older sister who was to go as my ‘babysitter’ since I was only 13; this was the only way my parents would let me go. To make a long story short my sister made the decision not to go (that B*tch!). Anyway, I had to wait till the following summer to see them for the first time. I have always been upset about this since they were phenomenal shows. (I haven’t let my sister forget it either, and she now regrets it as well! lol) I was thankful that my neighbor was able to get me the tapes of the show within a week but …..the dead were never allowed to come back to Maine, and I feel that I missed something really special. So, I hope you all who had the good fortune to attend it treasure your memories because from everything I’ve heard (tapes and personal stories) it was definitely one to go down in the history books of great shows. Cheers!
Just thought I'd remind folks here that Aud's doing this because she rocks.
Today is July 2. On this date in Deadhead history:
- In 1971, the Grateful Dead played their last show at the Fillmore West in San Francisco. Other One dedicated to Owsley.
- In 1981, the Grateful Dead played The Summit in Houston, TX.
- In 1985, the Grateful Dead played the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
- In 1986, the Grateful Dead played the Rubber Bowl in Akron, Ohio. Dylan sits in on Don't Think Twice and Baby Blue.
- In 1987, the Grateful Dead played the Silver Stadium in Rochester, NY.
- In 1988, the Grateful Dead played a fantastic show at the Oxford Speedway in Oxford Plains, ME. Great Iko>Jack Straw in the first set. A really good Blow Away and a nice Foolish Heart end the set. Set II has a great Crazy>Playin>UJB>Terrapin. Aside from the traffic and the fact that Maine is a long way from everything not named "Canada" or "New Hampshire," this was a pretty great weekend to be a Deadhead.
- In 1989, the Grateful Dead played Sulivan Stadium in Foxborough, MA. Playin>Crazy Fingers opens the show.
- In 1994, the Grateful Dead played a nice show at the Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View, CA. Good Music>Sugaree>Music starts things off and a good H>S>Frank starts the second set.
- In 1995, the Grateful Dead played Deer Creek Music Center in Noblesville, IN. Death threats, riots, gate crashing, oh my! The Summer of Death tour rolls on.
July surely is a good month for Dead show history...but I was at the Ventura shows in 87...and they happened a couple weeks earlier...Did I miss one? BTW...they were EPIC!!!!!!!! How much better can you get than the Dead at the Beach?! Ok...the sound was blowing around a bit, but the scene was so cool!
Today is July 1. On this date in Deadhead history:
- In 1970, the Grateful Dead played the Fairgrounds in Winnipeg, Canada.
- In 1973, the Grateful Dead played the Universal Amphitheater in Universal City, CA.
- In 1978, the Grateful Dead played Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO.
- In 1979, the Grateful Dead played the Seattle Center Coliseum in Seattle, WA.
- In 1980, the Grateful Dead played the San Diego Sports Arena in San Diego, CA. Jack Straw>Franklins opener. Good China>Rider in a seven song pre-drums second set.
- In 1984, the Grateful Dead played the Pine Knob Music Theater in Clarkstown, MI.
- In 1985, the Grateful Dead played Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, MD. Good Scarlet>Fire.
- In 1992, the Grateful Dead played Buckeye Lake Music Center in Hebron, Ohio.
- In 1994, the Grateful Dead played Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountainview, CA. This is one of the very few decent runs from this summer tour.
Your intrepid reporter lost her car in the lot for the first and only time in her showgoing history.
Aud,
So funny to read that. I remember wandering around for a good hour or so after an unbelievable show in Hershey back in '85 looking for my friend's very large, very yellow station wagon.
The best was the next day. There was a day-off between Hershey and the Merriwether shows and everyone woke up in Chocolatetown, USA staring at Hersheypark. The whole place was divided in half between the freaks and the families worried about the freaks. I bet they sold more chocolate that day than any one since. While riding the monorail, they were running ads for the park's other attractions including their zoo which had the slogan, "Discover the wonders of nature." Half the monorail car finished that line for them in unison.
glad to see validation of the RAIN and downpour coincidence. did not see too many shows but did see that one. folks think I made it up or imagined it. good show overall uneven at times.
you forgot samba in the rain in the 4 pack of rain songs.
Today is June 30. On this date in Deadhead history:
- In 1973, the Grateful Dead played the Universal Amphitheatre in Universal City, CA. Your intrepid reporter’s husband’s first show.
- In 1974, the Grateful Dead wrapped up an excellent tour at the Civic Center in Springfield, MA.
- In 1979, the Grateful Dead played the Portland International Speedway in Portland, OR.
- In 1984, the Grateful Dead played the Sports and Music Center in Indianapolis, IN.
- In 1985, the Grateful Dead played Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, MD. The jam at the end of Shakedown is a classic.
- In 1986, the Grateful Dead played River Bend Music Center in Cincinnati, OH.
- In 1987, the Grateful Dead played the Kingswood Music Theatre, Maple, Ontario.
- In 1988, the Grateful Dead played Silver Stadium in Rochester, NY. The band opened the second set noodling with Green Onions before going into China Cat.
- In 1995, the Grateful Dead played Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA. The very SECOND the band started "Rain," it began to pour. The band followed with Box and Looks Like Rain as well.
On this date in Deadhead history:
- In 1969, the Grateful Dead played the Barn in Rio Nido, CA.
- In 1973, the Grateful Dead played Universal Amphitheater in Universal City, CA.
- In 1976, the Grateful Dead played the Auditorium Theater in Chicago, IL. [So Many Roads – The Wheel]
- In 1980, the Grateful Dead played the Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, CA.
- In 1984, the Grateful Dead played the Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls, OH.
- In 1986, the Grateful Dead played the Alpine Valley Music Center in E. Troy, WI.
- In 1992, the Grateful Dead played Deer Creek Music Center in Noblesville, IN.
Location
And to top it off, the Sullivan Stadium show in '89 on the same date was the first show I attended! Though I had no idea it was called that, it was and always will be Foxboro Stadium to me. :-)