this show was one we talked about for months - and here it is almost 30 years later and still talking. The rain, the mudslide, the lightning strikeing at the PERFECT moments; the 'herd of cattle' walking/swimming through the very swollen creek back to the parking lot; and the MUSIC. I still smile picturing the scenes in my mind's eye! If anyone happens to have a copy of this, somehow it isn't in my collection but I'd love for it to be. I'd be so grateful!

what a long strange trip it continues to be.

For those of you who were not there - Read the comments and BELIEVE the passion behind them.

For those who were there - Remember this one forever!

I agree with many that have commented that this was the most incredible experience of my Deadhead life. I saw somewhere between 95 - 100 (Lost count, sorry) shows myself. I was luck enough to catch a New Year's show at end of '85 and also saw them once in an amusement park (Wonderland in Toronto anyone?), but this, by far, was the most mind blowing.

My friend even ran away from home to go see this show! Rode a bus from Doylestown, PA and then hitchiked out of Baltimore. The whole story is amazing really involving spending the night outside the Sears customer pickup roof at the mall, hidden bags in the woods that we found after the show with lighters in the rain, etc. Another time for all that as I don't want to clog things up here.

THE SHOW! Oh my, what a show! I agree that the boys fed on the frenzied madness and energy of the crowd this night. For those who have never been to the Merriweather Post Pavilion I HIGHLY recommend it! If you are anywhere near that area go see a concert there, ANYTHING! It is set in the woods in suburbia and is just super cool.

I think this was only my 4th Dead show so I was still pretty new to the scene. The energy in the air was palpable. There was a buzz in the air (and in many heads) that is unlike anything I had experienced before, or since for that matter.

The first set was amazing in its own right, the playing was fantastic, the boys were grooving along with the crowd. It rained but we didn't care since we were in the pavilion near the left rear.

The second set was legendary. The RAIN, the RAIN, the RAIN! Wow I have never seen such an intense storm. I remember looking back at the "Mud People" over and over again, shaking my head. Many times it was like a waterfall coming off of the pavilion and you couldn't even see them. When it did slow down Mud People were sliding down the lawn a la Woodstock (the original one for you young folks) and it was total chaos!

China>Rider>Sampson was so freaking intense my brother blew a fuse. He kept asking my friend and I if we should go. We were like "Go? Go where?" His altered state couldn't stay there anymore and he left. The band then immediately started playing He's Gone (which was really creepy). I found out the next day he got so confused trying to get out he actually climbed the fence! He's the only one I know who ever scaled the fence to get OUT of a Dead show! LMFAO! The lightning strikes were absolutely INSANE and interrupted the sound multiple times, especially during Trucking and The Other One. While I am usually a fan of soundboards, this is a show where you should search for a clear audience copy and listen with your headphones. You can hear the energy build in the crowd as the night goes on, especially during lightning strikes. After Bobby does his "Aboriginee Rap" during Sugar Mag he says "So what do you think about that?" There is a 1 or 2 second pause and then this girl screams as her mind is completely split open as she processes what he just said. Absolutely priceless!

The next day there were cars under water, motorcycles under water, etc. Hell, I'm surprised there weren't people under the water. That place never recovered from that night. Neither did anybody who was there. That would be great to have some kind or reunion party like somebody suggested, it was THAT remarkable.

Peace!