Grateful Dead

dead.net the official site

I had my real drivers license about a month.. was 16 1/2 and told my folks.. I WAS GOING. I had tickets, a car, gas money, friends and who cares if it was a school night! I remember that this was the day that Pope JP #2 was shot so mom and dad really didnt pay me much attention when I said adios and left for the less than hour drive from Beantown to Providence. I look back now and remember my first Stella Blue. I let loose and danced.... A great first show.

We drove down from Franklin Pierce College for this show. It was my second of 131. This was the show where I got it...if you know what I mean.I must've looked really green at this show. We were hanging around the Civic Center parking lot and some guy wanted to sell me something, shrooms, weed...etc. He asked me if I had ever tried drugs before. I replied in the affirmative. He then told me I looked like I had never done a drug in my entire life. Something about your second show that seems to hook you. I remember in between songs...looking at the band and looking around at the crowd. It was so unique. The whole thing was like this traveling family. The band seemed so comfortable onstage, pausing between songs deciding what to play next. The Deadheads would mingle. There was a unity between the band and the audience. It was one big traveling party.... so perfect in every way. Musically and culturally it was what I was looking for. That night changed the course of my life. The paths I would take, the music I grew to appreciate and love.

tom colamaria gr8flsquid thecrawlspaceguy