Grateful Dead

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great show Hells Angels everywhere

Very nice Iko-Iko and other 1 transition. I remember that there was a Hells Angels security team next to stage that intimidated lots of youngin's. there was a spring music festival earlier in the day at SUNY Albany which was the first time I saw Robert Hunter play, and the First time I saw Bonnie Raitt play. Overall, and fine fine musical and magical day....

The show took place at the Field House on the campus of Rennsalear Polytechnical Institute (RPI). A spectacular day of music. Memories of Bobby, Jerry, and Donna doing a hula during Iko Iko. At the end of He's Gone they turned up the bright, bright lights behind the stage, temporarily blinding us and Jerry WAS gone! This was the show that someone accidently ripped a sink out of the wall in the bathroom -- nothing malicious, just over-dosed adventures. About 300 degrees inside the hall with no air conditioning. Yup, Hell's Angels in attendance -- no problems but I DO remember them roaring through the post-show traffic jam... "One of them is going to hit my car and I'M going to get blamed for it!" On the drive home entered a traffic circle and went around, oh, about three or four times before I saw an exit that looked appealing. Glen

went to the Albany Springfest with Bonnie Raitt and Robert Hunter same day

The day started in the fields at SUNY Albany. Many other schools present with great banners for an all you could drink beer truck kind of day. Bonnie Raitt was great and Flock of Seagulls was well...Flock of Seagulls. I remember Donna and a few other band members showing up for Robert Hunter and then the caravan moved to RPI's fieldhouse. We got lost or just tired of driving and parked near some bar. Decided to walk up the hill to the field house. Walked through woods and backyards till we got to the show. Just on time for doors opening and then the cram fest to get to the stage. Stayed with one friend but lost the others. Great Iko and then the trek to find where (in our altered state) we had parked the car. After several meandering hours and stops to rest in the grass, we were certain that we were hitching home. Then we caught sight of the neon bar sign and as we arrived at the car, our friends emerged from the woods on the other side and told us they had just got there as well. A late night beer or two at the bar and the end of a great day!

Well, to be completely honest, the VERY first show I ever recorded was Robert Hunter and Comfort at the SUNYA Springfest that afternoon, but the RPI field house was the first of MANY Grateful Dead shows that I'd record over the years. I had my brand-new Nakamichi 550 (powered by 8 D-size batteries!), and a pair of NAK CM-100 Mics with the CM-1 cardioid capsule. My mic stand was cludged together from a pair of crutches, the clips that came with the mics, and copious amounts of Duct Tape. 2 things about the show stand out in my memory. The entire band got involved in Drumz on this tour - even Jerry as out there, bangin' on stuff on this night. Then there was the "bomb" during Fire on the Mountain - a huge boom which I later found out was a firecracker blowing up a toilet in one of the men's rooms. Years later, I discovered that one of the recent hires at the company I was working at had been an engineering student at RPI during this period, and that he and his pals had designed and built a prototype of a digital audio recording system, which they actually recorded this show with. If I recall correctly, they used 12-bit ADC's sampling at around 50 kHz, and recorded to VHS tape. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The simple fact that the "new right" has consistently been wrong does not mean that wrong is the new right.

What a trip! When this show was happening, I was 9 yrs old living in Troy, NY. I grew up in Troy and in 1979 moved a few blocks away from the fieldhouse. My first concert ever was there in 1983 (Cheap Trick!). I saw many funky shows there in the 80's but was sad the Dead never made it back there when I was a old enough to see them. Growing up in South Troy, I lived across the street from all of those Hells Angels. They took a likin to me as I was the little kid across the street that was always riding his bike. They would offer me beers and joints (which I did not accept as the youngster I was - pre 10yrs old) and they would often shoot off fireworks all night long much to my amusement. In 2002 I moved back to Troy and again live a couple of blocks away from the fieldhouse. I run at the track next to it and often imagine what it was like that day when the circus came to town. Thanks for the memories! Brother A

The Hooligan Band started us off on Saturday at the SUNYA Downtown Mayfest, and Sunday was Bonnie Raitt and Hunter at the uptown SUNYA campus in the afternoon before the Dead that night at RPI. Almost got killed going from Albany over to Troy - my buddy probably shouldn't have driven while on hallucinogens. Hotter than hell inside the old fieldhouse. The crowd rushed the stage at the start of the 2nd set and there was no air, so my buddy hit the floor. Had to drag him against the flow back to the soundboard where he came around. A great show. The Hell's Angels were everywhere and the long percussion jam was cool. A great Dead weekend.

I was still in High School. Everyone said I was such a weirdo to go see "ridin' that train high on propane" group.Within a year I had tons of friends and those same people thanking me for turning them on to the dead. missed the Raitt Hunter party but I remember those state parties.I was the weirdo who turned everyone on to the Dead. Kind of a feather in my cap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Many friends dead many with happy families I'm still goin to the Vibes so I haven't had enough yet peha Artie De.

I was still in High School. Everyone said I was such a weirdo to go see "ridin' that train high on propane" group.Within a year I had tons of friends and those same people thanking me for turning them on to the dead. missed the Raitt Hunter party but I remember those state parties.I was the weirdo who turned everyone on to the Dead. Kind of a feather in my cap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Many friends dead many with happy families I'm still goin to the Vibes so I haven't had enough yet peha Artie De.

I was still in High School. Everyone said I was such a weirdo to go see "ridin' that train high on propane" group.Within a year I had tons of friends and those same people thanking me for turning them on to the dead. missed the Raitt Hunter party but I remember those state parties.I was the weirdo who turned everyone on to the Dead. Kind of a feather in my cap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Many friends dead many with happy families I'm still goin to the Vibes so I haven't had enough yet peha Artie De.

I was still in High School. Everyone said I was such a weirdo to go see "ridin' that train high on propane" group.Within a year I had tons of friends and those same people thanking me for turning them on to the dead. missed the Raitt Hunter party but I remember those state parties.I was the weirdo who turned everyone on to the Dead. Kind of a feather in my cap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Many friends dead many with happy families I'm still goin to the Vibes so I haven't had enough yet peha Artie De.

I was still in High School. Everyone said I was such a weirdo to go see "ridin' that train high on propane" group.Within a year I had tons of friends and those same people thanking me for turning them on to the dead. missed the Raitt Hunter party but I remember those state parties.I was the weirdo who turned everyone on to the Dead. Kind of a feather in my cap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Many friends dead many with happy families I'm still goin to the Vibes so I haven't had enough yet peha Artie De.

I was still in High School. Everyone said I was such a weirdo to go see "ridin' that train high on propane" group.Within a year I had tons of friends and those same people thanking me for turning them on to the dead. missed the Raitt Hunter party but I remember those state parties.I was the weirdo who turned everyone on to the Dead. Kind of a feather in my cap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Many friends dead many with happy families I'm still goin to the Vibes so I haven't had enough yet peha Artie De.

Traveled from Hauppauge Long Island with one other friend. Ended up seeing 4 other groups of friends from Long Island at the show. RPI field house --- what a great show during this tour. Upon arriving the first words where there’s a fire on that mountain and did they Jam it. The loud bomb that was lit seemed to be 5 feet from us, we where spoofed, and it was during a great Jam I think Fire on the Mountain or Aiko-Aiko.On way home did get to see some hells angles as we got lost in Troy, but no problems. This show really rocked. One of the best shows I attended.

Hitched a ride to Albany for the school fest, then went to Troy. Ended up in the very front lovin the music until the crowd started forward....a Hells Angels jumped from the stage and helped me not get crushed....cool dude, got eveyone to dance a step back.....

Like artdelu, this was my first Dead show...high school senior...rode down with my best friend who was 18 and could buy beer...weather was great, so until showtime, we sat on a lawn uphill from the Fieldhouse and drank our beverages...during the show, I remember the spotlight repeatedly shining on the overhead sign that said "NO SMOKING"...made us laugh, because you could barely see the sign through all the smoke...Estimated Prophet...wah, wah, wah-wah-wah, wah-wah, wah-wah, wah, wah-wah-wah...what a great night.

I'm not sure why this show is so vague to me. There are a few very good reasons to remember it, although I won't go into those. But I seem to recall the band doing a short accoutic set at the start of this. No one else has mentioned it, so I'm wondering if I'm confusing it with another show. Anyone else remember that? I certainly recall the mess with the floor seats. We could see below us this wave going through the crowd, pushing everyone closer and closer to the stage. I recall thinking that there's a potential problem with that, but also thinking it just seemed silly. It was a fun day and a very good night followed.

This was easily one of the best shows of '78,these cats were on fire from the opening note literally almost, 185 degree's inside and mixed with a large puddle and a handful of fungus caused me to lose a few lbs. The music was so freakin' great after all that was the reason for being there

Sorry dude - you must have this show confused with another one. No acoustic set at RPI that nite. Just a million degrees and lots of Hells Angels.....

This is the only Grateful Dead show I have attended.

This is the only Grateful Dead show I have attended.

This is the only Grateful Dead show I have attended.

I was finishing up my freshman year at RPI, managed to score tickets. It was hot, but the music was great and we were all so high. I remember this as the longest concert I ever went to. We had a blanket to carve some space and napped between sets. It was wicked hot. It’s great listening to the show on internet archive. Perhaps some day this show will get more news, I loved every minute.

20221224-Sa.1711, ... Merry Christmas / Happy Holidays! Field House - May 7, 1978 - Possible Ticket Stub

Wandering around [some archives], I am pleased to have found a ticket stub from the Grateful Dead show that we didn't have. Check this out: (Never mind, it's marked private. [20221227-Tu.1904, 😎]).
-- archives.rpi.edu/sites/default/files/2020-07/dead_ticket.jpg

That came from:
-- archives.rpi.edu/blog/2009/04/27/big-name-concerts
which had a slide-show:
-- archives.rpi.edu/sites/default/files/2020-07/ppm.jpg
including the image (of the ticket stub).