Grateful Dead

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My best friend at UCLA turned me on to the band. I had listened intently to S&R, BFA, E72, and even at this show I didn't get it yet. Recently I heard a nice aud of the show and now I see what I wasn't aware of at the time. Aah, but there was more to come...

The Dead were finally back in LA. (I began to be aware of my addiction when bought 2 more Dead shows instead of a Neil Young and a Dead).I grabbed a non-DeadHead pal and headed down to the old Shrine. He laughed at the many jalopies and tie-dyes turning up and we spotted a guy in a WOOF t-shirt, so "Woof is here tonight" became a catch-phrase. The Shrine is quite ornate and appears on a lot of those TV awards shows, so no need for elaboration. Suffice to say, the Shrine security works frantically all night long trying to keep DeadHeads from firing up and burning the plush seats. Any notions I had that the Wall Of Sound might still be alive were quickly dashed. The sound system was quite dinky in fact. Despite having Hart back, the band had a much smaller, lighter sound. The "pin-drop" sound of the Wall was gone; they now had to play a bit harder and the sound had a very consistent sound level. A listen to all soundboards prior to 12/31/76 sound as if there were limiters on them, giving an almost saturated sound. (No-one who's heard the beautiful King Biscuit 7/18/76 Orpheum broadcast could possibly complain, though.) The thing I remember about this run was; First, the lighter faster playing, and s-t-r-e-t-c-h-i-n-g out tunes in selected places; i.e. like singin "Don't let that deal go down" about 47 times in a row. Secondly, and I've never seen them doing this before or after, the 3 guitar players spent almost the whole evening either standing on one foot or the other when not singing. I don't think the had sore feet, though. It seemed to be some kind of balance thing, akin to dancing; experimenting with body rhythms. This in turn caused the necks of their guitars to wobble up and down all night. They looked like 3 fishermen reeling in big fish on their lines!

my first show..! with a friend from high school , his 6th show....! i had heard their music....but never went to a show...when we got there....the la. police were lined across the entrance....in a show of force.....both hands holding their night sticks....as if ready for battle....with 4' x 5'...signs next to them saying ..... THIS IS NOT A POT SMOKING HAVEN !!.... we walked by ... eyes straight ahead......got inside...found some seats....lights went down....then... on the first note played.. everyone....ok...almost everyone ... lit up a lighter !!!!... .... i knew they were just welcoming the band!!! .....cause it was .. ''not ''... a pot smoking haven ! .............. i had found a new haven ...thanks Paul....rip

This was like a nite at home by the fire with the dead playing in the living room.

The Tubes and the Runaways were there...my first dead concert, intrigued by the cheesy homebuilt posters sold in the parking lot. The Shrine staff did not like dancing in the aisles. Enjoyed Ventura in later years much better,

6 years latter, my beautiful daughter, Krystal Lynette Tuttle-Stinfil was born. Thank you Jesus!!

Less than a week after my first show in Oakland (Day on the green #9) saw this great show from the balcony...it was really intimate...wish I could remember more

Anyone know what time this show started ?
Uncle Joe do you recall?