Grateful Dead

Great 1st Set.

Totally. But then we were pretty high, so I don't really remember...

Great show! Dougles

what an amazing last show before I went off to basic training :-)

Please don't hang off the balcony...50,000 people are waiting for you to get back in your seat......

First show...week before graduating high school. I had only been listening to the band for a few months but heard great things. Drove up from Dutchess County with a bunch of friends and we just got fried! Got lost in the woods, cops and hippies ran through a big hole in the fence, found the line only to find saw some dude on a rock with a hand puppet talking to folks in line while people just calling out random names just to make folks look (or maybe that was just me). Overall things were just getting freaky! So we found ourselves in the burger line and funny thing is, we were not hungry, and started walking across the bridge. The cows were mooing all around me and then band came out, everyone stood up, and BAM...Midnight Hour. The place started to move. Never saw a reaction to any band like that before! When MH ended and Bertha took off the place was just grooving so hard that we just went with the flow. Our group got splintered and I swear I only saw the stage that day during drums. There was so much going on around me I did not even care. Don't recall the 2nd set, with the exception of Truckin' of course. ;) And JB Goode, and good it was! That was my account of the festivities... :) Ginsengsully

Ah yes the Midnight Hour opener. As soon as they launched into MH my buddy A.G. (name withheld to protect the innocent, er, guilty) decided he needed to be closer to the action and stormed the covered section. That was the last I saw of him. Then reports started surfacing during the show that something awful had happened. When A.G. didn't show up at the car afterwards, the rest of our group had no choice but to drive to the hotel without him. Lo and behold, there inside was A.G.--minus one shoe and with a completely shaved head, sporting a nice set of cranial stitches. Turns out A.G. had been on the losing side of an altercation with a security guard's flashlight and was dispatched to the local emergency room well before MH had even finished. No worse for wear, but bummed that he missed the show, A.G. regaled us with tales of what life inside the E.R. was like during a Dead show. Lots of far-out individuals, for sure. If anyone remembers seeing a security clock somebody on the head during the MH opener, I'd love to hear all the gory details. After twenty-plus years the story needs to be told!

We always referred to the woods as "The Mindless Forrest." This show was a rocker. The Stagger Lee and the Eyes->GDTRFB stick out in my mind.

Drove up to 'Toga with a bunch of friends a week after graduating high school. We arrived many hours before show and set up camp in a parking lot. My group kind of split up before the show and I was by myself for a while. I found a group of hippies who were sitting around singing and one dude was playing guitar. I must have sat with those guys for about a half hour just singing and drinking wine out of a jug. I particularly remember singing "Aimee" by Pure Praire League. Found my friends before the show and we were way out on the lawn. Show rocked - but is kind of a blur. After show was awesome too - until the Saratoga Police came into the parking lot/camp ground and blared their sirens and shouted over load speakers that everybody had to leave the lot. We made our way to an IHOP and waited until it opened at around six in the morning. I think the waitresses were horrified at a bunch of muddy young Dead Heads wolfing down eggs and pancakes.

This was a show my friends and I took one of my nieces too. She was 16 and had no idea what she was going to see or hear. It was the golden era of MTV and she prolly would have been more excited going to see Duran Duran. Needless to say it was love at first sight ( listen). Recently she got one of the boxed sets on e-bay and was sure to burn copies of all for me!! 'nuff said

Just saw Nickelback at SPAC a few weeks ago with my wife and 2 daughters and couldn't help thinking about that Dead concert there back in 85, it was magical and sitting there on the lawn brought back some great memories. Till this day its still the largest crowd ever assembled there. I never thought then how much I would miss those day's now, great memories for sure. I wish my kids could have seen Jerry and the boys play.

Sounds like this was a first show for many of us. I echo some earlier posters by saying that this was shortly after I graduated high school and my first show. I had been "experienced" a few times over the previous few years but had no idea about the Grateful Dead. I had seen a lot of pretty cool concerts such as Roger Waters, and Rush. Really, some decent music but basically canned performances. The entire day at SPAC was full of magic. To this day (120+ Grateful Dead shows and countless JGB, Phil and Friends, etc) I'm not sure if the overall vibe had a little extra something going for it or if that was only my impression due to the fact that it was my first show. I went with a group of 10 or so from my hometown. One of the impossible things that kept happening that day is that we would lose track of each other and then out of nowhere we would bump in to each other. In the seething masses in the tens of thousands, that is quite a feat. I also remember a group meditating around a lit candle on top of the hill inside the venue in-between sets. When everyone was "locked in" the candle didn't even flicker in a pretty stiff breeze. At some point it was clear the little session was over and the candle blew right out. There was the naked guy posing on the walkway into the seating area. People making love on the grass inside on the backside of the hill. I happened to peer into the big white tent where it appeared that they were depositing mostly bad trippers (although there was probably a twisted ankle or two being attended to as well) and made sure to stay away from the golf cart that seemed to be scooping up people to take them to there. I agree with others that the place just exploded at the opening of Midnight Hour. All color and movement. As I stood and gawked, someone offered me a mouthful of wine from a boda bag that really hit the spot. I watched (yes, watched) large swirls of color rolling up the hill during Eyes of the World. I thought my twisted mind was taking normal music and turning it into Space. The only time I saw the stage was on my friend's shoulders during Goin Down the Road. I saw two friends dancing during Lovelight and literally grabbing energy from the music out of the air and playing with it between themselves. Damn!!! I couldn't believe it when someone told me most of the crowd would head to Merriwether Post to do it all again in a few days. I had to wait until November to see them in Worcester and made sure I saw them as much as possible for the next 10 years. The greatest achievement of American Culture ever (well, maybe Jazz would have an arguement with that), but you know what I mean.

Correction: Hershey was the next show.

My buddy Frankie and I drove up from CT in his '68 beetle. Rained pretty good on the way up and the floorboards were almost non existant. Every time he would hit the breaks we would have to lift our feet so they wouldn't get soaked from the water rushing forward! Parked in a field across from the PAC the night before, no one around us when we went to sleep. Woke up to a city! Bought tickets at the box office, about 50th in line. Bought the max and went to the back of the line, sold the extras to the last folks in line for face value so they could go enjoy the rest of their day. My wrist still hurts from the nasty spill I took on my skatebaord at the bottom of the paved path. Rolled right into group of DeadHeads with a nitrous tank! Lucky me!!Rain started in the middle of Black Peter ("Who can the weather command?"). Came to an end all to soon (didn't they all?) and it was back to the Ct coast. There was that moment when the turn for Hershey came up and we almost took it. To this day I wish that we had!!

Marshmallows everywhere!! In '88, a sign above the entrance read "No Marshmallows". Cops driving real slow thru the lot and people placing Dead stickers on the bumpers. Great show...slept in car and headed to Hershey in morning...

Once again the boys rip SPAC. This might one of the most memorable shows I ever saw. From the opener, to the band stopping and Jerry and Phil getting on that guy in the balcony all the way to the end this night is insane. It's also the last time I bothered to tape a show myself. AFter this night I left it to others to record it and give me the tapes later. Much more fun anyway with out the gear. This might be the best Stagger Lee I ever saw too. It doesn't do much to calm the already fired up crowd after the balcony incident. This was the first Crazy Fingers in a while also which was sweet to hear again.Jerry tries to push Weir hard to actually do the Lazy Lightning with his persistent Supplication riffs, but gives up and throws in High Time which was a great choice. Second set is strong too. I had a dude stumble through the taping section and shut my deck off during the Eyes. It's alright I love that blip on my tape. They always ripped here and kept the tradition going by doing a double encore here again. Long live SPAC!

It was my first Dead show, we waited for the mail before we left cause we had ordered tickets through the mail. We were going to go tickets or no tickets, as the mail man approached he handed me a stack of mail and I flipped wildly through the stack and their they were 2 tickets to the Golden Road. We yelled with joy as we loaded into my little Chevy and hit the road. As we pulled into the venue we were awe struck with the happenings all around us and proceeded to drink back the dosed root beer we brought with us. We had general tickets on the grassy hill looking into the venue, what a trip it was to expand our minds at a Dead show. I still laugh when I think of that naked guy walking across the bridge to enter the upper level seating. Nobody was on the bridge except the naked guy and a security guy... crazy. Later after the show the trip continued in the parking lot and we woke up in the car a little hazy with a fuzzy mouth. We met a guy in the morning who had a bag of goodies and tickets for the next show in Hershey PA. but no ride. As I look back on that moment I still wonder what would have been if we went with him to continue the trip. 20 YEARS SO FAR.... WHAT A LONG STRANGE TRIP IT'S BEEN...............

Marshmellows, Window Pane, Nude Dancer on the bridge during Rooster The infamous joke My dog has no nose....etc juts some of my memories but to have been there and buy tickets the day of the show at cost priceless thank god for the tapers for which the music brings me back to that point in time for each show I attended Peace

This is the show that got boys banned from SPAC for 3 years! I guess 42,000 people and 3 days of garbage clean up was too much for the staid and stoic city of Saratoga to handle! I attended every SPAC show they played, but this one was probably the craziest. Yes, I remember the naked dude, I remember the boys stopping for the idiot in the balcony. I was lucky enough to have inside seats, although I didn't stay there the entire show. I have 2 vivid memories from this show (ones that I never forgot). One was when I heard the first notes of Crazy Fingers, I yelled at the top of my lungs, "It's f***ing Crazy Fingers!!!" One of my favorite tunes. The second memory is that I thought Jerry actually looked at me during the show. Not sure if he really did or not (for all I know he was probably blinded by the lighting), but I remember that he looked in my direction and I felt like I was struck by some incredible energy source or something like it! I felt absolutely amazing! I grinned for months about it. Man, do I miss Jerry! It's fun seeing what is left of the band, but it's still like a giant hole in the world without him. I hope I get to meet him again on the other side when this life is done. Peace! Puff ~Don't lend your hand to raise no flag atop no ship of fools!~

This was my first show and what a show to see. We were sitting out on the lawn as the show went on I think I saw some one drop from the top second level? The SPAC is a stellar venue to see a show, after the show in the parking lot we danced and sang songs and then crashed in the car. In the morning my buddy had to clear a path to drive out cause of all of the beer bottles around. Hell or high water I am heading back to the SPAC in 2008 to see a show to relive the day I GOT ON THE BUS.

During the '85 show, I got separated from the folks I travelled with, and was getting a bit concerned. For some reason, I got it into my head that the upper level of the SPAC was actually a licensed beverage area, and I thought it would be nice to have a pint and relax. So I started walking up the ramp holding my ID aloft, showing that I was legal drinking age. Guys are getting stopped and turned back all around me, because they had lawn tickets, just like I did. Up the ramp I continue, not even getting so much as a look from the ticket-checkers, who I mistakenly thought were bouncers turning underage folks away. Some guy at the top sees my progress and gives a bit of encouragement "C'mon man, you've almost made it!" And I hold my ID up and say, "Naw, no problem, I'm 19." Finally get to the top and realize, "Woah, this isn't a beer garden, I just walked into the pavilion balcony!" There were plenty of empty seats. I remember particularly liking the Stagger Lee and the Lovelight.

All you guys hit it on the head. I cant imagine any other place getting as crazy. The sound system was crackling. I taped it but still had to dose. I almost needed help breaking it down after the show. I wonder if that place was built on Indian burial grounds. The power was never matched at any other show I was at. Walking out, I saw a midget standing on a stump wearing a wrestlers outfit. I could'nt help it, I laughed right at him. Man he got mad. I was in Denver later that summer and people at a table next to me were talking about this show. They were going on about this show like it was yesterday. I am sooooooo glad I made it.

The Grateful Dead set a record that night foe attendance that stands today along with a grate show. When we heard M.D open the first set you know your into the good stuff.

The rest is history. First of 120+ shows. Woo Hoo!!

What a great venue. It was my first time in Saratoga and loved the scenery. My only complaint was too many people. I think the most people I ever attended a "Dead" only show. The stadium shows were bigger but there was alwyas another band playing with them. The only thing keeping this from a 5-star show was that Jerry didn't sing the last verse of Bertha. I did love the twilight Zone space..

I'd forgotten about the marshmallows...

This was the first show in the two that I was allowed to go too from my Parents,due due the fac that I was only 16 !!!..and I was still finishing my Sophomore Year,That being said My buddies watched over me once again,and Iam EVER grateful for that..The Shear amount of people at this show was utterly Crazy, the rush at the start of the show caught us off guard,it was a bit overwhelming ... But right in the middle of the first set I watched a guy FALL from the 2nd Level !!!..as the crowd down bellow with us let out a resounding uhhhhhhh...You can hear it if you have a clear enough tape...I only prey that dude was ok?. But that being said,everything about that summer night and the next in Hershey Park were EPIC !!! Loved the Spoonful and Midnight Hour and sleeping in a tent waking up in a massive Puddle when the rain came...lol..Made the trip..

My buddy Kenny and I drove from Bridgewater, NJ to this show.I was 17 years old. I can remember being on the NY thruway and seeing a giant steal your face painted on a large rock cropping along the side of the highway. What an awesome sight! We were totally psyched! We got to the show and whammo- Midnight Hour opener-- Hot damn! I remember the dude hanging from the balcony and getting yelled at over the PA system. Hahaha.great memory! I also vaguely remember having a 45-min conversation about football with a large red and green parrot. Again-great memories...... That was a truly incredible show and I am so thankful to have attended. Wish we could all go back to that moment again and realize how kick ass it really was.

And some really nice looking naked chick ran by me in the parking lot mumbling to herself. Weird vibrations that day.

Crazy shit went on at this show. Some dude in the rafters held things up. The set list was inventive. The sound was relayed out to the lawn with delay towers. No one knew where the original Woodstock festival had taken place (I asked them). I first met my still-friend Andy in the parking lot. Denny has faded. These were the days. This was the first time I thought things would get out of control in the years to come. But it's a nice tape if you can find it.

What a great show! Drove up from Mass with Shima and Coyne! Lawn seats for all! Rip Van Dan's Hotel!

What a summer! What a show! Me, Shima and Coyne! Road Trip! Lawn tix! Rip Van Dan's Hotel! Flying bibles and dancing lizards!

Was the only show I ever attended solo. Drove out that morning on the motorcycle, beautiful day. Sat on the lawn in front of a column of speakers. Just relaxed and soaked it all in. Blown away by Stranger.......... Then it was on to Hershey!!!! Rock on, Doc G

I clearly recall seeing the guy fall from the balcony-he was dancin' and having a great time then suddenly vanished. I saw someone try to grab his arm - i was just a few rows back. Very intense-I recall seeing Micky just shaking his head. Left an indelible image for sure-I made sure I tried to be a good concertgoer for the rest of the years I saw them .. respect in all directions. Hope the guy was OK.

Great show.

Kicking back in the rock and roll room, listening to this show on cassette… still sounds great! Maxell XLII, Nakamichi CR-1A deck

“Yo Butch….”