Grateful Dead

I know I sound like a snob, and I am sorry, but after reading this topic, I am relieved that I stopped going to live shows around 1983. I am glad that I never experienced a show where I wanted to escape the music. Believe me, I was occasionally disappointed (especially by an ill-timed Bobby song), but never wanted to miss a note or a beat. Even my least favorite Dead shows rank among the best times I had at any concert. Again, I ask the question: did the music deteriorate so badly?

Chris It wasn't really my bathroom song but the song that made me roll my eyes after about the first 10 times was "Miracle". Seems like out of 81 shows I must have heard "Miracle" 25-30 times. It got to the point that all of my friends would turn to me for a reaction as soon as the first few cords began. Particularly brutal when coming out of drums-space..........

i believe the natural biological order of centered deadheads(specially from the south bay) and the need to transandentalize a normal reaction to to much liquid refreshment-was over whelmed by the moment in the "soup"(ok "playin in the band" had a subliminal call to nature for me)-i'm a vetran of MANY shows and y'all ain't never gonna find the perfect "pee" song

if the shoe fitswave to the wind long way to go home samba in the rain i fought the law minglewood and I know I'll get sh*t for this, but Let it Grow. _________ this space for rent

Eternity or Days Between, I listen to them now on tape, but back then at show when you want to dance, they were definately downers and a good to bolt to the john.

My least favorite Dead song has always been "Turn On Your Lovelight". Sent me to the bathroom every time! That's the only one I can really say that about.

i was emailing my friend pat adams the other day and i brought up this particular subject. it always seemed that the boys would be wailing away and blowing up the show and then they would play stella and i would deflate like a balloon. from a great high and groove to scratching my head and saying please take this song away. i have disliked this song for ages and i always will

Pat Adams is my best friend. She was telling me about that conversation she had with you, which is what prompted me to mention to MaryE that we needed a pee song topic in here.... small world! and Welcome. pomo1, I can't manage to convince you that it wasn't about escaping the music, but about having to pee and trying to time it to suit one's tastes!

I got so tired of "throwin' ...." that I would just wander...beer garden...piss run....find another friend in the crowd...or just space out.....leave my mind and body behind...the opposite of Drumz->space, when I absolutely, had to be, must be there (the more liquid, the better)!!! After all, reality is for those that can't handle drugs. That was some direct and personal advice that Dr. Tim gave me (twice - Kaiser and L.A. Forum). "Must have been the Doses, or the robins, robins in her long brown hair." of course Victim was a slider, what was Barlow thinking...reminded me of Bobby excuses for his slips, like...after Otis died (but I do understand the despair after losing your best friend, while everyone is telling you, "It was just a dog.")...or after Jerry's coma and bobby got too fucked up to play guitar at the Ranch Rock 86 Pyramid Festival * (I started a diatribe about this show, but will save that for another topic line). Picasso Moon was another that quickly became an escape clause...the "bigger than a drive-in movie, oo-wee" was just a little lame....time to pay the rental from the beer garden, before the boys broke into something that was more existential. I did have one friend that would just let loose in his pants during an outdoor show at times, starting at the front wall of Ventura '82...didn't surprise me, his wet suit had the same matching stains as his 501's. If you ever get back online....HI MIKE!!!! I started exercises in maximizing my bladder capacity since high school and learned to power pee. I could sometimes charge to the heard at Jerry's last lick and be nearly back to my spot before the first lyric of the next song. I appreciated that the boys were generally indecisive about their next selection and took the extra time to tune up at every break between song combos. * Pyramid Festival note: Mickey made up for Bobby's lackluster performance that day by letting loose on "Fire on the Mountain." This was the first time that I heard Mickey do vocals and his chanting / singing / rap rendition was awesome.

I rarely took a pee break during the first set. But if I did, it was ususally during Ramble on Rose. Good song, but I was hearing it so many times, it just ended up being my first set pee song. On the other hand, 2nd set usually called for a pee break. Either: Victim Corrina Drumz Wave to the Wind

I rarely left a show once it started, but there were a few songs where I found myself looking at my watch hoping that this one would only be the 12 minute version. The only Jerry song that was like that was China Doll (I know, sacrilege!)--but the song was sooooooo sloooowwww, even for a Jerry ballad. I would rejoice at the chorus at the end, just because I knew it was almost over. A couple Bobby song's I wasn't crazy about---Lost Sailor, Saint of Circumstance come to mind. Picasso Moon, not my fave, either. Besides that, pretty much all good.

But Let it Grow. I know it was a fan favorite, I could always tell by the fan screams. But I just always went running especially since it tended to lead into Drums>Space and I didn't want to miss that. and if they had played "tons of Steel" I would have run screaming from the venue.

easy, Stella Snooze is a lovely song to take that break by, same goes for Wharf Rat, They Love Each Other, Day Job always signaled an early exit. Would never miss Help on the Way/Slipkont!/Franklin's Tower, Jack-a-Roe, Estimated Prophet or Scarlet/Fire to name a few! That being said, once they rolled from a powerful The Other One into Stella and it was a let down, then Jerry tore it up on Stella after all. With the Dead you just never know!

definitely the weir "dylan" slot - masterpiece was a reason to go pee! i would never leave the 2nd set - would wait for the end of the show. thank god i never saw a show after '91! take care- chris ps - i feel bad i had to sit through a "picasso moon" once.

I've read alot of these posts, but how could we forget Queen Jane. I gotta go pee now just thinking about it....

This weeks "Tapers" Dear Mr. Fantasy playing. Woops...........didn't make it. Old age, ya know

Hey Izzie, did you have a sudden urge to pee about halfway through listening to this week's Taper's section? Just kidding.

For me it was It Must Have Been The Roses. Too slooow. Made Shawn Phillips sound hyper. And I like Shawn Phillips. When I heard this one I had the urge to listen to punk music right now. Real Fast. Where are the Clash? It may have been that listening to Steal Your Face destroyed this one for me. Everyone was smiling and swaying while Jerry was singing and I was going huh? I am part of this big happy family? Help! I like roses, I like the lyrics, I like the melody. I love the iconagraphy of the roses in the world of the Dead. But like watermelon which I attempt to take a bite of every year to see if maybe sometime I will like it, I listen to It Must Have Been The Roses over and over and it just rarely clicks. OK take away my Robert Hunter merit badge... No hey, I like the way Hunter does it... But some of you left when it was Dark Star? And I thought I was weird and out there I guess some of us Deadheads are Outsider Deadheads. It takes all kinds to turn the wheel. Do I contradict myself? Very well then I contradict myself, (I am large, I contain multitudes.) Walt Whitman-Song of Myself

Usually drums for me... t'was just always right about "that time". Sometimes Rooster in set one. Knockin' had me packing everything up and heading for the exits to beat the crowd. All you Victim hatas is crazy-- that one was a high point for me in the last couple years, but I like weird feedback over bell-tone piano schmooze, so to each her own. Of course, my *first* bathroom break came between sets at my first show after waltzing with the celestial balls while on my back eyes closed for the whole first set. Lemme tell you, *that* was a friggin' trip and a half!! Woof...

Black Peter is a great tune because it has meaning to me- I was that sick dude at a time in my life that Black Peter came through a veil late one night... However, Bobby's slide on little red roosster ALWAYS made me cringe. First set duck out for me... Sugaree63

But the only time I ever wanted to leave a show was the debut of I Fought The Law in Richfield Spring '93. After all the hassles we went through and the cancelled show I felt like the Dead were proverbrially flipping us all off with this breakout.

"One More Saturday Night", and to a lesser degree, "Casey Jones", and any other boring, repetitious song, were the preferred ones for me to duck-out on; but really, I usually took my breaks when the band took theirs.

They had bathrooms there? What a concept - a HEAD going to the head. Come to think of it... I do remember going to the "Get High Room" and seeing a lot of porcelain and hearing water running...Constantly. You don't think?..........naaah.

not liking black peter really stings...althea would be cause sometimes, though i've come around to liking the song...crazy fingers...always tried to go before the show started anyway and never drank inside...they usually sold draft beer in plastic go cups and draft gives me a crushing headache....

I always thought that was a good song to cover, however,it should have been used as a double encore. Not a stand alone. Alas, no one from the band ever asked my opinion on that topic. “The Omnipotent Grateful Dead!”

Well, sorry gang but I elect "One more Saturday night", "El Paso" and "Little Red Rooster" as a time to dash for the john. I did however meet some very interesting people standing in line while waiting at the normal break times, so going was OK then to, but I hate to wait in line. Would usually start "moooooing" and it would break into a full blown cattle cryout. Funny as hell though ( -; We, are the eyes of the world!!

but did anyone else use 'touch of grey' as the perfect pee break? it was so bouncy sounding i just felt like i had to go. i also didn't care much for little red rooster - such a plodding downer - it was a good time to walk around and check things out

ITS GOOD TO BE A BIG GUY WITH A BIG BLADDER AND BIG SWEAT GLANDS----THERE ARE NO PEE SONGS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED! THE WORST SHOW I EVER SAW WAS WONDERFUL.

1st Set: Walkin Blues, Little Red Rooster, Picasso Moon, 2nd Set: Drums,Space, I Will Take You Home (aka I Will Take a Wizz) , Victim ot the Song

Undoubtedly it's 'Looks like rain.' 'Desolation Row' is a close second.

RODGER ALLINSON well for some reason those same cheesy bobby tunes that were my sure sign to head off to go were the same ones that every one else left for picaso moon and corina being the two most popular to go during im hard core jerry thru and thru so bobby tunes were my exit break

So now what we know what people would break for, what would they never leave for, the very favorite? Your bladder is about ready to burst and you are going to explode but you have to see and hear this one, no matter what. How about that for the inverse to this topic? Do I contradict myself? Very well then I contradict myself, (I am large, I contain multitudes.) Walt Whitman-Song of Myself

Oh, that's easy! Stella Blue! and of course, any Brent tune.

BLACK PETER!!!

Eyes, Help>slip>Frank, agree with the Stella Blue, Bertha, Samba in the Rain, Standing on the Moon, Lazy River Road, China>Rider, West L.A. Fadeaway, Throwin' Stones, Sugar Mag.....that list is easy. No song is really worth missing but when you gotta go, you gotta pick something..... We........are the eyes of the world!!

Haven't seen some of my pee break/roam around list anywhere else, so will go for it and post it.1.) Drums/Space (sometimes) 2.) Terrapin 3.) and always, alway, always The Other One First time I heard it was in another state of mind,and couldn't deal with the non-rhythmic disharmony. Nor could I ever afterwards. Always made me nerveous!!

usually a 1st set closer when i'd hear the first notes i'd head out to try to beat the crowds . also victim or the crime. both songs off the same album and IMHO the 2 worst bobby songs

I'd have to agree with a few of you that you never wanted to miss a single song but "Borinna" was my chance to grab a brew and visit the little boys room.

not always, though...

i just have this thing about 'rooster.' i do not really care for that cover and just gotta block against it. deer creek - indpls. peace, shack

I'm with you on Rooster! What a bore. Bobby on the slide is not my idea of a good time. "The bottle was dusty but the liquor was clean."

Walkin Bathroom Blues I swear I knew a ton of people who called it that too, funny. "The bus came by and I got on, that's when it all began.."

SOTM, which I regret now . . . did someone really put Minglewood here? say it ain't so . . .

For the few shows that I saw it seemed like Jed was always in the first set. Not that I despise the song, but it was more like "not again" and provided a good time for a break.

So interesting to read so many different opinions. As the years went by, many songs became less interesting, or less likely to be launching pads or the sort of collective exploration that got me on the bus in the early '70s. I have a story izzie will find annoying/amusing: Last month my niece, a talented bassist, sat in with me and the Zen Tricksters on a boat cruise around Manhattan. We played "Watching the Detectives" (Caitlin is a major Elvis Costello fan) and "Season of the Witch." After the set was over, she said she really liked the song we played immediately after she left the stage. Friends, that song was "Black Peter." Which has never been a bathroom song for me, no matter how vehemently some of my friends oppose it.

that's up there with Black Peter, you know. I think you should tell the Black Peter/GDH Marathon story next, to keep things even.

I don't remember the story, so I guess you'll have to tell it. GD Hour blog Station list