Grateful Dead

Funny the thing I remember most about this show is Etta James.

I remember Etta James singing "Good Night Irene". (It was awesome to see her perform on television a year later at the 1984 Summer Olympics in L.A.) Also, breakfast for everyone after the show. In brown paper bags. lol. That was cool.

Am I wrong about this? Bill Graham did ride in on a giant mushroom. That's a certainty.

You're memory is perfect, the Tower of Power Horns were there. A sweet New Year's show and the last I believe where Billy Graham served breakfast. God Bless Bill and the Boys in the Grateful Dead.

1st new years show! With Hank - anybody remember Hank?

was loads of fun (Good Night Irene was the third set from 12/31/83). And I really dug the Tower of Power horns. Rest of the show was meh. The cracks were beginning to show - lots of energy flying around, with no real focus or flow. First set was pretty fun - but the second took forever to get going (I'm sorry, but Women are Smarter and Ship of Fools do not belong in an NYE second set - and Sugaree was pretty weak too) - it was like they couldn't find the groove, and finally fell back into a Playin' just to try something. Also wasn't especially fond of the Deal out of NFA (though, it did seem like the crowd was clapping the NFA beat so loud, the band couldn't find anything to go into - maybe this was the seed of the idea for ending second sets with it starting in 1983). Oh, the Dinosaurs were awesome!

with a glass of 16 year old Caol Isla by my side Bob - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Spanish Jam

I remember the second set at Midnight starting out with Midnight Hour and yes Bill Graham did serve us breakfast the following NYE at the San Francisco Civic Auditorium. I remember watching Beatles Magical Mystery Tour movie while some played volleyball. The Band opened up the show and final encore was the Band/Dead/& Maria Muldar

Came here looking for a good link to my first GD show, featuring Etta James in the third set. That was a transformational evening for me, even if the show was highly disappointing to many experienced Deadheads.

The only "Good Night Irene" I remember with the Dead was one or two New Years later with the Band, not Etta.

first new years eve show. what a night.

guess no one remembers the Meters (Neville brothers) opening this show.... things were definitely weird with the dead family.... my buddy was an attorney for the band and I arranged to meet him at the backstage. he wanted to know if we had any Percodan.... weird.... guess that dove-tails with jerry nodding off comment... had some baseball T's for the band and Billy liked em, but the one's I gave them were white w/black sleeves and he wanted all black.... wasn't gonna take the shirt off my back... oh well... I know, quit whining! great jam with the Neville's and Etta James, definitely a memorable highlight! had flown up from SD and stayed at the Fairmont, dinner there before the show, and caviar and champagne on our return...