Grateful Dead

This was a small stadium about the size of a 1/4 mile track. Excellent show. Prepare yourself for a higher form of intellegence was being handed out. Years later returned to see Jerry play there.

I'm pretty sure they did not play U.S. Blues, I do remember them playing "I need A Miracle'

Was there with my brother. Great show! Definitly US Blues, no "Miracle", though that would have been sweet!

Attended this show at little Southwestern College, right down by the Mexican border - after a three-night run at HJK in Oakland. I saw more than 275 shows and this was my favorite. It was weird and wonderful. Super location, weather, vibe and music. Bill Graham in attendance on stage. Extremely unusual show had treats of "Smokestack Lightining" and "Dupree's" in the first set. Second set was off the hook. "Scarlet," "Fire," "Samson," (always a Sunday fave) - so far so good, but nothing out of the ordinary. Then we go "Truckin" (OK). "Comes a Time" (always a treat) then "Around and Around" (What?! Were they ending the show now? "Around and Around" was ALWAYS after the drums. Either this show was gonna be real short, and the first show without drums/space in many many years, or we were in for a real treat). "Drums/Space" (Whew, that was close - the show continues) " U.S. Blues" (What? Now were in completely uncharted territory! "U.S. Blues" was always, always and encore in those days. Also, note the Sept. 15 date to go with the lyric, "summertime done come and gone my oh my." "Satisfaction." Sure, song was in the Dead's repertoire then, but after "U.S. Blues" to close that show was a real screamer. "Brokedown" (Fine fare-ye-well). And you can quote me on all that. AlanSheckter, 10/07

Oh, and how could I forget the sweet Garcia crooner, "She Belongs To Me" before "Truckin'," which means we had a legitimate seven songs before the drums - way unusual - including two fairly uncommon Garcia ballads...Alan

I have fond memories of this whole weekend. Went down to Rosarita Beach south of the border for a couple of days and came back with fireworks. The Satisfaction blew me away. Bobby and Brent were exchanging primal screams toward the end. Of course, we lit off a bunch of our fireworks at the end of the show.

I have to agree with Alan Sheckter above in that this was possibly my favorite show of over 300 shows so that is some kind of statement. This show has been burned into my mind for years for so many reasons. The place was relatively empty, the grass on the field was like the cushiest carpet ever, the scene was totally cool. Think cop cars playing Hendrix tunes over their car PA kind of cool. I mean it just had a vibe that I never really saw again. The show itself was pulled out of the sky for the last night of that tour, and I really think they worked it for all it was worth. Seven tunes before drums? What? Smokestack/Deal to close the first set was ripping. I used my unused Boreal ticket to get in as I blew off Donner at the last minute and figured I could use it in Chula Vista. Right again! Got very high and had a very interesting road trip back to Arizona with some friends. This whole day encompasss the Dead scene both musically and spiritually. Thanks to the boys for delivering a great musical day in the sun drenched little football stadium in southern Cal. One for the books!

Alan,I agree wholeheartedly with your comments. When I heard the Dead were playing Chula Vista, I couldn't believe it. I felt like I attended a private lawn concert. I would love to hear a tape of this show. The vibe was terrific, the band was friendly and I recall talking to Phil Lesh beside the fence. The band was loose and seemed to be enjoying themselves. Bill Graham was hanging out by the fence and I recall the the concert looked like it didn't sell out. Always wondered why. For those who did make the show like yourself, and others here, we were treated to a very special, generous dose of magic!

Drove in from AZ, Friday night in Ocean Beach was a trip in itself. Crazy shit and an all nighter on the pier. Saturday morning was off to Mexico for a very short TRIP that led to a "Tijuana Fadeaway" for one of us!!! The rest of us spent the afternoon on the beach trippin' and playing frisbee! Sunday was sunny and warm and the "Twilight Zone" sound check could be heard from Shakedown Street. Yes, there was a U.S. Blues, thought it was gonna be the encore but there was more yet. Brent was electric during Satisfaction, thank you Jerry and I rested my bones.

After seeing the Dead for my first time in Ventura that July - I had been buying their records (soon switching to CDs that were just coming out then) and they had quickly become my favorite band. This show had a great vibe - I even remember the Chula Vista cops playing the Dead out of the PA's in their cars! This was a daytime show and not super crowded like I would be experiencing four years in the future. The Band was on, the fans were cool & I knew I had found my home. Only sorry I didn't join earlier but I didn't have anyone to introduce me. I still owe Cindy a big one for turning me on to the Dead. The Greatest band I have ever experienced in my life. Russ

just wanted to chime in on this show (new to the forum) I was at the show with my girlfriend at the time (now my wife of 23 years!) and a college professor who liked to party. It WAS like a private lawn party (and yes US Blues was played ;-) ) The prof had just returned from Europe and we picked him up from LAX earlier in the day, drove down to Chula Vista and had a great time at the show. One of THE best shows I ever saw. Afterwards, we went to Ensenada for the afterglow. Glorious times. Cheers, Rick

I can see why people enjoyed being there so much, and list as an all-time favorite. They changed up the FORMAT. Why couldn't they have done this more often? China Cat out of space perhaps, or Bertha into drums, or Brokedown in the first set? It's all ancient history, but this show is great because of the uniqueness of the set list (and the playing, naturally.) US Blues out of space....HEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEH!!!

My first show...thanks, Todd. :) I remember the police cars from which music spewed. We had a spot on the field. The guy with his face and arms tattooed like a reptile's skin was next to us...kinda trippy. I didn't know what to expect. I wasn't into "hard rock" and so wanted no part of "The Dead." All I had to do was see the macabre artwork of their album covers and that was enough to turn me off...guess you can't judge music by its cover-art. Within a short while, I was a convert.

After reading other comments here it came back to me how we spent the day and night before on the beach somewhere close to the show.I do remember looking out seeing our finest Navy fleet out in the harbor when we woke.Then off to the show,after seeing the summer tours this was an early start 1 pm. Having always been to the Frost in Palo Alto was accustom to early starts.I loved the day time shows like this. "Fun in the sun." Like everyone else I was thinking are they going into around and around now? Dam they are either tired or forgot where they were in the timing of the show I was thinking but no.They had something up there sleeve for us ,it's why we followed them everywhere for moments like this. Moments where they would kick our ass with something weird or out of the blue.1985 had a few of those kick our ass moments .Riverbend in Cincy ,Richmond On all Saints day,here and later at the kaiser on the 21st of Nov.Just a few off the top of my head as to why we did what we did. Also if you think about the way the ended this show and then they way they opened the show on the fall tour at the Sportatorium in Florida is like they continued with the weird stuff I mean ending this show drums space U S Blues Satisfaction..Brokedown. Six weeks later opening the show with the Deal an early Aiko Aiko and Morning Dew to open 2nd set. the boys had us going for sure in 85.Ending the fall east coast tour with a Half Step Rider wasn't the norm either. They gave it there all this year only thing that was a semi dud was the Boreal Ridge show. but it was still fun.

I like what Tomsull27 had to say about this day. It was like a private party on someones lawn. Along with the Jerry Garcia & John Kahn show in August at the Dunsmuir House and Gardens, Oakland, CA . 2 great days outside in California during a magical summer.

Lots and Lots of Boobs. I bumped into Uncle Bobo. He didn't seem to pleased. Seeking photos. But not of Boobs. Thank You Ladies.

Wow.Great post. I’d like to write like this too – taking time and real hard work to make a great article… but I put things off too much and never seem to get started. Thanks though.I'm common rail come from sensor .

I was a lost sailor assigned to the North Island Air Station.
A buddy and I picked up some tickets for $12.00 each.
I got on the bus and never looked back!!!!!

I came into DeadHeadNess in a kind of backwards way.. My older sister saw them a few times in 1977-78 in the LA area where my family lived. Through her, I had a modest collection of Dead LPs, and really enjoyed them. So I was a fan of their songs first.
While I was performing 4-5 nights a week with my cover band (you could actually make somewhat of a living playing live music in those days), my gang of friends became Deadheads and went to a lot of shows up and down the California coast. I finally got to join them at Chula Vista. I had NO IDEA what to expect! I did know they didn't play their 'hits' as a rule. Sometimes they did, sometimes not...
I hadn't heard any tapes from the 80s yet. So at first, I figured Jerry had a sore throat. It took a few tunes to understand that was his regular voice! By "West L.A.", I got into the groove.
The weird 2nd set intro baffled me, as I just wasn't used to what they did. All in all, a fun show- but it took my 3rd show to REALLY get it!
I've heard this show a few times, and I feel it's very strong for 1985 (a hit-and-miss year!)

Looking for ticket from this show !!!

I concur that it was a glorious day, on a lawn like soft carpet, with cops so chill they just laughed with the Dead Heads, with a relatively intimate venue with a friendly audience, and some very nice playing indeed from the troubadours.
However, where I mildly disagree is the degree of planning that the boys might have put into that unusual 2nd set song list, as we got the distinct impression at the time it was a total accident. Time stood still and everybody was hanging on to every beautiful word of She Belongs To Me, and I think during that ballad slot is where I think we all forgot we were at the beginning of the first set not the end. I recall we were non-plussed when Bobby launched into Truckin', then dropped into Comes A Time, and there wasn't the slightest doubt we were coming from 'home stretch' to the crashing Around & Around finale of the show, with only the slightest niggling feeling that it was one of those shorter backwater shows. Then and only then do I recall Bill and Mickey flailing arms for attention, with a big 'Waaaaiittt a minittt!', and with some mirth the band and audience finally snapped out of the trance and realised we'd missed the whole Drum/Space segment! Hence the very odd placement Drums, US Blues and encore numbers. Blame it on Fugue Amnesia!