Grateful Dead

I ended up seeing 15 or so shows here. There is just something about NYC and the people that is so unique. Allways an intense experiance. Dougles

I grew up on Garden shows and thought it was the best place in the world to see a dead show ... until I moved west and saw a bunch of Cal Expo, Shoreline, Eugene, and Warfield shows. This old New Yorker has gotta say I vastly preferred the west coast vibe. While New York shows rocked harder, west coast shows were always much sweeter, and in my opinion more magical. At the Garden I bounced around alot while at Cal Expo I floated. I preferred the floating.

I loved the Garden. Went to a lot of shows there in the early 80's but no longer have my stubs to confirm dates. As many of you may remember, taking the train sure beat driving and trying to find parking. Off the train, up the escalator and your in. There was always a party on the way in and the train would be mobbed over capacity on the way home. Being 17 and poor, my friends and I would usually buy a one way ticket from the conductor on the way in and then hope with all the chaos going home, be able to fly under the radar and not pay.Well, I guess they got hip to that. When we walked downstairs in Penn after a show, they were checking tickets at the stairs to the platform. With the train about to leave and the next one 3 hrs later, I really wanted to get out of NYC. Realizing my fucked situation and still not able to stop giggling, my friend who had a round trip ticket says "Michael, this ticket has both our names on it, your good". The plan was set without even plotting it. I go first and say to the cop, "he's got my ticket (pointing to my friend). and bolted down the stairs. Transit goons realizing they were scammed start out in hot pursuit. Running down the platform aimlessly and thinking I'm doomed, another buddy sticks his head out a door and waves me in. A sea of deadheads parts to let me into the middle of the car them engulfs me. The train was so packed the goons couldn't even get on to try and find me, so they gave up.Thanks to all you heads who protected me from getting tossed in jail or at least recieving a good ole fashioned beating! Needless to say, round trip tickets became the norm in the future. Thanks again, brothers and sisters!

Every September I feel like I should be heading for MSG. Those were the good old days. My first MSG show was 3/10/81 and I saw most of the shows they played there after that. I remember most of the shows I saw, but have NO recollection of the 88 run at the Garden. I have the ticket stubs, but do not recall the shows at all. MSG was my favorite among all the hockey rinks that I saw the GD play at. Since 95 I haven't been to a large concert. I prefer small venues now. Another train story: as the train was arriving at Penn Station, the conductor made the PA announcement "next stop Terrapin Station, Terrapin Station last and final stop" -No kidding. This was the 93 or 94 run.

Does anyone remember the years where the Garden tickets had the Watermark on the back (fan club ones from the lottery)? Each night would have a different word, if you went to every show (yes, I did) it would end up saying something. One year was "Going down the road feeling bad" ( I think 87)and one year was "What a long, strange trip it's been" ( I think 88). Did anyone even look at the back of the tickets besides me? As far as the train was concerned, does anyone remember that they handed little slips of paper that said "Grateful Dead" with the date as your return ticket. I have some somewhere but don't recall where I stashed them. Did anyone go to Mc Cann's or the Blarney Rock before/after the shows? I have a Jewish friend who used to not be able to attend all the shows with me cause they always fell around the Jewish Holidays.

I had the oppotunity to check out the Dead at the Garden on 10/13/94, 10/14/94, and10/15/95!!! My first and last scarlet fire. Had a great time, but would never live there.

I used to hang out at the Blarney Stone I believe it was. It was lovated closer to 6th on 32nd street on the south side of the block. Rock on.

This show was unique for me because I brought my mom to see her only Dead show. We couldn't drive home after the show and had to check into a hotel across the street.

I recall a show I think it was at MSG where Jerry's voice sounded so bad, his singing was almost unlistenable. Anyone remember which show> I know that there definitely was a "My Brother Esau" in the first set.

After this show, In the backwoods of North Jersey I ended up meeting Yoda.Yoda the racoon that is.

In the metal seventies people mistook me for a Deadhead all the time...'you mean, like, Casey Jones?...come on' Turns out they were right...first show, beloved hometown metal venue, great, but it took the second (Brendan Byrne '83) to show me what went on in the hallways... I never took a seat again!!

Yup, I think I remember that being on the back of the ticket. I'm a native New Yorker and love my NYC but always avoided the Garden for shows. Preferred the small general admission places like Cumberland County Civic Center, Hampton Coliseum etc. Saw the whole spring tour in '87 (every show was smoking hot!!) and hit the Garden. LOVED IT. Got into a great routine heading into the city after work, get to 33rd Street just before 6pm. There was no parking like 7am to 6pm so the street was empty and ended up getting free parking a half block from the Garden cause we'd hang in the car until just before 6:00 the pop into the Blarney Rock and drink until 7:30 then cruise right in. The Blarney Rock was a wild scene before and after each show. We put those bartenders' kids through college!