I was there. Did the entire east coast tour that fall. I had seen them dozens of times, but always two or three shows at a time. I finally set myself up so I could just take off without having to rush back to school or work. That ended up being the one and only time I did an entire tour, and it actually ended my days of following the band around. I walked out of the Miami Arena at the end of the last show and realized that was as great as it was ever going to get. I just happened to get lucky enough that my touring years coincided with Jerry's near-death and remarkable recovery. It was rough when he went down in 86, and we thought that was probably the end. Boy was that ever wrong. For those next few years, from spring 87 through fall 89, the band just kept getting better from one show to the next. The whole vibe just got higher and higher, show after show, tour after tour, and year after year. By the end of the fall tour, they were on fire, and they kept up that momentum through the first half of 1990. Spring 87 through summer 90 represented their last great peak as a live band. I wasn't counting on Brent dying the next summer, but I knew that the peak wouldn't last forever. I caught a handful of shows in spring and summer 90, and the band was clearly still firing on all cylinders, but I knew it was time to move on. I realized that I'd gotten everything out of the trip that I was going to get, and if I kept going to more shows, I'd only be trying to recapture something I'd felt in the past. I ended up playing in my own bands, making my own music, and playing my own shows. Last year, I played at EDC Orlando, a massive electronic music festival. I play live sets with electronic percussion. Everything I do in a set like that is a direct descendant of Drums and Space, even if no one in the audience even knows who the Grateful Dead were. If I can blow one kid's mind the way Mickey Hart blew my mind four decades ago, all the hassles of putting on a live show are worth it. Getting to pass along even a tiny bit of the magic given to me by the Grateful Dead is a privilege.
I was lucky enough to be there - can’t say anyone was expecting “California Earthquake”. IIRC they only played this song twice? The excitement over the Warlocks shows and revival of Dark Star et al was crackling on this tour... “never had such a good time...”!
Wolf sighting! My wife's first two shows, the 22nd and this one. She didn't join me for the Hampton run earlier that month but it was a (successful) scavenger hunt. 1989 was not their best year but possibly the final peak as it were. Thanks for sharing!
Cool to see this show. I was there but like many shows between 87-89 I didn't actually see the band. During these 3 years the band set up speakers in the hallways and many of the serious dancers (me!!) preferred the extra flat space and better sound quality than inside the coliseum. I had not idea Jerry played the Wolf guitar that night till now. By this time I was a little older than the average aged fan and had given up drugs altogether. Thus it did not quite fit in with the party vibe. But once the music started, the serious listeners in the hallways became one group mind that I did not seen inside the concert hall or the parking lot. Nobody talked - just danced while listening attentively. It was then that I felt a deep connection with my brothers and sisters.
grate show!!!! hope you post the second set. btw that dew night from 89 Greensboro is top of the line as far as Dews go. that whole second set is divine and kick ass at the same time
theres so many great walkin blues. theres one in particular am excited about presently wanted to point out tonight. its from Paris in October of 1990. bruce Hornsby joined the band for their tour and used a baby grand piano. they played that walkin blues one of two of those nights in paris. i don't remember the date. there is a video here on youtube I think. its so good I recently sent it to Hornsby's manager as a bon voyage gift for his European tour he is on. i think its just such a party that particular version of that song that night with Hornsby. And CA earthquake is very rare--- maybe 2-3 times they played it. furthur band played it a couple times or maybe more as well. but yeah both seriously grooving you are right. peace and love
I was there. Did the entire east coast tour that fall. I had seen them dozens of times, but always two or three shows at a time. I finally set myself up so I could just take off without having to rush back to school or work.
That ended up being the one and only time I did an entire tour, and it actually ended my days of following the band around. I walked out of the Miami Arena at the end of the last show and realized that was as great as it was ever going to get. I just happened to get lucky enough that my touring years coincided with Jerry's near-death and remarkable recovery. It was rough when he went down in 86, and we thought that was probably the end. Boy was that ever wrong. For those next few years, from spring 87 through fall 89, the band just kept getting better from one show to the next. The whole vibe just got higher and higher, show after show, tour after tour, and year after year. By the end of the fall tour, they were on fire, and they kept up that momentum through the first half of 1990. Spring 87 through summer 90 represented their last great peak as a live band.
I wasn't counting on Brent dying the next summer, but I knew that the peak wouldn't last forever. I caught a handful of shows in spring and summer 90, and the band was clearly still firing on all cylinders, but I knew it was time to move on. I realized that I'd gotten everything out of the trip that I was going to get, and if I kept going to more shows, I'd only be trying to recapture something I'd felt in the past.
I ended up playing in my own bands, making my own music, and playing my own shows. Last year, I played at EDC Orlando, a massive electronic music festival. I play live sets with electronic percussion.
Everything I do in a set like that is a direct descendant of Drums and Space, even if no one in the audience even knows who the Grateful Dead were. If I can blow one kid's mind the way Mickey Hart blew my mind four decades ago, all the hassles of putting on a live show are worth it. Getting to pass along even a tiny bit of the magic given to me by the Grateful Dead is a privilege.
Was there. Great memories. Thank you so much for sharing!❤
I was lucky enough to be there - can’t say anyone was expecting “California Earthquake”. IIRC they only played this song twice? The excitement over the Warlocks shows and revival of Dark Star et al was crackling on this tour... “never had such a good time...”!
I was there as well.
Grate show. Never knew what the band would play at any particular time in this stretch.
Wolf sighting! My wife's first two shows, the 22nd and this one. She didn't join me for the Hampton run earlier that month but it was a (successful) scavenger hunt. 1989 was not their best year but possibly the final peak as it were. Thanks for sharing!
these were my first two shows as well and I was in 10th grade.
Just when you thought you've heard it all! Kevin drops another!
Miss you Jerry!
Cool to see this show. I was there but like many shows between 87-89 I didn't actually see the band. During these 3 years the band set up speakers in the hallways and many of the serious dancers (me!!) preferred the extra flat space and better sound quality than inside the coliseum. I had not idea Jerry played the Wolf guitar that night till now. By this time I was a little older than the average aged fan and had given up drugs altogether. Thus it did not quite fit in with the party vibe. But once the music started, the serious listeners in the hallways became one group mind that I did not seen inside the concert hall or the parking lot. Nobody talked - just danced while listening attentively. It was then that I felt a deep connection with my brothers and sisters.
Wolf! And California Earthquake!!
Can confirm....these shows and the whole tour were sick af! Loved hearing California Earthquake
grate show!!!! hope you post the second set.
btw that dew night from 89 Greensboro is top of the line as far as Dews go. that whole second set is divine and kick ass at the same time
Great show this is my favorite year for me eastcoast deadhead.
Ahhhhh thank you 😊
Nice stranger
Sick show. Thanks!
oh jer...
First time hearing this California Earthquake and Walkin Blues i believe. Both groovin.:_
theres so many great walkin blues. theres one in particular am excited about presently wanted to point out tonight. its from Paris in October of 1990. bruce Hornsby joined the band for their tour and used a baby grand piano. they played that walkin blues one of two of those nights in paris. i don't remember the date. there is a video here on youtube I think. its so good I recently sent it to Hornsby's manager as a bon voyage gift for his European tour he is on. i think its just such a party that particular version of that song that night with Hornsby. And CA earthquake is very rare--- maybe 2-3 times they played it. furthur band played it a couple times or maybe more as well. but yeah both seriously grooving you are right. peace and love
This is very groovy.
Good show check out 9-30-89 shoreline
I was there, and at this one too