50 yrs of Merriweather
Forums:
I apologize if this has already been posted.
http://data.baltimoresun.com/features/merriweather/
Some cool pics/info in the article.
"Aug. 16, 1967: Jimi Hendrix Experience becomes the first pop music artist to perform at the venue"
"June 20, 1983: The Grateful Dead performs at the venue for the first time"
Not sure if they still do, but in the 80's (at least) they would offer a subscription plan - 4 shows w/ a discount on each ticket price. Not sure if it was 83 or 84, some friends offered me a free ticket for all 4 if I drove. Saw King Crimson (3 of a Perfect Pair tour....fantastic!!), CSN, Santana - great show; distinctly remember 2 things. There were 3 piece jams (maybe 2 percussionists & the bassist & another of the keyboard player, drums & the 2nd guitar player?) - for each Carlos was on the side of the stage watching & digging it all. Very cool. The other thing, lol, you'd a get a little program when entering the venue...It might have been when they went into Oye Como Va, everyone stood up...and the gal in the row in front of us, must've been sitting on the program...it's hot summer time...so for the first 3 minutes of Oye...she had the dang program stuck to her butt. Would of said said something, maybe..., but it did fall of.
I saw 5 outa 6 of the GD shows....i'd rank'em:
1 - 1st night 83, then 2nd night 84, then 2nd night 85..... and damn the one i missed was 6/20/83....errrrrg
- Log in to post comments
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Blue Rose Task Force
(((((Good ole GD at
(((((Good ole GD at Merriweather)))
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Vann Kliburn
6-30-85
6-30-85
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Vann Kliburn
https://www.youtube.com/watch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=us2ktIrcwxY&list=RDus2ktIrcwxY
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: James Botluk
Ms. Jimp and I went to the
Ms. Jimp and I went to the 50th Anniversary show last night. Willie Nelson and Jackson Browne, and others. I went to the '83 and '84 shows, but missed the '85 shows due to my wedding. Highlights of the Dead shows were the "83 "Wharf Rat", where Phil bombed back at the lightning, and the '84 opener of "Casey Jones". The four shows I saw were all great.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Ausonius
Saw all 6 and every Dead
Saw all 6 and every Dead related show played there since Jerry died. Great venue.
6/20/83 was out of this world great.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Back to Back
Have always loved the
Have always loved the description of 6/20/83 on this source:
https://archive.org/details/gd1983-06-20.nak300.grabski.32795.sbefail.fl...
"This is one of the most memorable Grateful Dead concerts I've attended. The weather and band were incredibly fierce. There are so many vivid memories of this night - of course the intense weather; there were record rainfall amounts set and huge bright lightning bolts filling the sky. The thoughts that go through ones head when lightning is crackling all over the place and you have an aluminum microphone stand (lightning arrestor) up in the air with a tape deck wired directly to your chest! Were we dedicated, insane or both? I remember the microphones owner dressed up in sailing foul weather gear looking like a mad ship captain around the mast -"ah mate bring it on".. There were others patched out of me and another rig or two set up during the 1st set but they all bailed shortly into the 2nd set or during the break. During the 2nd set there were a few times when the power would go out, it's pretty wild to listen to since you can hear the stunned audience come up from the silence, then the power comes on with a speaker pop and Phil just wails! Walking out I was completely stunned by the whole experience, getting into my car and trying to find a hotel since there was no way we were going to try to camp that night? Sorry for taking so long to share it with you."
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Ausonius
One of the best rushes I ever
One of the best rushes I ever had at a show was when the power cut right before the "I'll get up and fly away" bridge on 6/20/83. It was a microsecond of perfect hesitation before a volcanic eruption of power. Absolutely stunning.