Spring Tour.
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Spring Tour would be gettin goin about now on the East Coast back in the day. Man, what a glorious time. I always loved Spring, but when I added the Grateful Dead to my life and started getting amped for Spring Tour...that made Spring even Springier.
Dozin at the Knick in 90, Hampton 3-27-88, UIC Pavilion in 87, Richfield shows in the 90's, the first shows at the Orena in Orlando in '91...those were some of the best times I ever had, and I love lookin back on all the craziness that went along with the ride. The shows were great, the cast of characters was fantastic, the weather was warming up...it was such a great time.
Anybody else have a special place in their hearts for the Grateful Dead Spring Tour?
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Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Woz
Spring of '81......
Spring of '81......
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: VivalaSchwa
My first shows on the Spring
My first shows on the Spring Tour were in '87. UIC Pavilion. What a fantastic time. We played frisbee from the parking lot of UIC to the Sears tour, stopped at a 24 hour Greek place for some Gyros, and played the rest of the way back.
Here's a great recording of the second night of UIC Pavilion.
https://archive.org/details/gd1987-04-10.140874.sbd.miller.flac2496/03Li...
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Localcountyline
Bob Dylan Spring Tour starts
Bob Dylan Spring Tour starts today in Portugal.
And yes on GD Spring Tour.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Deadly
Spring tour was always highly
Spring tour was always highly anticipated. I only saw one run of New Year's shows (1991).
The six months between fall tour and spring seemed like they might never end....
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: O'Toole
I had no clue who they even
I had no clue who they even were before i went, grateful who?
Hampton Coliseum
5/2/80
New Minglewood Blues [7:18] ; Loser [7:29] ; Mama Tried [2:29] > Mexicali Blues [4:12] ; Friend Of The Devil [8:48] ; Far From Me [3:52] ; Looks Like Rain [7:50] ; Althea [8:11] ; The Music Never Stopped [7:22]
Alabama Getaway [4:24] > Space [0:52] > Feel Like A Stranger [8:09] > Eyes Of The World [7:16] > Drums [10:07] > Space [0:45] > Not Fade Away[6:40] > Stella Blue [9:04] > I Need A Miracle [3:57] > Bertha [5:45] > Good Lovin' [6:52]
EncoreJohnny B. Goode [4:30]
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: MeditateontheQ
Miss those springtime runs at
Miss those springtime runs at CalExpo, Greek, Shoreline....
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Johnny D
Enjoyed outdoor shows: Laguna
Enjoyed outdoor shows: Laguna Seca (May '87), Irvine Meadows (April '88), Frost (May '89), Silver Bowl Las Vegas (April '91).
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: krab
Did the tour book in '87,
Did the tour book in '87, GDTS gave us Easties an extra day or two to put our $$ orders in the mail due to a blizzard. Hampton, Hartford, Phil, Centrum, Brendan Byrne, Chicago
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: pumpkin lurker
Hampton '87, '88, Albany '90,
Hampton '87, '88, Albany '90, '91, Chapel Hill '93 and Albany '93 were my spring highlights. Those were awesome times!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: nebulous nelly
Spring 86 was my first show.
Spring 86 was my first show.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: VivalaSchwa
The six months between fall
The six months between fall tour and spring seemed like they might never end....<<<<<
Man, ain't that the truth. And on those occasions where I couldn't hit a Fall Tour show, that gap was huge from Summer Tour to Spring Tour with no shows. 1st world mega problems.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: The Eggman
Spring 81 & 82 the first two
Spring 81 & 82 the first two spring tours that I traveled for will always be near and dear. My first spring show out of NY was really good and was of course at Hampton Coliseum The Mecca for spring tour on the East Coast ......Hampton 5/1/81- Alabama Getaway-> Promised Land, Friend Of The Devil-> Me & My Uncle-> Big River, Althea-> Little Red Rooster, Tennessee Jed-> Let It Grow-> Deal Feel Like A Stranger-> Franklin's Tower-> Lost Sailor-> Saint Of Circumstance-> He's Gone-> The Other One-> Drums-> The Wheel-> Wharf Rat-> Sugar Magnolia, E: U.S. Blues
https://archive.org/details/gd81-05-01.wise.clugston.2218.sbeok.shnf
As much as I liked the Spring 82 tour I was NOT HAPPY that they played The Scope in Norfolk, Va. as opposed to Hampton.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: El Nino
Made the 10 hour drive for
Made the 10 hour drive for one show 4/9/83 which started my love affair with the mothership. The show was great but seeing that it was actually spring somewhere was just as good. Watched the sun rise on the beach. Ride home in the back of the rag top jeep wasn't so much fun but at least I didn't have to drive.
I remember meeting up with friends who were doing that tour in the "No Car" no wind shield wipers, no registration, and no valid drivers license. At least I was smarter than that.
https://archive.org/details/gd83-04-09.sbd.miller.27703.sbeok.shnf
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: VivalaSchwa
88 was my only trip to
88 was my only trip to Hampton, and I am sooooooooo glad I made it. Just like kxela said, you could feel the warm, which was nice for a kid living in Ohio in March. The beaches, the way that Mothership glowed at night after a show...the vibe inside with the only General Admission concert venue left that I knew of. Anyways, wherever you were, there you were. Nobody checkin your ticket to see if you were allowed to go onto the floor or not. Open seat, have a seat. It was wonderful...everything about it.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: TommyGutt
The Mother Fuckin Ship
The Mother Fuckin Ship
And cherry blossums
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: VivalaSchwa
3-28-88. Hampton.
3-28-88. Hampton.
I forgot how hot the Other One was that night. I was right down near the front in front of Jerry all night for this show. Not much dancin room, but man it was fun to be up close and watch it all go down.
The Other One starts at 47:58. It takes a bit to get goin, but it gets goin.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=4488&v=mzEzujbH_Fg
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: VivalaSchwa
I can remember getting
I can remember getting everything packed for the Hampton 88 trip. We drove down to Louisville to pick up a friend, and all piled into the 77 Ford Fairmont station wagon loaded to the gills with camping gear, and other accoutrements.
There was nothing like getting everything in the car, doing a ticket check, and hitting the road for the adventure of Spring Tour. Late March always brings back these memories.
That was an epic trip. The poor car was SMOKING pulling into Hampton on the 3rd night. I mean, smoke rollin out from under the hood big time. People were looking at my license plates (Ohio), lookin at the car smokin, and were givin me the "sorry dude" look in the line to get into the parking lot.
After the show, we came out, joined hands around the car and said a little prayer for the Ford, and thanked it for getting us there for those shows, now please get us home. It never smoked again, but we sure did...all the way home.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Deadly
Hampton 88 run was off the
Hampton 88 run was off the hook. Schwadude, I bet we shared a smoke and a Hookah show somewhere along the way.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: VivalaSchwa
I wouldn't be surprised,
I wouldn't be surprised, Leper. Lots of great vibes and sharing whatcha got all around the Coliseum.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: An organ grinder’s tune
being a H.S. kid, the thought
being a H.S. kid, the thought of having to get hotel rooms was not something i could afford. it's cold back there.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: VivalaSchwa
We camped at Seashore State
We camped at Seashore State Park for the 88 shows. It was just exactly perfect.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: ________
the good old days
80-89
the good old days
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Ausonius
Spring tour '79.
Spring tour '79.
First show in Hampton, fell in love with the place immediately. First Brent tour, saw Hampton, Baltimore, Lafayette, and Binghampton (which featured the first east coast China-> Rider since 8/5/74). Had just returned from three years in San Francisco in January and caught the 1/12/79 Spectrum make-up show which turned out to be my last one with Keith & Donna. Was immediately impressed with what Brent brought to the table (I had seem him with the Weir Band so it wasn't a total surprise). I usually preferred fall tour but spring was always special.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: JP (J Bomb)
The smell of mud and body
The smell of mud and body odor was a curiously strong combination.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Deadly
We camped at Gosnold's Hope
We camped at Gosnold's Hope Park in '87 and '88 during the Hampton shows.
The 1988 run weather was wet and cold. The damaged dome tent we stayed in did not help matters.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Barrel Aged
First show Spring 4-6-82 it
First show Spring 4-6-82 Spectrum, it snowed!
Best Spring 1989, touring and camping with my new-ish boyfriend. We were madly in love by Pittsburg, where they broke the doors down.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: VivalaSchwa
In 88 it rained all night
In 88 it rained all night after the first show. The morning of the 27th was a glorious, sunny morning.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Deadly
Yes, and the show the night
Yes, and the show the night of 3/27/88 is one of my all time favorite shows attended.
To Lay Me down bust out, Ballad Of A Thin Man, and a sublime second set.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: VivalaSchwa
I remember going to sleep to
I remember going to sleep to the sound of rain on the plastic we had strung up over the tent before we left for the show. Anyways, it was that sound I fell to leep to, and I woke to what I thought was the same sound, but it was the sound of a fire cracklin in our fire ring, and the sky was a beautiful blue. What a mood swing.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: VivalaSchwa
My Spring Tour '90 was
My Spring Tour '90 was wrapping up on this day, 28 years ago. I was exhausted. We went back to my truck after this show and immediately fell asleep. It was like 0 degrees outside, and the last thing I remember was getting to my truck in the parking garage. We woke up...freezing...in front of a hotel. My friend and I were confused, as he was now in the back of the bed of the truck (it had a cap on it), and I was in the passenger seat. Apparently our friends found us, couldn't get us awake, and ended up driving my truck back to their hotel, which is where we woke up, confused and freezing in the truck. After a minute, our friends rolled back in from getting more beer and we ended up in their hotel room, not freezing anymore.
It was a long crazy 5 shows for us. 2 at Copps Coliseum, and 3 at Knickerbocker Arena. International dosings and shenanigans abounded. Epic times were had, and 5 wonderful shows went down. Absolutely every note of every show was worthy of your attention, and paid off in triple gold bars of synaptic glory. The opening Half Step from Copps is the one that's on Without A Net. That was song 1 of the 5 shows, and everything was just cracklin with energy, intent, and X factor goodies. What fun that was. Young, free and felonious monks.
Copps 3 -21-90
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=5&v=nFFQmWAb_tc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=6&v=7rEA0MTklOk
Copps 3-22-90
Whole show audio: https://archive.org/details/gd90-03-22.sbd-matrix.aj.453.sbefail.shnf
Second set video: https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=grateful+dead+copps+3-22-90&&view=d...
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: joy
".....never miss an Easter
".....never miss an Easter show"