LOVE that song. I didn't get to go as often as some of my buddies...maybe 7-8 times from the late 80s-early 90s. I was barely of age then.
At a show in NY in the early 90s Gerry lost his train of thought and forgot the words when performing Fire On the Mountain. One of the few "things" I can clearly remember.
No other show, concert or festival has ever carried the same atmosphere. The Allman Bros, CSN, The Band, and Pink Floyd came close though.
I imagine you guys who were youngins' during the 70s had it best with music and festivals like Cal-Jam and the like.[/QUOTE]
I only saw the Dead 4-5 times while I was in the Navy. Mostly when they came through Norfolk and up the east coast.
I was kind of late to the scene. Wasn't paying attention until about '72. That summer we were up in the mountains on vacation, and heard about a big 3 day festival at the speedway in Rockingham NC. My sister was 17 and somehow talked Mamma into us going by there, We saw Mick Fleetwood and the rest of Fleetwood Mac in the pool where we were staying. Saw Three Dog Night in the parking lot. Sister knew who they were. I was 12 or so and hadn't really got into music yet. I didn't get to go to the show, but you could hear it all over the town. And by Sunday they had opened up the gates, and most of the townies were there too. That was my first up close look at hippies.
Later on when I was a teenager I saw lots of shows in Dothan Al and a few in Tally. Not the best seating or sound at either venue, but it was what we had. Didn't see Ronnie, but saw most of the southern bands that came after. When I was in the Navy, there were a wider spectrum of shows. Still lots of southern rock, but I saw ELO, Kansas and David Bowie while away from Larry Land. Best show was Greg Allman Band up in Norfolk in the early 80's. I had seen the Brothers during the Cher years, and they had no soul. Terrible shows.