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Reviewing User | Review | Rate Review Poor|Neutral|Good |
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ken | I went to 7 Grateful Dead shows in 1970, and this was definitely one of them. I enjoyed reading the prior comments about the banter at this show, which fleshed out my memories of the evening. What I had previously remembered about this show is when Bobby stopped everything and said something like - "Who is that guy?" (hipster in the crowd requesting some esoteric tune or other) I saw that feller's beatific smile with a old-fashioned walrus mustache... it was one of those moments when the lights were half on... usually the lighting at the Carousel was pretty dark except for the strobes at one side and a few black lights in the back, besides the main lights onstage, but at times the main floor was lit up and you could make out some of the interesting faces. "You're always requesting 'Golden Road'... we don't know how that goes anymore..." That was funny! The better part of the crowd snickered... we were all in on the obscurity of the request.. for years until I came across that moment on tape again online at Archive.org I had forgotten what the request was for, and figured the dude was either asking for "So We Leave The Castle" or, "Whatever Became Of The Baby"... and I thought they answered, "sure thing, next set!" And there was of course the usual extra dollop of clapping at the start of St. Stephen... but no catcalls, we were all one... but... it was the night of the dividing line! Yes... Between half or so of the audience getting more into it than the laid back half which had been the bigger half, now intending to pitch tents in there for the duration or something... with their blankets spread on the floor in the dark, they were all in unison, calling out "Sit DOWN!" Prior 1970 shows on off-nights, usually the band would come out and start playing to an audience sitting on the floor, why get up? Until they'd start whipping it up with a fast tempo number, that's when we'd get into shakin it a bit, which was distracting and even BLOCKING the sit-in section and then the rebuttal, between songs, all of a sudden, was, "Stand Up!" That went on for a little while, Jerry and Bobby watching this new development, like, oh, this is interesting, what are the kids trying to do? It wasn't serious, just a slightly weird argument with no winners... an awkward moment the band just waiting for them to decide, and then Bobby broke the spell... by doing this TV news anchor voice with his amused drawl, "Stand on your heads!", and everyone cracked up. |