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30/31 December, 1985 Oakland Coliseum The Grateful Dead closed out their 20 Year Anniversary in Oakland. I got sold out of the mail order so I budgeted $100. for a ticket for each night. I scored a $20. ticket for the 30th and I found a ticket for $80. for NYE the next day. Imagine that, $80. for NYE hours before the show!!! Anywho, in the parking lot a group of friends were handing out fliers to anyone and everyone that since is the Dead's 20 yr anniversary, and to show fan appreciation, when the band comes out for the 1st Set, clap the beat to NFA and hopefully the band will kick in and take over. So the lights dim, then the clapping began. It started in low, then it started to grow. And before long, it was as loud as you ever heard it! Then once the instruments were tuned just exactly perfect, Mickey pounded them skins to the primal beat! Talk about "and the music played the band!" In another thread, there is talk about best openers, well this episode gets my vote, not necessarily for the song (NFA) itself but the magic behind it justifies my vote! Also, during one of the set breaks, Bill Graham and crew had set up a volleyball net behind the sound board. Bill and his crew would actually play volleyball against people from different states! Over the PA they would call out that we need 6 people from Florida or wherever, then they'd play. I am from New York and was thrilled when they called NY to stand by, I jumped at the chance. I had to show my license as proof of my residency then I got to play v-ball in front of 20,000 friends. I sucked but that is not the point. After the match we all shook hands and returned to our seats. So I got to shake hands with the legendary Uncle BoBo and man talk about a great time!