Wharf Rat Stu

Ahhhh yes! Seen a few late 80s Dead shows at The Frost! Nothing like seeing an afternoon Dead show. The show is over before Dark then you have all night to do, well, whatever it is we do, then repeat the following day. I have not even come close to be at every outdoor venue but The Frost Amp just may be my fav that I have personally been to. I have yet to get my Red Rocks show... Any other contenders?

Thanks for the kind review too...

Grateful Dead, 27 April 1971. Beach Boys (minus Brian Wilson) join the boys on stage for a few numbers. This version of "Riot in Cell Block #9' has got to be, in my opinion, 15 minutes of the most annoying, horrid, GD ever! 👎🤢

Frankly Scarlet played an obvious "Love" theme as it was their Valentine's Show. Set I: How Sweet It Is, TLEO, Tore Up, Help>Slip>Foolish Heart, Sugaree, She Belongs To Me, Gimme Some Lovin', NFA. Set II: Good Lovin', Must Have Been The Roses, Cumberland, Black Muddy River, Samson> Drumz> Space> Tear-A-Pin> Lucy SD> Crazy Fingers> He's Gone> Other 1> Truckin'> Love Light. Right or wrong, this place was packed! But everyone still had room to do their own version of a Dead Wiggle. If people were not comfortable being in a room with that many people they were allowed to go elsewhere; I stayed! Nothing left to do but smile, smile, smile!

Pat Methany's Pikasso Guitar. I see what you mean Poetry, you can probably really hurt yourself if you're not careful!

Instead of a band I just seen, how about a plug for a band I am going to see? Frankly Scarlet, a GD Cover Band playing in Atlanta on 12 Feb at Smith's Olde Bar. Make it if you can!

Be sure to listen to the US Bluz encore; Jerry singing with a GROWL! is a keeper!

John A. That is crazy you mention 5-12-80, this is the exact show I selected at random today at work and am listening to Set I right now. 5-12-80 is posted on YouTube by "Wall of Sound". In the comments section, someone gave a shout out to Rob Eaton for the post. I know Rob did a lot of cleaning up of Betty Boards and posting shows etc., but does Rob go by the alias of "Wall of Sound"??? Just never heard that before. Rob! You out there????

Seen a Phish Tribute Band 'Runaway Gin' in Atlanta. Set 1: The Divided Sky, Mike's Song > Maze, Tweezer Set 2: Weekapaug Groove > Crosseyed and Painless > Steam > Weekapaug > Crosseyed > Steam > Reba Enc: Tweezer > Killing In The Name This band flat out jams! Every song (except for encores), had a few minutes of singing then a 15+ minute jam. And it wasn't a jam just to say they did it, each jam actually went some were and it had something to say. There was no evidence of social distancing etc., the place was packed yet room enough to shake yur bones!

Oh yea! Now we get to see Bama vs Georgia again!! Ugh! There is no doubt that these two have proven themselves to be in the top 4 teams of the country, and obviously now #1 & #2. But being a College Football Fan, I sure wish the Conference Games meant more. I am a Bulldawgs fan but after they got absolutely thumped by Bama in the SEC Conf, Georgia did not earn their way to the "Final Four" IMHO. If nothing else, the NCAA had an opportunity to make it right by letting Georgia and Bama face each other in the 1st round. I will certainly watch every snap of the Championship Game but there is no good outcome for NCAA. If Bama wins, everyone will say told you so, If Georgia wins then all the Bama Fans will say OK, so now the series is tide at 1-1! And wrt TV Ratings, I don't think anybody wants this match-up either, well, except for SEC Talking Heads...

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!

15, 16, 17 Dec 1986 Oakland Coliseum The Grateful Dead's first show(s) following Jerry's diabetic coma in July 86. I attended these three shows, there was a big question mark in the parking lot as to what song they'd open with. I guessed US Bluz (Gimme five, I am still alive!). But the boys chose Touch of Gray. When Jerry sang out I Will Get By, I Will Survive! That was pure magic that still gives me goosebumps as I listen to that set and write this today! https://liveforlivemusic.com/news/jerry-garcia-grateful-dead-12-15-1986/

Picasso AND Victim on the same show? Ouch!

We all seen this Charlie Brown and Lucy gig before. Ol Chuck (Georgia) thinks he will finally kick that football (beat 'Bama) only to have Lucy (Bama) pull it away for a disappointment of biblical proportions! I was quick to bring up how Bama got a Playoff bid 5 yrs ago even though they did not represent the SEC in the Conference Championship Game, Bama did not "earn" an invite. I will apply that same thought process here, after seeing Georgia get pummeled by Bama again, they have not "earned" an invite. Michigan will be no gimme for them Dawgs but as much as I would hate to see it, Georgia needs to earn the right to be in this Championship Game and I think they really need to go through Bama to earn that right... I love SEC Football, but is a possible all SEC Championship Game the best thing for College football?

It has already been proven that Conference Games are nothing but irrelevant Cash Grabs! Going back to the 2016 season, Georgia and Auburn played in the SEC Conference Game. Both Auburn and Georgia beat Alabama during the regular season (remember the "Kick Six"). But given that, Alabama, who did not even represent their conference, was still selected to the Championship series! I agree that Bama was the best team in college football that season, but hey, on any given Saturday right? If you don't even represent your conference championship game, how do you leap frog into the NCAA Championship??? Yeah that still chaps my hyde, and any day Nick Satan cries and loses, that is a good day!