Shakedown Street, Little Red Rooster, Althea, Me & My Uncle-> Mexicali Blues, China Cat Sunflower-> I Know You Rider-> Looks Like Rain-> Might As Well Cold Rain & Snow-> Far From Me-> Truckin'-> Eyes Of The World-> Drums-> The Other One-> Stella Blue-> Around & Around-> One More Saturday Night, E: Touch Of Gray
Reviewer:
Grateful Jeff1
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July 20, 2023
Subject:
EPIC EYES!
As many have pointed out, a very powerful performance from start to finish. What nobody pointed out: One of the most amazing EYES OF THE WORLDS ever played. The groove is so relaxed and Jerry just rides the wave with spirals of magical notes dancing to the rhythm. Give it a good listen! AMAZING!
Reviewer:
Dark Star 101
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July 22, 2021
Subject:
Love the Fairgrounds!
Finally made it in 1985 and had a great time. This show has some nice moments, but agree with a poster below that Jerry seems pretty faded - def not his A game.
Reviewer:
patnem2003
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July 23, 2016
Subject:
jamming on the beach
Another grate Ventura show. Shakedown got things going fast and never let up. I love that Cold Rain and Snow. One of the best I"VE heard. Far from me was a buzz killer but they made up for it with a epic Truckin' into Eyes. The rest of the set minus Other One would not be my choice. But was good none the less.
Reviewer:
fireonshakedownstreet
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January 7, 2012
Subject:
Space>The Other One
On the last three minutes or so of Space into The Other One Jerry is just out of this world. Clearly, he was on a mission; they were on a mission of Tolkiensian proportions. Bobby with that whammy bar and those hard, jangly chords. The drummers, Phil, Brent all in synch. This type of 84 show blows any other band off the stage.
Reviewer:
Deadheadable
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July 21, 2011
Subject:
Listen to the Music
Well.... I went to a few shows there and it was a shit hole! Never even went down to the beach, hell I lived in San Diego ( Pacific Beach ). Remember leaving on show early and going to the movies with my girlfriend...yea we were pretty high! All in all a fun venue to enjoy the boys...had a High Time!
Reviewer:
Famous KC Amos -
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December 25, 2007
Subject:
The Show The began the REVOLUTION IN THE VALLEY
THE MINI REVOLUTION SHOW
This show may have helped start a mini revolution, coming out of the SAN FERNANDO VALLEY.
I grew up about 45 minutes from the Ventura County Fairgrounds. Sylmar is the last town at the Northern Most Point of the San Fernando Valley. All we knew about Rock music was Led Zepplin. We were saturated with the current trends as far fetched as Motley Crew and other funny glam spandexers of the early 80s.
I went east for 2 years to try living with my father. Thats where I meet my friends who were into the dead. I saw shows at Providence R.I. and Meadowlands NJ. I couldnt wait to bring this new culture out West as I know my friends back home were missing out big time.
After returning home we were soon at Ventura County fairgrounds with my two best West Coast friends at the ripe age of 13. Mom had dropped us off in the bubble blue Chevette. The crowds were still so intimate back than that I clearly remember an old head saying hay look, there is some knew heads. Im sure our age being all tie died out at 13 and me being half black made us stand out in the crowd.
We entered and settled in on the dirt floor surface nice and close to the stage. A full blooded American Indian, standing almost 7 feet joined us. He was dressed in only a cloth around his mid section. He gave us the piece signal after sharing some of Sylmars finest skunk together, and he magically disappeared into the crowd. This indians slow flowing movements made us very mellow!
With the wind blowing in from the ocean breeze the dead commence to go into a SUPER SHKEDOWN It was the first time I had scene my friends dance, although reluctantly. Half way into Shakedown Phil made sure that we shook our bones, even if they had never been shakin before. I know that this is the first time my friends have ever been inspired to dance.
We never left our spot trying to take it all in. Yes Phil was truly on one during Shakedown. It had that sound you hear thumpin in the urban community today, Micky was in on it, slamming his floor tom wildly. Even my young 13 year old ears knew this was truly a Super Shakedown as it was refered to in the after concert glow and mermer.
We brought back Hacky Sacks and introduced them to Olive Vista Jr. High. A few months later hackie games were breaking out all over the campus. Every year I returned to Ventura more and more Sylmar rockers would show up, revealing a much softer tie-died side. The heavy metal radio stations soon ditched Motley Crew, and became Classic Rock Only.I think it was 97.1 who led the way with the Classic Rock all the way into the early 90s.
I know there were many other factors but I cant help but think this show helped play a part in this sudden popularity in Classic Rock. Before this show all Sylmar knew was Hard Rock no one had passed this culture down to us Sylmar Stoners. But now where you saw a Zepplin Blimp sketched on a Pee Gee Folder ion someones locker you also saw a steal your face or a skull in roses. Funny how that is currently the trend coture today Skulls on everything. Man we been rockin skulls 24 years ago.
I thank the Jersey heads who turned me on to this tremendous music. It will always inspire me. Brian McCartie my spirit warrior brother RIP and the Meanch Bros of Providence NJ will always be in my spirit.
This show is really something special. And phil was thumping for a reason. He was connecting to the low rider culture of Southern California and the heavy thumping deep bass that could be heard pounding from the mini trucks, that couldnt be missed in the Ventura vicinity.
Sure it may have been a mixer issue but phil made it part of The GREATEST SHAKEDOWN STREET OF ALL TIME. The One They Call SUPER SHAKEDOWN..check it out. Give your Woofers somthing to do.
PS Ventura had the most picturesque settings I ever saw. With the Infamous train conductor who seemed to know to light up his light on cue, when he would pass by only 200 yards behind the stage. The time it happened years later during an "I know you Rider", the crowd gave an ovation cause he hit the light on cue when Jerry said Wish I was a head light.
And on another occassion - dont forget the fire on the hill, during Fire On The Mountain, sure the dead knew there was a real dragon with matches running around the hills in the distance and it took a whole pale of water just to cool him down.
The belowing smoke and flames was just incredible. perfectly framed beyond the stage.
Reviewer:
Mark Scalise
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April 12, 2007
Subject:
Playing to the tide . . .
What a fun place to see shows! A funky rodeo arena a few hundred yards back from the Pacific, with the band playing facing the sea, and camping on the beach all weekend. These were by far the best shows the band played at Ventura, with this Saturday show particularly scorching from start to finish. The rare mid-1st set China>Rider smoked, as did the entire second set, especially in the post-Drums. Check out Bob's slashing atonal rhythm work in The Other One.
Reviewer:
smoothcat
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September 29, 2006
Subject:
This was my first show
What a day it was. I ended up seeing about 100 shows after this one, I was 18 years old at the time.
What I remember is being able to just walk right up to near the front of the stage and check out Jerry close up without being crowded. Imagine that in the years that followed as it became a mod scene near the front and a lot of manners went out the window.
I caught eye contact (or thought I did at least) with a very bad looking Jerry who seemed to be in his worst phase in my mind drug wise at this point. He was much more well kempt and alert in the many shows I saw during 1985 and 1986 after this first experience. Anyway, Jerry made a connection with me as he has with so many others during this show that made me a lifelong fan.
Simply put, one of the most brilliant musicians of all time, in any musical genre, the late great Jerry Garcia.
Reviewer:
David Bolewski
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January 25, 2006
Subject:
The first Ventura show of 1984 is a hidden gem thats overshadowed by the second night, speakers will melt.
One of the best post drums segments iv'e ever heard. The kinetic energy inside Saturday night and Touch of grey is really something. I'm dancing all over the place. Hot tamales in my shoes,all right! Sound quality is a close 5. Performance a 4. It sounds so so much better on cd-r.
Reviewer:
Schmoe
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July 21, 2005
Subject:
Echo echo echo
Really great show with exception of the huge amount of echo on both Jerry & Bobby's mics at various points of the show. It hurts the recording significantly, very distracting. Eyes of the World sounds like it was played in the Holland Tunnel.
Still, great Shakedown, China/Rider etc...
Reviewer:
Briva
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May 11, 2005
Subject:
Top 10 for me
I was at this show, so maybe I'm partial, but this 2-day run SMOKED from start to finish. Of the ~500 shows I saw, this is still in my top 10 along with the next day 7/22.
Reviewer:
Dylanstubs
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April 21, 2005
Subject:
summer thunder
This is a GREAT show from '84. There are some strange mix issues in Shakedown though. Bass is wicked strong throughout this one. Give your subs something fun to do!
Reviewer:
utopian
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November 3, 2004
Subject:
High Quality
this show rips, the shakedown is fantastic/funkadelic.
make a great addition the the previous Berkeley shows.
sound quality superb, get both nights.
ps check out the 84 Merriweather's Althea
peace
robert
Reviewer:
The Bopper
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September 22, 2004
Subject:
not bad
There are some problems with the sound. During the first set, especially on Shakedown they are adjusting Phils bass in the mix or something. The levels go up and down a little more then normal; too much for my sensitive speakers All of the sudden it's BOOOM, and then two seconds later the bass almost drops out.
While the setlist looks great for the first set, and the reviews sound good, the first set just didn't do it for me. Highlights for me were the LLR and the midset China>Rider. I'm sure there is better from summer tour..possibly the next night.
Reviewer:
Steinbergerman
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July 8, 2004
Subject:
Don't overlook this one
This show tends to be overshadowed by the better circulated 7/22 show, but this is a barnburner from start to finish. Check out the hyperdrive China>Rider jam, with furious rhythm work by Weir. The entire post-Drums is exceptional. R&R>Sat Nite will have you rocking your socks off.
Be advised that Drums is cut prematurely, leaving out Mickey's balaphone section. :(