Writing this coming up on the 21st anniversary of this show. Barring the night before in Charlotte, this was my first time seeing the remnants of the dead play together and the first time I’d ever heard Phil Lesh play in person.

We drove up from Charlotte in my friends mom’s minivan and chilled hard in the lot. I was discussing with a friend of mine how I needed some blotter. A dude overheard me and let’s just say he obliged kindly.

On to the music: we were walking up the steps to the lawn when the first strains of jack straw started pouring out. People really lost their minds. Not having ever seen the dead before, I don’t think I really had a grasp on how deeply people loved their music and how much it must have meant to them to see it honored in such away. It certainly sounded fresh, much more alive than some of the 95 tapes in my collection. Dave Ellis in particular sounded really electric, jumping all over the melodies that kimock Laid down.

When Bruce did the lady with fan intro, people started screaming and crying. I was a little disappointed that they didn’t do the whole thing, but maybe it felt too sacred back then, like they weren’t ready to touch it quite yet.

The real met of the set for me came in dark star. They predictably went straight into outer space and that’s where the aforementioned blotter really got a hold of me. Phil started dropping massive bombs down on us and I was so overcome with joy I stood up and yelled
“PHIL LESH IS THE FUCKING MAN!!!!,” which got a nice chuckle from some of the older heads sitting next to us.

I guess they ran out of time because there was no encore and everyone was standing around a little befuddled. We walked back to the minivan and got inside just as the sky opened up and doused everyone. Long drive back to Charlotte that night. We had been listening to quite a bit of phish earlier in the week, but agreed that the ride back would belong to the dead. I kept seeing stealies wherever I looked for the rest of the night. We got back at dawn. A major milestone in my concert and cultural experience. Since then I’ve seen many iterations of the dead, but nothing nearly as poignant as that. A beautiful time in life and beautiful music to go with it.

This is my first Dead family event I ever went too. The shows its self was amazing but the experiance in all was life changing. I went from being a 16 year old kid not knowin nothing about music or what life was about. Too nowin where the music was and learning a good few life lessons on how to treat people. I came down the night before with a few friends and stayed with some older heads (Tommy & Phillis)we stayed up the night before talking and jammin out till the wee hours of the morning. I remember pullin in and seeing all these people and I thought to myself WTF! is going on here. But it soon felt like home. The day went by so fast and soon enough we went in catching the last few songs of Rusted Root. Hot Tuna was and still is one of my favorite shows to this day and then The Other One came out. I remember Sugaree came on and people were huggin and some cryin I didnt know what it ment to these people at the time but I was sure to find out. My next clear memory is walkin threw the spiners during Estimated and getting lost in the waves of dresses and losein everyone I was with. Then the show was over and we all came together in the middle of the field somehow right after the show. Crazy how suff like that happens. We left and my friends brother bought 10 grilled chesses and passed them out. He also taped the show and gave us a listen to it in the lot. Now I'm a taper myself. Well this is how I remember it all. Thanks for putting this up here It drings back lots of memories and good times with people I don't really get to see much at all anymore.
Thank You!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Peace & Lovelight George