tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5195590583641426943.post6423743951551481039..comments2024-03-26T23:10:34.814-07:00Comments on Grateful Dead Sources: October 23, 1970: McDonough Gym, Georgetown University, Washington DCLight Into Asheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06943335142002007213noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5195590583641426943.post-71443911536786856072019-08-06T18:40:11.417-07:002019-08-06T18:40:11.417-07:0010/23/70 has turned out to be an extremely well-re...10/23/70 has turned out to be an extremely well-reviewed show, with reviews found from three university papers (so far). It seems the Washington Post covered the show as well - I haven't seen that article, but I'd guess it was more about crowd/police issues than about the Dead.<br />The Eagle was the student newspaper of American University in Washington DC (where the Dead would play two years later). <br /><br />This review is so well-written I can add little in comment. <br />Sweeney was very knowledgeable about the Dead and their history; he's clearly read up on the band, and his writing is much more in-depth and observant than most other reviewers at the time. Only a couple minor mistakes (Phil Lesh didn't study at Juilliard, and the Dead had played in Baltimore back in '69). <br />He's seen the band before - doesn't say when, just remarks on Pigpen's diminished role in the music, and how Garcia moves less on stage now. He worships Garcia and "the best rock 'n' roll band in the world."<br />Oddly, when it comes time to recall the setlist, he just shrugs, "Who remembers?" (Actually the Dead didn't play Cold Rain or New Speedway.) <br /><br />I added a couple letters to the editor from the Hoya, which I missed when searching the paper earlier. The Hoya never actually reviewed the show (instead running a number of pieces on the university's troubled reaction), but the letters offer a few thoughts. The first writer hated everything (the crowd, the organizers, the Dead, the world) and just wants to complain about it all; the second writer loved the show and gives her a well-deserved scolding; the third writer represents the poor souls who couldn't get into the overcrowded gym and had to listen outside. Light Into Asheshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06943335142002007213noreply@blogger.com