tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5195590583641426943.post6990790352128993411..comments2024-03-26T23:10:34.814-07:00Comments on Grateful Dead Sources: December 20-21, 1968: Shrine Hall, Los AngelesLight Into Asheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06943335142002007213noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5195590583641426943.post-80121460217544420972019-02-11T23:05:56.946-08:002019-02-11T23:05:56.946-08:00I added a review from Cash Box of the 12/21/68 Sat...I added a review from Cash Box of the 12/21/68 Saturday show. This reviewer didn't mention the additional opening bands that had played on Friday - maybe they didn't play again, or maybe he missed their sets, or in his limited space didn't think them worth a word. <br />He says the Dead had been "disappointing" in the past but are now "excellent." (I wonder which of their shows he was disappointed by?) He likes the double-drumming and Pigpen, the "small Buffalo Bill wailer." But he doesn't think much of their stage presentation - they're "oblivious to the audience [and] seem to be performing for themselves." But the small crowd loves them nonetheless. <br />He really doesn't like Country Joe & the Fish, whom he calls lifeless and dull. It seems some in the audience agreed - Country Joe made the mistake he'd repeat in later years of going on after the Dead, only to find that the crowd "dwindled rapidly." Light Into Asheshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06943335142002007213noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5195590583641426943.post-7045576546334084022012-12-30T20:53:07.307-08:002012-12-30T20:53:07.307-08:00Good to see an old-timer remember the show too!
...Good to see an old-timer remember the show too! <br /><br />It looks like the first reel for this show is missing so we only get to hear the end of the show, but we have the next night's Dead show complete.Light Into Asheshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06943335142002007213noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5195590583641426943.post-47295162094025517052012-12-29T23:28:11.404-08:002012-12-29T23:28:11.404-08:00Just tonight, I was discussing this show as the fi...Just tonight, I was discussing this show as the first professional rock concert I had been to, at age 14. What a trip to have my 30 year old son pull up this archived piece! And then to go to the link and hear actual archived audio. It blows me away as much as the show did that night! Being taken to this show was a holiday gift from my older sister. What a long strange trip it was! I remember Spirit being incredible and playing the aforementioned song calling it "Christmas Spirit". What nobody has mentioned, were the visuals provided by the combined efforts of The Thomas Edison and Castle Lighting 360 degree light show! That was a time when sound reinforcement and stage lighting had not quite evolved into the industry we have today and the Light show ruled the rock scene. Thanks for the great memory! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06676210777969487146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5195590583641426943.post-35925297496363577502012-02-21T22:00:35.809-08:002012-02-21T22:00:35.809-08:00Though the Dead only get a brief mention in this a...Though the Dead only get a brief mention in this article, it's notable for a few reasons. <br /><br />For one, it illustrates what the experience of a "whole show" was like, rather than just the Dead's set. It's interesting to see that the Dead seem to have been upstaged by both Spirit and Country Joe. <br />They may have been adversely affected by equipment trouble, the (literally) cold atmosphere in the Shrine, or whatnot - on our tape snippet, they abandon the Eleven, not a good sign! (Their show the next night was better, and was about 80 minutes long.)<br />We also learn that the Dead played Schoolgirl, not on our tape. As usual, the reviewer is most impressed by the Pigpen tunes - Schoolgirl and Lovelight. <br /><br />The Archive link has an interesting eyewitness review of the show. <br />"There were a lot of great bands at this concert: Spirit, Comfortable Chair, and Country Joe & The Fish, besides the Grateful Dead. I remember the Grateful Dead didn't play all that long. It was a fun, old time, original rock festival type concert. Everyone sat on the floor, there weren't any seats. Everyone was real friendly... Plus, it was just a few days before Christmas. I remember Randy California, of Spirit, worked one of the Christmas Carols into one of his guitar solos. They had different stages set up, so while one band was playing, another one was getting ready, so there was only a short break between bands. And you'd turn and face one band and then the other. I remember Jerry's solos involved a lot of going up and down the neck, in a rather fluid manner... I think he was playing his SG. It was a great concert, and Country Joe & The Fish came out and closed the show. They were great, too!"Light Into Asheshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06943335142002007213noreply@blogger.com