Reply #25: First: Herman's Hermits and the Who....

[Bennyboy]

1965, Sacramento Memorial Auditorium. I took Donna Butterfield and my parets drove us. Really really really hated The Who.(got over it). They were just so out there and radical and the Hermits were just nice boys.

Next was The Grateful Dead NYE 68-69. my cousin Skip took me. They passed around Kool-Aid and he told me "Don't drink too much". To this day, my Mom says, "you were always different after that weekend with Skip". Everything changed that night.

My favorite was The Dead any time they played. they did something that nobody else did and it was great and never got old.

The Last Waltz. The movie does not do this show justice. almost like two different events.

The Deepest End (Gov't Mule) 17 bassists and lots of other guests. New Orleans 2002. Show went till 5 AM. Warren Haynes is freaking GOD.

Leftover Salmon every time I see them they just blow my mind. my kind of music, fun fun fun.

String Cheese Incident on NYE. Incredible themed shows. Fire dancers, arielists, trip rooms, art everywhere, tightrope walkers...too much. As many GD shows I saw on NYE, nothing comes close tot he energy of SCI on NYE.

SCI at Hornings Hideout. Tripping at some summer camp with your favorite band.

Bruce Springsteeen 12-15-78 Winterland. listen to the show, you'll know why (www.wolfgangsvault.com)

The Rolling Stones Some Girls tour Oakland on Micks birthday. peter Tosh opened the show and at the end of his set he started throwing spliffs off the stage. I jumped up and grabbed on. put that thing in my pocket for later. Dropped some liquid too. During Santana I went to the top of the collesium and puffed that spliff down. Got really high. really really really high.

There was a tightrope walker between the scoreboards. windy day too..... Five large helicopters circled the stadium. Just as the tightrope walker got to the other end, the helicopters opened their doors and brazillions of multi colored ping pong balls rained down on the crowd as a million multi colored balloons went skyward. Trapeze artists dropped out of the stage opening and the band kicked in. the single most intense moment of my life.

the band was incredible that tour too, one of my favorite albums too. But that balloon/ping pong ball thing was TOO MUCH!