30 years ago,
today, I witnessed a spectacular show in the Philadelphia Spectrum on 9-23-87, towards
the end of an emotional tour. “Touch of Grey” was a top ten hit on the
Billboard charts, and Garcia’s recent guitar playing in Madison Square Garden
and The Spectrum gave off the illusion that he was fully recovered from his
coma, and a wondrous era of live Dead was at hand. Things weren’t as bright as
they seemed, and my interest in touring waned. That was my last Philly show. It
was a perfect end to a magical journey in that iconic arena. My first show in
The Spectrum on 4-6-82, changed my life.
The Grateful Dead
played 53 shows in the Philly Spectrum, the first coming as part of a larger
billing on 12-6-68 featuring Steppenwolf, Iron Butterfly, Sly & the Family
Stone, and Al Kooper. The band’s next Philly show on 9-21-72 was a three-set
spectacular immortalized on Dick’s Picks
Volume 36. The band developed an affinity for the Deadheads in the Philly
area, and they were always comfortable in their primetime East Coast home. There
was off the hook big city energy in Madison Square Garden, and the Hartford and
Providence Civic Centers, but in Philly the band was relaxed, electrified, and
petrified, simultaneously.
I loved this place
for many reasons. From my hometown of Nanuet, New York, South Broad Street in
Philadelphia was a two-hour cruise—a road trip that wasn’t lonesome or a long
way from home. In fact, I usually drove home and drove back for the following
night’s show instead of splurging for a hotel or passing out in my car. The
bootleg tapes saved our lives as my companions and I drove home in various states
of non-sobriety. Seeing the Dead in Philly was a compressed adventure, and who
among us will ever forget the Molly Pitcher or Walt Whitman service areas—greasy
chicken and muddy coffee in Styrofoam cups. My Glory Days began on my way
through a snowstorm to Philly on 4-6-82, and they ended without a warning on
9-23-87. Philly also had a great parking lot scene which was missing at other
big city shows.Touring was never the same again for me, and maybe that’s
because I never saw another show in The Spectrum.
MY TOP FIVE PHILLY
SPECTRUM SHOWS
5. April 26, 1983:
A statue of Garcia should have been erected alongside Rocky Balboa’s after this
torrid affair. The first set opened to the funky thunder and of Shakedown
Street,” and concluded with the wild guitar meanderings of Jerry during Let it
Grow. Help > Slipknot > Franklin’s ignited set two, and when they broke
into “Morning Dew” after Truckin’ > Nobody’s Fault But Mine, my friend
hoisted me off the floor in jubilation. It was the last show of the East Coast
tour, and the whole presentation was almost too hard to handle.
4. March 23, 1986:
This was my 100th show. And as if the band knew the enormity of the
situation, they opened with Gimme Some Lovin’ > Deal. That Deal jam was no
joke. The Spectrum salivated over every Jerry syllable in a delectable Candyman.
The rafters were shaking when Jerry growled, “Hand me my old guitar. Pass the
whissss-key round. Won’t you tell everybody you meet that the candyman’s in
town!” It was an enormous concert all
the way around, but Comes a Time was ten minutes of pure euphoria.
3. April 8, 1985:
After seeing two mediocre shows on the nights before, imagine my amazement when
The Boys opened with Midnight Hour > Walkin’ the Dog > Big Boss Man.
Garcia settled all scores. The first set had a Cumberland Blues and a stunning Supplication
jam, but let’s fixate on set two. Revolution > Bucket > Touch of Grey was
brilliantly performed, and an astute State of the Union address. The Eyes of
the World was a speedy ‘80s version, but way sillier and more intense than
anything they’d ever done before—Insane people’s music. I was never a huge fan
of Weir’s take of “Turn on Your Lovelight,” but this version is rock and roll
ecstasy. 
2. September 23,
1987: Times were good and I felt like the youth of 1,000 summers on this
evening. The set opened with Stranger > Franklin’s and merrily rolled along
until it reached paradise with the best version of “Desolation Row.” This is a brilliant
Bob Weir moment, and Jerry pokes and pecks away to the rolling collage from
Dylan’s mind. The fun barrels over into a rowdy “Big Railroad Blues,” followed
by “The Music Never Stopped.” Oh Mercy! The frenzied phrasing of Garcia’s
guitar was something to behold. As he did when he played the majestic MSG Dew
five nights before, Garcia screamed “I’m back,” and possibly better than ever
before.
1. April 6, 1982:
An unseasonable Northeast blizzard dumped eighteen inches of snow on my
hometown, and much of central New York state. Getting to the show really was an
uncertain adventure, but noting could deter my first road trip to see the Dead.
I
arrived in time for the “Cold Rain & Snow” opener. The opening set featured
twelve songs that captured the essence of Old Weird America. The second set is
an essential part of Grateful Dead history.
Set two erupted with
“Shakedown Street.” Phil’s bombs blasted Broad Street, and after the verses,
Jerry and Brent traded leads, and the jam exploded. Sailor > Saint was top
notch, and the ensuing ”Terrapin Station”
was a spiritual revival. After drums, Truckin > Other One set up my first “Morning
Dew.” I grabbed my friend and hoisted him in the air as if he were the Stanley
Cup Trophy. People were crying and yodeling. Back in these days “Morning Dew
was a rare treat. The set ended with a blazing “Sugar Magnolia” You may say
that’s great, but what makes this show #1. Consider this: The Grateful Dead
played 2,318 shows, and this is the only time they played Shakedown, Terrapin,
Dew, and Mag in the same show. If I handed the band a wish list before the
show, I would have chosen those four songs.
Best of the rest
of The Spectrum shows
9-21-72: This show
has it al. After opening the second set with four tunes, here’s what was
played: Dark Star > Morning Dew, BIDTL, Mississippi Half Step, Sugar Mag,
Friend of the Devil, NFA > GDTRFB > NFA. The opening set has exquisite
performances of Birdsong, Cat > Rider, Black Throated Wind, Ramble on Rose,
Cumberland and Playin’.
4-22-77: First
East Coast show of the most famous tour in Grateful Dead history commences with
Promised Land followed by a smoking Mississippi Half Step. The second set
features a sensational second performance of Fire on the Mountain. A onetime
only Dancin’ > Mojo > Dancin’ combo precedes a Wheel > Terrapin
Station closer. One of the underrated gems of ’77.
Books by Howard F, Weiner
8-30-80: Unbelievable
first set starts with an overachieving Stranger. Garcia had the mojo rolling
all night long. Cold Rain in the middle of the set is an unexpected delight.
The greatest version of Althea precedes an insane Jack Straw to end the set.
Set two is solid with many hot moments, but the magnitude of the Althea and
Straw obliterates everything else.
Books by Howard F, Weiner
Grateful Dead 1977
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