From: larryc@netcom.com (Larry Ching)
Subject: Crying
Summary: My first intense GD experience. 
Keywords: Grateful Dead , crying 
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services (408 241-9760 guest)
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 00:16:46 GMT

Dec. 12th, Saturday, Oakland Coliseum


The First Time I've Ever Cried At A Grateful Dead Show


 I've been going to one or two Dead shows a year, ever since 1982. I've 
always liked them , but never got hit by that special feeling that makes 
people follow the Dead all over the world. But, for some reason, it all 
came together for me at the Dec. 12th Saturday show at the Oakland 
Coliseum . 

 Just before the first set started, I found a nice area to stand in, 
below the taper section and next to the wheelchair section, at the 
extreme end of the arena opposite the stage. [ One good thing about Dead 
shows - it doesn't really matter if you can't see the stage or not, 
nobody's doing anything showy anyway ]. I got to it two minutes before 
the first song.

 The opening notes to "Jack Straw" brought a great cheer from the crowd 
- everyone around me got up and started to dance - smiles everywhere. As 
I danced, the combination of anticipation, physical release, and the 
great mood of the crowd triggered a strong emotional reaction from me - 
and so I cried. A few joyful tears squeezed out from my eyes as I did my 
space boogie steps, and I could feel my face twisted up in that 
expression of rapture that looks like pain.

 I should say now, that I didn't spend the whole show sobbing my eyes 
out - just the first five minutes. I'm not a total fan of all their 
music, and so when things got a bit too mellow/slow, I wandered the 
hallways. [ Some of you might have seen me - an Asian-American guy with 
a big tshirt on, with the design of the sun on the front, and the moon 
and stars on the back ] In fact, I spent more time outside the main 
arena area than inside - there's more room to dance, and more folks who 
dance like I do. 

 My favorite place to listen to Drums/Space at Oakland Coliseum is now 
the downstairs alcove , the place with the blue and white awning over 
it. Most everybody there is either dancing or resting up for more 
dancing - and nobody talks during Drums/Space!  [ At other concerts, 
I've been annoyed by people sitting next to me who use Drums/Space to 
get caught up on their gossip. ]

 As for the encore - the Beatles "Rain" ! Great idea, and they did a 
good version too! Phil even threw in a Paul McCartney bass riff - 
although that may have been in the original song.

 And then - after the show, I went to a rave! [ But that story's for 
another newsgroup  :-)  ]


				Larry Ching / larryc@netcom.com


-- 

 *-------------------------------------------------------------------------*
 | "Listen carefully to the music, and dance like a flower"                |
 |  ---> Body Of Light:"Dance Like A Flower"                               | 
 | "I AM THE GENIE OF THE TOOTHPASTE!"                  larryc@netcom.com  |
 |  ---> The Darwin Chamber:"Genie Of The Toothpaste"                      |
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