Live Dead at the Rialto was a blast!

[Barry]

The Rialto’s showing of a full length full live Grateful Dead concert sold out their largest auditorium! It was a standing (dancing!) room only show!

Both the Dead and our live audience were a little slow to get started (opening with an unheard of opening Eye of the World), but soon the whole audience was cheering and otherwise participating.

I had seen last year’s Jerry Day live concert video in LA. It also got a good turn out, but it was a much more sedate crew. I was the only one dancing!

The only thing missing from last night’s showing (aside from an actually live band) was a set break! When I saw that the Rialto was going to show this, I lobbied them for a set break. I’ll try again next year.

I studiously avoided reading about the show, including the setlist, in advance. I was delighted to hear them play several rarely played favorites of mine, Ship of Fools and China Doll, and unbelievably, New Speedway Boogie!

It was a treat to see the band up close, particularly at this pivotal point in their trajectory. Brent had died less than a year earlier and Bruce Hornsby was still sitting in to support Vince on the keys. Early in the show, when a song wasn’t quite coming together, I was touched by how vulnerable Bruce looked. Jerry was still in his full radiance, with his grey hair blowing in the breeze.

Anybody else catch this showing? Any thoughts about watching a Dead concert film in community?

[SonomaPatientsCoop]

Good to hear. I had tried to make it back into town for this but it was not meant to be.... I was at this show when it happened...

Last year saw the Philly show up in Windsor (Rialto wasn't showing it sadly).

One of the great things about the Grateful Dead that still carries over... it was a shared experience...

[csell]

It would be nice if my neighbor Mickey Hart would occasionally show up at this kind of event! He could certainly help raise money for the theater, if not for some other cause!

[kane]

It would be fun to have an outdoor showing in the Park one day...

[foxrosie]

Much agreed about a showing in the Park. Suggestions on how to do that?