Midnight Hour -> Walkin' the Dog -> Big Boss Man - Phila 4/8/85. Unfortunately the 2nd set was a quite a Bloated Persian Jerry In Red snoozefest letdown.
Yeah I heard the 4/8/85 Spectrum show. Jerry's voice is shot and playing wasn't anything to talk about. THe night before was killer. I wasn't there just have the tapes.
I don't think that I had anything unique, though the 05/09/87 Laguna Seca show started with Sugar Magnolia and ended "regulation" with Sunshine Daydream. That seemed pretty cool at the time.
I won't forget that eyes either, I didn't see that coming after the rager at RFK before. Took me by shock, that St. Of Circumstance was red hot as well
great times, for me the decline came shortly there after
Was a mindfucker. I blew off Little Feat opener in favor of Parking Lot hijinx . When I walked i n and the Dead opened with Eyes, I thought I had missed the entire first set! Ha ha ha...
Guess that Eyes Giants stadium '91 would be it for me as well. A stellar version. The first set was also peppered with Dark Star teases, though they never did play it that night. Fun time.
It might also be interesting to discuss unique opening bands we have seen.
I'm going to give my vote for most unique opening band I saw to either J. Willis Pratt and We're Bionic or The Dude of Life - both of whom I saw as openers for Phish.
I think most folks would agree that the best opener of all time was the debut of Terrapin Station on 2/26/77 in San Bernardino. It's the most well known Terrapin. Phil said the first time they rehearsed it, they played it all day, over and over they loved it so much. The debut proclaims that love--it's ethereal. Feels as if the band must have hovered above that stage for a few minutes.
Another uber famous opener happened after Garcia partook in large amounts of a particular stimulant with a few college students who were more than happy to share. They taped the thing and called it an interview:
My friend and I were just starting to fly as they came on - a complete surprise to us. When those aborigines hit the stage with the didgeridoos howling and pounding the stage, mixed with the heavy guitar chords and the like, we were transported into some otherworldly plane of existence from which we did not, and did not want to escape until watching Santa Claus Conquers the Martians at our friends apartment in Lafayette early the next morning. The amazing shit my brain conjured up that night was pure Christmas fantasy bliss mixed with West Coast craziness!
>>Not famous, Mr. Felina, unique was the question posed.
Good point. I was just commenting using that adjective. And I'm talking all time, not what I saw, which isn't following along with the OP (my bad).
That version of Terrapin stands as the most unique opener they ever did.
Because of the way they played it and because they never opened with it again.
If the Eyes of Giants or the Scarlet>Fire of Rosemont (to name two examples) had been played in the same galaxy as San Bern...then one could make an argument for those.
Midnight Hour -> Walkin' the Dog -> Big Boss Man - Phila 4/8/85 Someone gifted me a ticket that AM so I went and took out 80 bucks out of my depleted baybank account and flew down on either a people's or value jet and third vehicle with masshole plates in the lot gave me a ride back up north. It sure would have been easier to get around back then with uber.
I can't really recall too many particularly unique show openers in my experience.
I guess 12/31/78 Sugar Magnolia>Scarlet Begonias>Fire On The Mountain was unique. Not unique at all for NYE but that was the show opener that night.
The already mentioned OMSN on a Sunday was unique & fun.
Does the band slowly coming onstage and joining Hamza El-Din on Ollin Arageed count? That was cool.
Other than that the Not Fade Away in Oakland '85 is one, but that was sort of gimmicky because there were flyers all over the place before the show encouraging people to greet the band with the clapping and vocal bit, basically forcing them to play it.
I thought the band did a half-hearted version, maybe because of the manipulation, so for me it was no big whoop.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Hitchhiker awaiting "true call"
Party All The Time
Party All The Time
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: joe
For me has got to be OMSN
For me has got to be OMSN>Fire on the Mountain Ventura 7/13/85
Not sure if Fire was ever played again in the first set and a stand alone song?
I really like how they mixed it up in 85.
That 85 Devore and Richmond shows had some groovy setlists.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Sideshow Bob
Midnight Hour -> Walkin' the
Midnight Hour -> Walkin' the Dog -> Big Boss Man - Phila 4/8/85. Unfortunately the 2nd set was a quite a Bloated Persian Jerry In Red snoozefest letdown.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: jon
a touch of grey opener was
a touch of grey opener was code to take an additional hit, and twist up a fat, because you were entering melt down central...
true story.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: joe
Yeah I heard the 4/8/85
Yeah I heard the 4/8/85 Spectrum show. Jerry's voice is shot and playing wasn't anything to talk about. THe night before was killer. I wasn't there just have the tapes.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: joe
US Festival Playin'>Shakedown
US Festival Playin'>Shakedown was good also
Irvine 85 Do it in the road>Bertha was sweet.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Hitchhiker awaiting "true call"
Remember that Half Step in
Remember that Half Step in Jersey 82 or 83? Killer.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: cb
Eyes
Eyes
Box
Playin>Crazy Fingers
Big Boss Man
Here Comes Sunshine
China>Rider
Midnite Hour
Wang Dang Doodle
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Highnote
The Frozen Logger @ Red Rocks
The Frozen Logger @ Red Rocks 85.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Lord Kalvert
12-28-91
12-28-91
One more staurday>>>>into jack straw -
they went into straw midway through saturday night...pretty cool....and reprised at the end of the second set.
good show all around- taped FOB that night.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Highnote
I forgot what a mindf**k that
I forgot what a mindf**k that was.
https://archive.org/details/gd85-09-07.schoeps.oade.373.sbeok.shnf
As I recall, the band was on stage and all of a sudden Garcia took off his guitar and exited stage left.
When ya gotta go........
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: cb
I was at that Red Rocks run,
I was at that Red Rocks run, Stringtwang.
Really good times.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Deadly
6/25/85 Daytripper
6/25/85 Daytripper
4/15/88 Scarlet > Fire
7/2/89 Playing > Crazy Fingers
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Sideshow Bob
>>>>>>> Eyes - Giants Stad 6
>>>>>>> Eyes - Giants Stad 6/17/91
>>>>>>> Playin>Crazy Fingers - Cap Cen 9/15/82
>>>>>>> China>Rider - Spectrum Phila 11/5/79
Was @ all 3 - tnx for the reminder . . .
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: thinthread
CA earthquake 10/23/89
CA earthquake 10/23/89
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Joe
Shakedown was always fun...
Shakedown was always fun....especially Pittsburgh, maybe 86
Help-Skipknot-Franklins Deer Creek 1990 was stellar
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Johnny D
^Nice!
^Nice!
I don't think that I had anything unique, though the 05/09/87 Laguna Seca show started with Sugar Magnolia and ended "regulation" with Sunshine Daydream. That seemed pretty cool at the time.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: joe
I wasn't there but Nassau 3
I wasn't there but Nassau 3/28/85 had a Truckin'>Smokestack, High time opener
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Joe
I will never ever forget that
I will never ever forget that Deer Creek show.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: .............
Eyes 6/91
Eyes 6/91
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Joe
I won't forget that eyes
I won't forget that eyes either, I didn't see that coming after the rager at RFK before. Took me by shock, that St. Of Circumstance was red hot as well
great times, for me the decline came shortly there after
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Jimbee
9/15/82 Playin -> Crazy
9/15/82 Playin -> Crazy Fingers
6/26/84 Casey Jones -> Stranger
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Localcountyline
Ramble on Rose---RFK '86
Ramble on Rose---RFK '86
Playin'------Kaiser '86
Sugar Magnolia----Oakland '91
Not Fade Away----Kaiser '89
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: joe
Jimbee didn't they weave in
Jimbee didn't they weave in and out of Playin' like 5 times that night? What a rare shoe that was.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Jimbee
yeah..it was certainly themed
yeah..it was certainly themed! Also the Touch encore might have been the first performed or close to it..
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Druba
Help on the Way / Slipknot /
Help on the Way / Slipknot / Franks (Autzen 90)
Gimme Gimme Some Lovin (Oakland 85)
Not Fade Away (Oakland 85)
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: joe
Saw Gimme some lovin'>Dancing
Saw Gimme some lovin'>Dancing Frost 86 opener.
Another goody.
What an ego he had or has.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: g-reg
Palace 94 Jerrys bday Addams
Palace 94 Jerrys bday Addams Family Mickey Mouse tuning
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: ...
Passenger - Tampa, FL 12/13
Passenger - Tampa, FL 12/13/78
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Bluelight
3/14/82 Davis, Calf - One
3/14/82 Davis, Calf - One More Saturday Night for a Sunday opener.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Thumbkinetic
"The Snapper" at Buff's go-go
"The Snapper" at Buff's Go-Go in '80s N. Bergen, NJ.
Oh, wait . . . I misunderstood the premise.
Never mind.
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Morning Dew 6/10/73 RFK
Morning Dew 6/10/73 RFK washington dc...........mic drop
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Bluelight
>>>9/15/82 Playin -> Crazy
>>>9/15/82 Playin -> Crazy Fingers
Good call Jimbee. Fun show.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: dj_easy_wind
>>>>>>> Eyes - Giants Stad 6
>>>>>>> Eyes - Giants Stad 6/17/91 <<<<THIS!
Was a mindfucker. I blew off Little Feat opener in favor of Parking Lot hijinx . When I walked i n and the Dead opened with Eyes, I thought I had missed the entire first set! Ha ha ha...
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Captain Trips
April 1st Cap in passaic NJ..
April 1st Cap in passaic NJ.....everyone switched instruments.....not at all a good execution but it was fun
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Chuck511
Guess that Eyes Giants
Guess that Eyes Giants stadium '91 would be it for me as well. A stellar version. The first set was also peppered with Dark Star teases, though they never did play it that night. Fun time.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: nebulous nelly
Gimme some lovin>deal 3.23
Gimme some lovin>deal 3.23.86
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: g-reg
11-9-01 Fabulous Fox St.
11-9-01 Fabulous Fox St. Louis..Q
Jam>Unbroken
Back in the day this opening jam used to get alot of play..unique and funky.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Is forgiveness possible?
I'm gonna give my vote to J.
It might also be interesting to discuss unique opening bands we have seen.
I'm going to give my vote for most unique opening band I saw to either J. Willis Pratt and We're Bionic or The Dude of Life - both of whom I saw as openers for Phish.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: GDTRFB
Probably the "Scarelt>Fire"
Probably the "Scarelt>Fire" on 4/15/88 and "Playin>Crazy Fingers" on 7/2/89 - both were pretty outlandish and quite surprising at the time(s)
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: nebulous nelly
^ I would have skipped the
^ I would have skipped the dude of life.
Solo Andy Summers accompanied by a drum machine. Opened for Tangerine dream.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: DRazzy
Shakedown>Get Back
Shakedown>Get Back
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: felina
I think most folks would
I think most folks would agree that the best opener of all time was the debut of Terrapin Station on 2/26/77 in San Bernardino. It's the most well known Terrapin. Phil said the first time they rehearsed it, they played it all day, over and over they loved it so much. The debut proclaims that love--it's ethereal. Feels as if the band must have hovered above that stage for a few minutes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgP8eoP1GH8
Another uber famous opener happened after Garcia partook in large amounts of a particular stimulant with a few college students who were more than happy to share. They taped the thing and called it an interview:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mj48pFBUuqo
Soon after the band opened with this ridiculous version of Casey Jones, a 3 year break-out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUJhAGRkCcg
Then there's this Might as Well opener in DeKalb 10/29/77:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1LOugCUoRg
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Rob W
12/12/92 Yothu Yindi Opener.
12/12/92 Yothu Yindi Opener.
My friend and I were just starting to fly as they came on - a complete surprise to us. When those aborigines hit the stage with the didgeridoos howling and pounding the stage, mixed with the heavy guitar chords and the like, we were transported into some otherworldly plane of existence from which we did not, and did not want to escape until watching Santa Claus Conquers the Martians at our friends apartment in Lafayette early the next morning. The amazing shit my brain conjured up that night was pure Christmas fantasy bliss mixed with West Coast craziness!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: New & Improved
Not famous, Mr. Felina,
Not famous, Mr. Felina, unique was the question posed.
I was at the 9/7/85 shoe and that Frozen Logger > Star Spangled Banner (with slide whistle) opener was definitely unique.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: TommyGutt
Shoreline ,,, into bigboss
Shoreline ,,, into bigboss man ring a bell?
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: felina
>>Not famous, Mr. Felina,
>>Not famous, Mr. Felina, unique was the question posed.
Good point. I was just commenting using that adjective. And I'm talking all time, not what I saw, which isn't following along with the OP (my bad).
That version of Terrapin stands as the most unique opener they ever did.
Because of the way they played it and because they never opened with it again.
If the Eyes of Giants or the Scarlet>Fire of Rosemont (to name two examples) had been played in the same galaxy as San Bern...then one could make an argument for those.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Essephreak
Most unique I saw:
Most unique I saw:
Big Boy Pete -- 11/21/85 (Walkin the Dog encore at that show was also fairly unique)
Music Never Stopped > Sugaree > Music Never Stopped -- 7/2/94
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: weironourown2
Midnight Hour -> Walkin' the
Midnight Hour -> Walkin' the Dog -> Big Boss Man - Phila 4/8/85 Someone gifted me a ticket that AM so I went and took out 80 bucks out of my depleted baybank account and flew down on either a people's or value jet and third vehicle with masshole plates in the lot gave me a ride back up north. It sure would have been easier to get around back then with uber.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: felina
>>>It sure would have been
>>>It sure would have been easier to get around back then with uber.
Holy shit yes.
Also, cell phones would have helped matters in terms of finding people.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: nebulous nelly
>Also, cell phones would have helped matters in terms of finding people
GPS and navigation would have been nice.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Lance minimum goad Newberry
I can't really recall too
I can't really recall too many particularly unique show openers in my experience.
I guess 12/31/78 Sugar Magnolia>Scarlet Begonias>Fire On The Mountain was unique. Not unique at all for NYE but that was the show opener that night.
The already mentioned OMSN on a Sunday was unique & fun.
Does the band slowly coming onstage and joining Hamza El-Din on Ollin Arageed count? That was cool.
Other than that the Not Fade Away in Oakland '85 is one, but that was sort of gimmicky because there were flyers all over the place before the show encouraging people to greet the band with the clapping and vocal bit, basically forcing them to play it.
I thought the band did a half-hearted version, maybe because of the manipulation, so for me it was no big whoop.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: jazfish
Why Don't We Do it in the
Why Don't We Do it in the Road> Bertha
Irvine Meadows,85 comes to mind. First night I believe.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Thumbkinetic
>>>>>>> Eyes - Giants Stad 6
>>>>>>> Eyes - Giants Stad 6/17/91<<<
That's about it, really.
I doubt there's any other opener I didn't hear at least three times.
Possibly Playin'. Probably, the more I think about it.