I am no expert but this stuff has always been interesting to me. It just seems like the energy and general pulse of a place is both generated by and fed back into the people, their pace of life, and approach to all things. There seemed to be an almost frantic, very hurried vibe around east coast shows while those in the west were notoriously laid back and easy going in a very different way, possibly due to the options to more frequently see the band on weekend runs, in CA in particular, potentially tempering the rush in a way. I know in the midwest and prob much of the east coast, for summer tours anyway, there was (is still?) a big push to pack as much as possible into the months with more favorable weather before hunkeribg down again.
....it probably happened sometime somewhere, possibly regularly, but I cant say I recall experiencing a rush forward in a blind, unreasoning stumble out west
I concur with StrawBud on shows, although my experience is almost exclusively East Coast. In general, N.E. corridor is "frenetic", which is not surprising when you consider about 1/5 of the U.S. population is jammed in here.
It's the opposite of West Coast chill. My first West Coast run was summer of 81.
Everything was just more laid back and respectful. There was a more trusting vibe. I met people in line in Seattle. They invited me to camp with them between shows in Portland and Eugene. I met up with them a month later and they trusted me with their hotel room so I could take a shower and drop off my backpack. I remember thinking that it would never have happened in NY. They also saved me a place in line and I wound up on the rail in front of Phil at the Greek 9.81.
I have been at west coast shows wondering whether people even know or care they are at a show. Sometimes it's ok to allow yourself a little fun and enthusiasm.
Have a 70's Jorma show where he says the same. But he was probably on coke.
As a westie I've always attributed it to how stacked in everyone is on the eastern seaboard, and how that creates a frantic need to MATTER. The guy next to me is excited, I haveto be MORE excited!
I always had the idea that on the east side it's popping at a GD show the same way it's popping at an AC/DC show, a CSN show, an Allman Bros. show or a Metallica show.
It's ALL a wild party. It HAS to be!
I experienced a touch of it myself at MSG in '90, and Bay Area shows in general and the Christmas/NYE runs in Oakland in the '80s & '90s especially were packed with easties.
I like east coast energy. I've always felt a kinship to it.
But I am a westie through & through, so it's all just observation for me.
>As a westie I've always attributed it to how stacked in everyone is on the eastern seaboard, and how that creates a frantic need to MATTER. The guy next to me is excited, I haveto be MORE excited!<
Not at all. We each have our own thing to deal with and couldn't give a damn about the other guy..
It really can't stem from the so-called ease of going to shows on the WC. It's a big state and the Dead played there over 800 times. If you take an equal sized area on the EC, maybe from Maine to Virginia, they played around 700 times.
New York is really the heartbeat of the world. The entire North East has an energy to it, and those factors make it different than the West Coast.
I know you guys aren't all obnoxious. But I think Six is wrong. The East is usually the ones asserting their superiority. That center of the universe elitism.
There were a lot of factors that played into it. In no particular order
East coast had tours of 15 or more shows. There is something about being on the road together and sharing in the weather and the danger of bringing the party into decaying towns and playing at venues that were built to revitalize crappy neighborhoods. There is no west coast equivalent to Albany, Hartford, or the neighborhood around the Spectrum. There was never an element of danger at the Greek or Frost. There was almost always an element of danger on the east.
Weed particularly in the 80’s was just so much better and plentiful on the west coast. People were just so much more baked on the west coast.
Family time vs Party time. West coast shows had wives, girlfriends, and kids in attendances. East coast was party time away from family. Things just get edgy after 15 or so days of that.
GA floors in decaying indoor arenas
Shows were the thing to do. There is just so much more to do on the west that shows are just another thing. On the east coast those shows were the highlight of the year.
The places the played might have generated their own energy, but IHO there were too many other factors involved in how a show went down for this to be much of a determination. Especially when it was just a hockey rink somewhere. And as far a the east/west energy thing, I never really bought it. It's not like you can put a tape on and say which coast it was played on.
East coast shows always had way more energy. You could feel it coursing through your veins as you walked into a venue. High anticipation and high stakes. The response to a good performance was always greater as the crowd was so fired up.
I enjoyed my time on the west coast and I very much enjoy the vibe. Every stranger is your friend. But sometimes it was a hair too chill. (And I prefer chill).
The danger was mostly about running the gauntlet. We took on herd mentality as we traveled from town to town, but that meant there were always a few that didn’t make it along the way. Personally I can say that I was never slammed to the ground, handcuffed, and carted away for having a beer in my hand or have to walk through a gauntlet of angry cops on horses as I entered the show on the west coast.
Cops mostly looked the other way on the west coast and security at least in the bay area were dead heads. In places like New Jersey the wrong move with security could get you killed.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: aiq
If you go and sit on the
If you go and sit on the Palisades you can hear New York City loudly vibrating across the river.
It is the city thing, IMO.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Hitchhiker awaiting "true call"
Horns honking?
Horns honking?
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: joe
Long coast.
Long coast.
Which part and then we can discuss.
Same with west coast.
Otherwise get back to the crack and make something of yourself quacker.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: GDTRFB
I am no expert but this stuff
I am no expert but this stuff has always been interesting to me. It just seems like the energy and general pulse of a place is both generated by and fed back into the people, their pace of life, and approach to all things. There seemed to be an almost frantic, very hurried vibe around east coast shows while those in the west were notoriously laid back and easy going in a very different way, possibly due to the options to more frequently see the band on weekend runs, in CA in particular, potentially tempering the rush in a way. I know in the midwest and prob much of the east coast, for summer tours anyway, there was (is still?) a big push to pack as much as possible into the months with more favorable weather before hunkeribg down again.
That is part of my take anyway. discuss.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Hitchhiker awaiting "true call"
New York specifically, Joe.
New York specifically, Joe. The Trump state.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: GDTRFB
Ha! did the GD ever execute a
Ha! did the GD ever execute a 'step back exercise' on the west coast?
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: GDTRFB
....it probably happened
....it probably happened sometime somewhere, possibly regularly, but I cant say I recall experiencing a rush forward in a blind, unreasoning stumble out west
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Hitchhiker awaiting "true call"
Frotteurism
Frotteurism
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: 2 Room Shack
it was palpable at msg...
it was palpable at msg...
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: BBGD4fun
I concur with StrawBud on
I concur with StrawBud on shows, although my experience is almost exclusively East Coast. In general, N.E. corridor is "frenetic", which is not surprising when you consider about 1/5 of the U.S. population is jammed in here.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Hitchhiker awaiting "true call"
Is it anxiety?
Is it anxiety?
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: nevermind
Sour Diesel...
Sour Diesel...
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: nebulous nelly
^more impatience than anxiety
^more impatience than anxiety
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Old Fart Message Board
What's the West coast energy?
What's the West coast energy? People basking in the stench of their own farts?
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: 2 Room Shack
WHoooooooooooooo
WHoooooooooooooo FFfffffuckkkinnnnnn JEERRRRYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!! WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Hitchhiker awaiting "true call"
Timpane forgot his own handle
Timpane forgot his own handle.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: VivalaSchwa
T
T
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Highnote
It's the opposite of West
It's the opposite of West Coast chill. My first West Coast run was summer of 81.
Everything was just more laid back and respectful. There was a more trusting vibe. I met people in line in Seattle. They invited me to camp with them between shows in Portland and Eugene. I met up with them a month later and they trusted me with their hotel room so I could take a shower and drop off my backpack. I remember thinking that it would never have happened in NY. They also saved me a place in line and I wound up on the rail in front of Phil at the Greek 9.81.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Captain Trips
I would explain what I think
I would explain what I think it is....but I'd be rat packed for posting insignificant posts ....it is a good feeling though
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Racketinmyhead
>>>Coke and weak weed?
>>>Coke and weak weed?
and fraternities, and over all "bro" mentality
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Captain Trips
No coke, no weak weed and no
No coke, no weak weed and no frats....your way off, think the opposite
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Thumbkinetic
If you need to ask . . .
If you need to ask . . .
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Hitchhiker awaiting "true call"
Schizos or sirens?
Schizos or sirens?
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: aray
Why try East Coast ENERGY®?
Why try East Coast ENERGY®?
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Alias
I have been at west coast
I have been at west coast shows wondering whether people even know or care they are at a show. Sometimes it's ok to allow yourself a little fun and enthusiasm.
Have a 70's Jorma show where he says the same. But he was probably on coke.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Lance minimum goad Newberry
As a westie I've always
As a westie I've always attributed it to how stacked in everyone is on the eastern seaboard, and how that creates a frantic need to MATTER. The guy next to me is excited, I have to be MORE excited!
I always had the idea that on the east side it's popping at a GD show the same way it's popping at an AC/DC show, a CSN show, an Allman Bros. show or a Metallica show.
It's ALL a wild party. It HAS to be!
I experienced a touch of it myself at MSG in '90, and Bay Area shows in general and the Christmas/NYE runs in Oakland in the '80s & '90s especially were packed with easties.
I like east coast energy. I've always felt a kinship to it.
But I am a westie through & through, so it's all just observation for me.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Is forgiveness possible?
Love the terrain and the
Love the terrain and the majestic coastline, but why do so many Westies need to constantly assert their superiority?
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: nebulous nelly
>As a westie I've always attributed it to how stacked in everyone is on the eastern seaboard, and how that creates a frantic need to MATTER. The guy next to me is excited, I have to be MORE excited!<
Not at all. We each have our own thing to deal with and couldn't give a damn about the other guy..
generally speaking that is.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: candyfrog
it's not "hey maaannnnnnn.
it's not "hey maaannnnnnn. your cat's on my fence"
it's "yo bro - get your cat off my fuckin fence"
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: charmskooldropout
East=alcohol West=weed
East=alcohol
West=weed
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Briank
It really can't stem from the so-called ease of going to shows on the WC. It's a big state and the Dead played there over 800 times. If you take an equal sized area on the EC, maybe from Maine to Virginia, they played around 700 times.
New York is really the heartbeat of the world. The entire North East has an energy to it, and those factors make it different than the West Coast.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Jimbee
It's all about the water, man
It's all about the water, man...
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Hitchhiker awaiting "true call"
>>>New York is really the
>>>New York is really the heartbeat of the world.
They bred Trump. And they have the dumbest gathering of tourists every year.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Briank
The dumbest gathering or a
The dumbest gathering or a gathering of the dumbest?
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Across
Southern California has the
Southern California has the worst energy and 'vibe' I've ever come across. Absolutely the worst.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Hitchhiker awaiting "true call"
Why do you live there and
Why do you live there and when are you moving back east?
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: nebulous nelly
>They bred Trump.
>They bred Trump.
8.5 million people live in the 5 boroughs, bound to get a few wack jobs .
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: cb
They bred Trump.
They bred Trump.
But they didn't vote for him.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: I rang a silent bell
13 million in metro LA area,
13 million in metro LA area, larger than NYC.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Briank
The New York metro area has
The New York metro area has about 23 million.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Hitchhiker awaiting "true call"
I know you guys aren't all
I know you guys aren't all obnoxious. But I think Six is wrong. The East is usually the ones asserting their superiority. That center of the universe elitism.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Is forgiveness possible?
But I think Six is wrong
How many times have I read "The West is Best", here? Too many too count, Slacker.
And the East Coast is not just New York and it's brand of elitism.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Hitchhiker awaiting "true call"
Feel free to explain what
Feel free to explain what this energy is and where it comes from.
Weather? Making the most out of good weather or braving a blizzard to be in a warm room for a few hours?
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: 415-692-1053
Slacker, quit being a dick.
Slacker, quit being a dick. We get it. You're a troll. Now grow up.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: smiley
east - intense, not afraid to
east - intense, not afraid to tell it like it is, won't suffer fools
west - airy, no sense of urgency, passive aggressive
that's my take on the sweeping generalizations going on here.
it's like hanging with Lites vs hanging with Nancy.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Is forgiveness possible?
Sweeping generalizations are
Sweeping generalizations are the way we do business here!
lol
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Old Fart Message Board
Slack, that handle is based
Slack, that handle is based off the premise of west coast office workers. Your welcome.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Hitchhiker awaiting "true call"
Isn't Nancy from New Jersey?
Isn't Nancy from New Jersey?
Zippy, are you gonna tell us that your time in New York when you drank and did coke was the best time ever?
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: troubador
Zippy and BK are right on the
Zippy and BK are right on the money.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Blue Rose Task Force
Springtime In Hampton
Springtime In Hampton
http://archive.org/details/gd1984-04-14.senn421.mccue.ford.79652.sbeok.flac16
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: joe
It's really quite simple
It's really quite simple
west=mexicans
east=italians
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Barrel Aged
Teaching kids to drive in the
Teaching kids to drive in the East: Look at that fucking asshole, laying on the horn, and using your middle finger.
Teaching kids to drive in the West: Turn off the radio honey, its a distraction, use your mirrors, now merge very slowly.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: joe
west
west
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: joe
east
east
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: El Nino
There were a lot of factors
There were a lot of factors that played into it. In no particular order
East coast had tours of 15 or more shows. There is something about being on the road together and sharing in the weather and the danger of bringing the party into decaying towns and playing at venues that were built to revitalize crappy neighborhoods. There is no west coast equivalent to Albany, Hartford, or the neighborhood around the Spectrum. There was never an element of danger at the Greek or Frost. There was almost always an element of danger on the east.
Weed particularly in the 80’s was just so much better and plentiful on the west coast. People were just so much more baked on the west coast.
Family time vs Party time. West coast shows had wives, girlfriends, and kids in attendances. East coast was party time away from family. Things just get edgy after 15 or so days of that.
GA floors in decaying indoor arenas
Shows were the thing to do. There is just so much more to do on the west that shows are just another thing. On the east coast those shows were the highlight of the year.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: GravyTrain
>Southern California has the
Said every transplant ever, as they're about to wash-out for good.
Sayonara. Don't let the door hit you in the ass, Cheeks.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: joe
So. Cal. Dead shows in the 80
So. Cal. Dead shows in the 80's were da bomb. Haven't lived there since 87 so don't know about it today.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Is forgiveness possible?
Ventura shows in the early
Ventura shows in the early 1980's were a ton of fun!
Very sandy in every orifice - but fun.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: 2 Room Shack
>Southern California has the
>Southern California has the worst energy and 'vibe' I've ever come across. Absolutely the worst. <
yeah, it sucks. you should move....
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Willie McD
I have never felt "an element
I have never felt "an element of danger" at any dead show in the places you mentioned.what the fuck are you talkin' bout?!!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Highnote
New York got the ways and
New York got the ways and means
But just won't let you beeeeee........
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Ausonius
The places the played might
The places the played might have generated their own energy, but IHO there were too many other factors involved in how a show went down for this to be much of a determination. Especially when it was just a hockey rink somewhere. And as far a the east/west energy thing, I never really bought it. It's not like you can put a tape on and say which coast it was played on.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Zzzzzz
Hounder nailed it the bottom
Hounder nailed the bottom line.
East coast shows always had way more energy. You could feel it coursing through your veins as you walked into a venue. High anticipation and high stakes. The response to a good performance was always greater as the crowd was so fired up.
I enjoyed my time on the west coast and I very much enjoy the vibe. Every stranger is your friend. But sometimes it was a hair too chill. (And I prefer chill).
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: El Nino
The danger was mostly about
The danger was mostly about running the gauntlet. We took on herd mentality as we traveled from town to town, but that meant there were always a few that didn’t make it along the way. Personally I can say that I was never slammed to the ground, handcuffed, and carted away for having a beer in my hand or have to walk through a gauntlet of angry cops on horses as I entered the show on the west coast.
Cops mostly looked the other way on the west coast and security at least in the bay area were dead heads. In places like New Jersey the wrong move with security could get you killed.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Orinda Bound
Drink all day Rock all night.
Drink all day Rock all night....