Further Festival, The Other Ones, Montage Mountain, Scranton PA, 7/8/1998

In July 1998, I was 19 years old, a neurotically obsessed Grateful Dead fan in a non-Grateful Dead world, and in a complete smoked filled haze and funk about myself and about life. 

My last attempt to see the Grateful Dead was trying to get to the 7/30/1995 show in Pittsburgh as a 15 year old, only to be ditched by the older dudes I was trying to go with. Good thing, they musta heard me say I was going to run away at that show and join the Summer tour, and wisely, wanted no legal liability. 

In March of 1997, I moved out of my parent's house into an apartment, finished high school, graduated, and wandered around the Dayton-Cinci area. Then I moved in with a girlfriend, only to have her cheat with a friend of mine and they kicked me out, pushing me to live at some dudes house in the middle of the countryside until July of 1998. I was trapped, no job, no money, no good connection to friends or family, and all I wanted to do was listen to the Grateful Dead and explore the world. 

When I discovered on Dead.net that the surviving members were planning a summer tour, I got very excited. Leading up to it, I tried and failed to secure rides, bribing anyone I could, but all fell through, until a few days prior to the Montage Mountain show, when some really annoying stoner jock named Brian agreed to take me and drop me off in exchange for gas money. 

We made it to Scranton the night before the show, and slept in a truck stop/gas station parking lot. The day of the show was strange-my first experience in PA, in beautiful mountains, wrapped in fog and mist. Once I got to the parking lot, I had one mission: find way to make money for gas money to and from the show, ticket to the concert, and for food. 

The lot was busy but lots of people giving warnings about FBI walking around, whether true or not, I don't know. I know I worked my ass off in the parking lot and ended up making $100, got my driver to agree to go to the next show, and found 2 other riders willing to share gas money to next show. 

Finally we hit the show. As a 19 year old, I vaguelly understood Jorma was in Jefferson Airplane, but I was oblivious to the music. It was ok, but I didn't know it. I did know Rusted Root though, I had their CD when it came out. Their show was high energy, and ok, I guess. 

I was ecstatic when the Other Ones emerged. Hell in the Bucket was awesome. THe Scarlet was awesome. THe new twist on Fire was cheesy, but again, I was having a blast. Mountains of the Moon was a real stand out to me-I loved this new version of this classic song-a song I never imagined seeing live. Hound Dog begged my patience, but Bobby pulled it off. LL Rain was perfect for the setting as the misty mountain rain and fog was all around us. THe rest of the set was fantastic-the birdsong through drums and wharfrat really was the highlight. The music was excellent-even my stoner jock driver got into the show and danced all the way through-probably his first time, to be honest. At the end of the show, the lights came on and "happy trails" played over the PA. Happy Trails indeed. I think I finally found my way out of my self induced funk.

I was surprised there was no set break, but not unhappy about it. I was surprised at how many young people were at this show, I was surprised at how loud & drunk some folks were, I was surprised to see chick's wearing hippy dresses straight up urinating on the steep lawn, and honestly, I was surprised I made more money that day than I had in a long time. 

We grabbed some grilled cheeses from the parking lot and high tailed to Star Lake in Pittsburgh that night in our  1992 Chevy Cavalier, stuffed with all kinds of ecstatic energy

The Other Ones, 7/8/1998

Hell in a Bucket

Scarlet Begonias >

Fire on the Mountain

Mountains of the Moon

Minglewood Blues >

Hound Dog

Looks Like Rain

Rainbow's Cadillac

Bird Song >

Drumz/Space >

The Other One >

Wharf Rat >

Touch of Grey