Bet ya didn’t know that, huh? Call me a dirty hippie, but yes, I am a Dead Head. The Grateful Dead were like a myth when I was growing up; the name itself was foreboding, the imagery of the stickers on the backs of old VW buses rather ominous. I remember my mom telling me about attending their concert, saying the band had taken the stage by “coming out of coffins.” Yoiks! I don’t think I ever even heard their music until I saw Mask, with their amazing song, “Ripple.” When I met Ryan, it tuned out he was a big fan of the band. In fact, he confessed that The Dead were the musical inspiration for his earliest work as Love Spirals Downwards. Over the years, we’ve spent many hours listening to the band’s songs and watching concert videos together. He told me funny stories about the shows he saw before Jerry Garcia’s untimely death. I thought I had totally missed my chance, but this past weekend, I finally got to attend my very first Dead show. There was the whole crazy parking lot scene, just as Ryan had described, but better yet was the concert itself. I had figured it could never be the same without our beloved Jer Bear, but boy, it sure must have been pretty close! The setlist was amazing, the band were really “on,” and the new guitarist and keyboardist were amazing. The band came out strong for the first set, but after the infamous “intermission,” they came out guns-a-blazing! I can’t remember the last time I danced so much. And being at the Forum again for a concert really brought back childhood memories… It was an incredible experience and one that I’m so happy I got to share with Ryan. Oh, and if anyone asks, I did not inhale. LOL!
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