G.B. 8 - Three Night Birthday Run at the USAir Arena in Landover

Yes folks, its another installment of "On this day in Grateful Ben history."

For a long time, Mike Kelly, long-time surfer, ticket provider, and all-around great gentleman, was keen on the 10/10/82 show that the Grateful Dead performed at the Frost Amphitheater in Palo Alto, CA. (setlist below). After all, it was my birthday show and the setlist was looking pretty wild on paper.

Years of friendly gifts on the streets of Richmond, the coldest Heinekens in the parking lot, the miracle ticket at the Meadowlands, taping, photos, and good times, all came to the final point - let's call this: "Tanks for the Memories." Everyone's balloon was full for three days. Never to be repeated in today's day and age because we have all moved on to greater responsibilities in life, but when I look back on the three day run, I remember the generous birthday gift from Mike.

Okay, so the Grateful Dead in Fall 1994 were not the band that I had seen in 1989 - 1990 at the height of my touring. But they still offered up an enjoyable show for three nights. Here are the setlists, courtesy of Deadbase.

10-09-94 USAir Arena, Landover, Md. (Sun)
1: Bucket, Bertha, Spoonful, Stagger Lee, Broken Arrow, Me & My Uncle@> Big River@, So Many Roads, Promised Land
2: Here Comes Sunshine, Samson, Way To Go, Ship Of Fools, Saint of Circumstance> Drumz> Miracle> Comes A Time> Throwing Stones> Lovelight
E: Rain
@ denotes Acoustic

10-10-94 USAir Arena, Landover, Md. (Mon)
1: Iko Iko, Walking Blues, Althea, Desolation Row@, Loose Lucy, Eternity
2: Help> Slipknot> Franklin's, Estimated> Terrapin> Drumz> Watchtower> Stella Blue> Not Fade Away E: I Fought The Law

10-11-94 USAir Arena, Landover, Md. (Tue)
1: Picasso Moon, Jack A Roe, All Over Now, High Time@, Shoe Fits, Lazy River Road, Easy Answers, Deal
2: Eyes> Woman Smarter, Samba, He's Gone> Drumz> China Doll> Sugar Magnolia
E: Lucy In The Sky

These shows were far from solid musically, but they had their moments.
10/9/94 Set II and 10/10/94 Set II were pretty good for the time period.
I think that the first sets left something to be desired because of the placement of so many new songs. But overall, being able to see the Boys play, with friends and good fun in the context of a birthday celebration for three days, could not be topped.

And that was the last Fall Tour that I had with the Grateful Dead.

As mentioned above, here is the 10/10/82 show from the Frost:

10-10-82 Frost Amphitheatre, Stanford U., Palo Alto, Ca. (Sun)
1: Minglewood> Sugaree> Rooster, Tennessee Jed, Cassidy, Loser, Far From Me, L. L. Rain> China Cat> I Know You Rider
2: Playin> Crazy Fingers> Sailor> Saint> Touch> Drumz> Wheel> Throwing Stones> NFA> Black Peter> Sugar Magnolia E: Satisfaction> Baby Blue