Red Rocks

48 years ago tonight I saw the first Grateful Dead show at Red Rocks in Colorado. This show had special significance for me, a middle period dead head. I started out seeing the dead on the east coast in the early seventies and moved to California in 74, taking up where I left off with the wall of sound and eventually Winterland. What Red Rocks was for me was a Gathering of the Tribes that I had not seen before, my east coast friends meeting my west coast buds in the middle somewhere, eying each other somewhat suspiciously at first and then after getting acquainted, sharing a great spliff or two and a joyful party. I knew a lot of people in each camp but it was the first time many of us had left our comfort zone and taken a long trek, a long car ride from San Diego in my case with about five other people. Doug drove from New York with his friend Monte. I drove with Alex Press and his father, forget who else? Shows were great and probably never saw them in such a beautiful venue again, kids crawling up and over all the rocks and a gorgeous sunset to boot. What a great memory!