Boreal Ridge is a ski resort in California, more specifically in Truckee, which might be the crystal methiest name a town could have. This winter wonderland in Northern (or perhaps Southern, or Central) CA suffers from the same seasonal lulls as other weather-reliant business, such as water parks or al fresco prostitution: what to do the other half of the year?
In 1985, at least, Boreal Ridge invited the Dead up in August and Garcia nearly died. He would go on to actually die (for a few minutes) soon after that; this was sort of a dress rehearsal.
The show is known, in the common wisdom at least, as the WORST EVAR, and I’m listening to it now; it sounds like an average to below-average show of the time, and the amps keep popping and humming, but it’s not a complete trainwreck on the tape.
As far as what it was like at the show, well: that’s a different story. This is from the Archive, and can also double as Exhibit 1 in the case of Why TotD Doesn’t Trust Eyewitness Accounts, Especially Of First Shows:
This was my first show and WOW. Also my first trip. First time for a lot of things. My experienced deadhead cousin turned me on. Drove up the day before and spent the night in the woods around a campfire with about 20 folks from San Fran sharing tales. These 2 guys just handed me what they called 5 hits of purple gels. That morning i bit me off a piece of that KitKat bar, and remember beautiful scenery, beautiful people and good music. There was such a long pause between sets that i took the other 4. Don’t remember what was real or not after that. I was up against the stage in front of Jerry hanging on for dear life. Big dust swirls that contained the music. Hot . Bunch of amp kicking on stage. I kept looking back at the big ass crowd that was there. i remember crazies had climbed all the ski lift poles. Very strange surreal atmosphere. The best show ever.
I’d say that first set is a little worse than below average, but for set 2, sure
It’s more dismal than dreadful. Just no energy, but from the stories you would think every song dribbled into confused silence and fistfights.
that would be more entertaining
http://jerrygarcia.com/wp-content/uploads/tickets/b850824.jpg
Did anybody eat anybody? Asking for a friend.
TotD can neither confirm nor deny cannibalism at Boreal Ridge, but that’s really more of a question for Corry over at Lost Live Dead.
Roger that…….thanks!
http://munchies.vice.com/articles/deadheads-forever-changed-the-way-we-eat
I didn’t read the article, I’m just a smart ass.
could go for grilled cheese right now…..or a burrito-like affair.
It’s not that bad, better than the dude trying to find “fatty egg rolls” at the 50th shows.
The Jerry Roll part near the end is awesome – well written.
Can you find an audience tape ? That might tell more of the story.
The Feel Like A Stranger isn’t too bad, from what I’ve scrubbed through: http://relisten.net/grateful-dead/1985/8/24-4
From this AUD it seems like the sound was pretty crapterific though, which might have been part of it. When the kick drum and some flat-sounding toms are the loudest things in the mix, you know you’re not in for a great night.
I did find this, in looking for photos of the show: http://www.dead.net/sites/default/files/pictures/picture-10327.jpg
I believe that’s incorrectly labelled. That is from summer of ’86. Bobby had the good manners to break his arm during Garcia’s coma, and he was singing with some band or other at Angel’s Lake (?) or somewhere.
Indeed, I recognized that (and you’ve of course covered it before: https://thoughtsonthedead.wordpress.com/2014/06/12/break-a-leg/), but I enjoyed the contrast between Weir and woman who appears to have escaped from a late-60s beachwear catalog.
I know there’s video but can’t find it at the moment, though I did turn this up, which is a fine example of some truly awful singing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKgZ0_LZBgg
Ah ha: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O64-z6v5b_M
https://youtu.be/mhH1OMuxbic
Same date.
Wow, is that a one-off band? And is that Bobby Vega?
The uploader has a great stash of stuff:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYV4RRnNwf8 – Bob and Brent duo on Hey Jude at Wavy Gravy’s 50th
I don’t know much about Mickey’s band or the Ranch Rock concert but I’m pretty sure that is Bobby Vega. There is also this https://youtu.be/2_w7UfyEu24
Further digging reveals this additional song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkcpyTKc1r0
Looks like it might’ve been a one-off, but don’t think Mickey was in any way the band leader. Pretty killer pipes on Kathi McDonald, surprised I hadn’t heard of her before.
Kathi mcDonald: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0zqQNpnlDQ
Sweet SpamJam!
Kathi McDonald: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0zqQNpnlDQ
I think the term “al fresco prostitution” made this post for me.