i drop back in and out of 'eras' and just re-listened to this show... that scarlet>fire and playin' outro incredibly psychedelic and creative... brokedown is sweet. what was i thinking?

:)

Coming off a backpack trip in Yosemite, we decided to swing by Calaveras and catch the Sunday show. The scene was wonderful. I remember jerry taking the golf cart ride from the helicopter to backstage, waving to all of us while Santana was playing. The box of rain put me into tears. west LA fadeaway reminded me of the long drive back to work. Santana on Iko made me forget all about it! He sounded better with the Dead than with his own band!

Not only was the music great -- awesome set list and the boys were on that night -- but the setting was amazing. David Linley opened, Santana played next, and then what you hear here. To top it off, between acts there was arial acrobatic shows...plains and skydivers. One of the happiest days of my life.

"That hit the national press with the story about the naked girl who three days after the concert wandered out of the woods into a guy's living room and crashed on his couch"

Never heard this news story...but it tracks well. The acid at this show was er...shall we say...strong...lol.

I was 18 in 1987, showed up at this show with two of my crushes, bought some tabs, and promptly distributed it to everyone in our little group.
I ended up with one of my crushes and another girl. The tab kicked in just as Carlos took the stage.

That's when Alphonso, the only other Black guy I could see (besides me) took all my nervous sexual/acid energy and laid down a bass bomb that blew out me into outerspace.

I don't remember much after that. I didn't come back to this cosmos for another 4 or 5 hours.
I remember telling the girls I would be back and, so I wouldn't float away, hitting up some annoyed mountain teen to give me a hit of his weed.

Just as it looked like the weed was going to keep me tethered to gaia...the airplane show began...
The stunt plane climbed over my head for what seemed like eternity and then.... burst into flames.....

GULP! I thought my time in a living human body had completed.
Only when it pulled out of its dive did I breath. I (to this day) never recovered from that feeling.

All that adrenaline had its affect. By the time Scarfire launched I had become an honorary spinner!
It was either nearby deadheads whispering or some psychic connection that whispered "Jerry's on".
I remember the whole crowd becoming one organism and being welcomed into the family.

I remember Dear Mr. Fantasy and somehow making it back to the car...where my crush had a serious resentment.
I don't blame her...I left her with the other woman in the middle of the crowd and never came back.

Giving this show 5 stars cause....well...the Universe.

Sometimes it is not the shows themselves which determine our reviews and experiences at them.....sometimes it's not the sound.....sometimes it's not the venue....sometimes it's not the setlist....but sometimes it is ALL of those things....occasionally other factors like the peripheral events in our lives all coming together at the perfect moment make for a spectacular, milestone affair....this was one such era for me.....out on bail for tab distribution, strapped for dough, spiritually depleted (but hopeful, non-the-less) I arrived in Angel's Camp....and the magic happened!!!....all of the above rang true....every possible element which makes a particular show epic came through....of the multitudes of shows I caught over the years, this show is my absolute favorite....all shows are magical in their own way....each of us has his/her own perspective/criticism/review of them....I could not have fabricated a story to compare with my reality of that weekend's rejuvenation of my soul.....a perfect weekend

Note: I love the review by jboyaquar (below) who rates it 3 stars, and then provides possibly one of the douchiest reviews ever seen on the Archive...classic!

The vibe was high at this one. A beautiful summer day in the Gold Country...I had never experienced a Dead show prior to this day.

I was 18 years old and tripping on 3 tabs of incredibly good Lucy (not my first time for that). Despite the intensity of the trip, I remember the whole concert vividly. Even the smells - of incense and patchouli, and beer & sweat and carnival food - come back to me like it was yesterday.

It felt, for the first time in my concert-going experiences, like I was hanging with a big musical family, not just "seeing a concert". The music, like jboyaquar so eloquently points out, was not like some kind of polished pop band playing their CD - it was part of an over-arching *experience* and therefore goes beyond the weakness of a vocal here and there.

This concert was really the Inception Point in my soul for the appreciation of live music - and what it can truly be. Here I am 25+ years later and still so very thankful for what the Dead, and the village of their followers, taught me.

I danced like nobody was watching and started down a path that I still walk to this day...

It amazes me that I can just pull up the show online and stream it anytime I want. MAGIC.

wow. this is a good one. you can tell just how "on" the band is and how "on" the crowd is. inspiring playing.

jboyaguar is an idiot for giving this such a middle-of-the-road review. this was one very special day and it comes out very clearly in this recording.

Somehow I started of to this run fully clothed and with my doctor (both out from the east coast)and ended up in the same cow pasture fully naked and feeling very jolly (fungus amoung us jolly)
Jerry and Santana on stage together was not just a dream.
peace, love and massive JurassicBlueberries

I was there for both nights. Acid flowed like honey on a hot day. The air show, the parachutists. Hooked up with two guys from Vermont and took my last tab after the Sunday show. Stayed up all night lookin at the stars on a hillside by the campground.

Great freakin shows, man. Everyone was all sorts of fucked up.

This was one for the books. I've never seen sooo many feds at one time in my life! I was really glad to find this show available on this site. I have a copy on tape somewhere but you know.....
This, was a good showing from the boys but Carlos being there made my day. As you probably figured, Scarlet always makes me smile and this one was average, but, the Iko>Watchtower just blew the roof off!! Jack Straw was energetic but i have heard Jerry tear it up better and longer. Mr. Fantasy, ya, I do miss Brent. David Lindley and el-rayo x was a nice beginning to the day then to Santana. Carlos' percussion unit, as always, just got TRIBAL!! That is when the big dust cloud rose from down in front and the energy level on that part of the planet peaked the scales! If there is anybody out there with those sets i would truly be interested. Reliving the music portion of this experience would be cool way to spend a day. Reliving the details of that day, well, huh,...........It was colorful.
I'm new at downloading stuff from this site and the net in general (never needed to) so if there is someone who can help get me started with at least this site i would be "grateful" indeed. My e-mail is roger@runninfuny.com

This was my first dead show,what a show to start with.I will never forget the light show in the dust.I felt as if i was a part of the rainbow lights.My fav.songs are All Along The Watchtower, Fire on the mountain,Dear Mr. Fantasy,Morning Dew,Not Fade Away,Brokedown Palace,And i Can't leave out Space.I was one of the many backstage dishwashers over the years that worked for Avery Ranch Catering.I became a Cert.Audio Eng.Because of this band.By the way there were three more Mountain Aire Music Fest. 1998-1999-2000 I worked those show's as a Audio Eng. What a great long strange trip it has been

Listen to this you will like it - the M'dew is stunning+

Set: "Box" is a warm, good mood inducing if not explosive way to open a show. Moving quickly onto "Jack," the attempt is pure, but the 'energy' results are rather erratic. Tepid vocals follow on an adequate "West LA." "Uncle/Mexicali" are both rather polite, but the brisk tempo makes them palatable. "High" is poignantly sung, and is spare enough to enjoy the wonderful venue? "Walkin" is of an average livlieness. Of course the "Iko" stature grows tremendously when Carlos steps on stage. However, only Brent is up to the task of trying to equal his talent. Jerry's machine though matches Sanatana's on a pretty good, tho not earth-shattering "Watchtower." "Say- Thank You Carlos."

2nd Set: It's always a step in the right direction to choose "Scarlet" as the opener. Unfortunately, the jamming is of the timid and unadventurous kind. Likewise, the following "Fire" is not exciting or charting new territory...but it's acceptable, easy fun. "Playin" stays on that same blueprint, as evidently they're not particularly inspired to make this an evening of interest outside of the guest shot. "Drums" proceeds to rear its at least eclectic head. "Space" as Barlow would later write, "It is what it is..." The "Miracle" makes itself clear after elongated feedback..."Fantasy" is a solid choice, but it lacks dimension. We're sort of floating on the precipes of an encroaching circle when the "Playin Reprise" hits. Plenty of dripping cymbals welcome the incoming "Dew." Something occurs because this is Not the same band just going through the motions. It's a moody beast.
Considering it was the most vital piece of music during tonight's show, it is completely acceptable that it ends the set.

C'mon guys, you can't do better than a 20 second intro on the departing "NFA" Well-sung, but nothing out of the ordinary. We're not done as we're thrown a "Brokedown" bone. It does its job.

2 1/2 star rounded up; for no other reason than that's simple mathematics.

Carlos was great, especially during Iko.

just look at the setlist and tell me you dont want to download this show. Santana is in there too so its a must have.

ok.same place next day..lots more energy, box of rain surpprise opener..and a sizzling iko-iko-watchtower with santana..and the energy level doesn't drop off like 8/22..and definitely not a true soundboard..but the sound is decnt...this is worth the full download..enjoy the show...what a hot summer of shows...

Yea these were some hot shows in that they were all day events starting at 3pm. I am staring up at my framed poster from it writing this. I just remember them hasseling people taping at least back behind the board. I had snuck my mics up in a tree & felt like I had gotten the only recording. It was during a time when Healy was playing with a little low power broadcasting unit from the SB & so anyone with a ghetto blaster could have tuned in & gotten a good FM tape. Carlos & Lindley sets were awesome. I'll wait to download & listen to these recordings before rating the quality which should be better than the one I have...

I first got this show sometime in '88 and has always been a fun one to listen to. This is certainly not a straight SBD though - it's either a really nice FOB or a matrix recording. The tell tale sign is that you can hear individuals in the crowd clapping & talking. Either way, I think it's better than an SBD since you get a nice ambient sound.

That's what this venue called their summer concerts. Had a killer aerobatic show off the airstrip right behind. Journey, Doobies, Foreigner and others of that ilk. The GD was the last concert in the line. I mean it was only fitting, but, this was the one that hit the national press with the story about the naked girl who three days after the concert wandered out of the woods into a guy's living room and crashed on his couch. What a great show. I mean this is the town that sponsors the jumping frog contest, Clampers Hells Angels etc. You can buy an "I got all f**ked up at the jumping frog contest" T-shirt on main street. They'd never seen the likes of the Deadheads, and it scared 'em. No more Mountain Aire. The energy ripped into you and on Sunday I saw the crowd circulate in and out of the bubble up close to stage. Bye now.