This is a small venue, good and bad connotations, eager police force, no alcholol( good or bad), can a good lightshow be had at this venue, or does it lack the festival set up at vernon?

Tough bacon Likes to cook at very high temperatures. Wish I could get a ticket to the show. A good venue to SEE the show.

kendogg- don't worry, you'll get in!!
go to vip parking late afternoon of 8/9

Okay? Brother bent1 Can U elaborate. E-mail me @ ken24dogg@hotmail.com. Am curious, very? Is this miracle street?

Is it true no beer is sold here?

No alcohol inside, plastic cups a must in lot~ STATE POLICE ~ just forget about drinkin and dose at this place and you'll be fine !

Yes, Brother Bent1, can you elaborate to me as well? Would really love to find more tickets. mpartlow@ic.sunysb.edu

Hey there,

I'm really looking forward to the Dead concerts coming up at Jones Beach in August. Has the makings of a very special weekend. I also happen to be getting married this fall. The groomsmen are thinking it would be a good idea to make that weekend of August 9th into my bachelor party
weekend. They would all like to go to the concert, but did not get tickets before the 9th sold out.
I'm hoping to be able to find tickets for as many of them as I can. Of course everyone would pay face PLUS fees. If you have any extras or know
of any, please send me an e-mail at mpartlow@ic.sunysb.edu or to my Best Man at kaytaylor@hotmail.com

Thanks much !!!

Peace,
Matt

i cannot wait for these shows. what a weekend it will be. something special in the air. two days and nites at the beach with the dead and all the hippies one can handle. i love you all and look forward to meeting some more zoners!!!!!!!!

Hey gang,
Who can give me the whole DL on this venue? First time there for me, where's the best place to stay? Where does Shakedown St happen (if at all?)

Danks in advance, I actually like the no alcohol thing, that eliminates a couple of negatives right there.

Decree

Jones Beach: Lets see. This is a good place to see a show. Not a good place to have a show. Cops are assholes 85% of the time, for real. Dry venue.

But if your planning on going to try and get tickets, this is not the place to do it. Once the show starts, they will kick your ass off the lot. Least that is very typical. They see no reason to be on the lot if your not in the show. Not a place to hang out at.

Getting in. If your gonna take anything in, you'd better be damn good at it. Usually they stop just shy of a full cavity search.

I don't have tickets but I would love to go. This whole gamit will keep me from even making the trip without tickets first. Not a fun place, but what a place to see a show.

Get all fugged up first, keep it minimal as for what you try to get in, and you'll be cool.

Who's got my extra to the first show on the 9th?
trade for my extra to the 10th.

I heard Branford Marsalis might be playing with them at Jones Beach. Any truth to the rumour?

Can you smoke inside?

I have tix in Section D, Row S, seats 1,2... are thease going to be at a sever angle, ie obstructed?

jjstl

youll have a clear view of the stage but sometimes
the sound gets strange echo in the corners but yor ears will adjust after a few songs

You all that aint familar with this place it is a pig haven,the most amount you've ever seen times 10.And they don't leave you alone either, aint no way there is gonna be a shakedown st. and if they were total bastards at other non dead events can't imagine what it'll be like for this. This place is even worse than nassau.Being outside near the ocean is nice but that is totally negated by the pigs. Have lots of money to spend cause everything out there is really high priced and prepare to sit in massive traffic jams.You could maybe prefab a doobie before your anywhere near the place and attempt to drink beer out of a cup but other than that don't bring ANYTHING else with you, these pigs will have a field day. Warn anybody you know about this, this place i might even venture to say is the worst in the U.S. This is no joking matter.

security in the lot is through the roof absolutely ridiculous bring your own treats for it is truly risky to even attempt anything "wrong" at the beach, venue is beautiful and though the lack of beer is a bummer at first it is truly a blessing in disguise, cause their aint nothng like a long island booze fest, ha ha. Still need a ticket for both nights any help please email pepp62@aol.com and have a great time

where are the GA tix that I "won" from Clear Channel. No lawn. Is there a SRO or GA section?

I'm staying at the JFK Courtyard and need info on how to get from there -> Jones Beach and back plus what time should we try to leave the hotel for the show? Any locals able to shine some light on this?

JB

I'm staying at the JFK Courtyard and need info on how to get from there

YOUR A GOOD 40 MIN FROM VENUE, YOU HAVE TO TAKE BELT PKWY TO SOUTHERN STATE PKWY TO MEADOWBROOK PKWY ,WICH WILL LEAD YOU RIGHT TO VENUE

THERE IS NO STANDING ROOM THERE IS A VIP SECTION
OFF TO THE LEFT OF THE STAGE WICH IS ONLY GOOD IF IT STORMS

where's the place to be before the show?
Any good hangouts in walking distance... is the security really that much of a bummer, is it possible to bring a doob or two in?

anyone else have one of these GA vouchers from Clear Channel?

Will i be able to get a digital camera into the venue?
i do not have professional equipment, does that matter?

Nothing around the venue but sand and ocean. I suggest packing up the cooler (bring your beers..just bring cups) and spending the day at the beach. There are concession stands at the beach (and they sell beer oddly enough since the Theatre does not), but I'd bring my own.

What Time Does This Show Start?

Just wondering, my ticket says 7:00

Ticketmaster - says 6:00 (dead center), but then says 7:00 (on the left side).
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1D0036D3EADA809C?brand=&artistid=865713&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=1

Jones beach site says - 6:00. http://jonesbeach.com/

Clear Channel says 7:00 and doors at 5:30.
http://cc.com/detail.asp?eventID=65559

I know the show has to end at 11 (jones beach policy), so I hope its 6.

Here is a version from GDTS at this link:

http://www.mail-archive.com/gdtstoo@yahoogroups.com/msg00025.html

Also, when I spoke to someone at the ticket booth at Jones Beach they said the same.

Still, it is confusing.

as a long island local, i can tell you wont meet a bigger bunch of ball busters anywhere. that said if you keep a low profile, beer in a cup pay a ttention when smoking ect, youll be fine the good things are parkings free and its a great place to see a show, if you want to try and bring liquor in get yourself some zip lock bags and wear tight underwear.

FYI to all who are not familiar with the area: Other than the beach concession stands, there is no place nearby to imbibe or get a good meal. The concession stand on the side of the theatre lot sells beer for $5-6. As an alternative, there is a smoke shop / grocery off the last exit on the Wantagh Pkwy (Rte 27a, east). Good place to buy moderately priced beer, sandwiches, munchies, disposable cooler, ice, etc.. The store also will allow you to take large cups with lids. State cops can be assholes - however, at fairly recent summer shows (Phil, Trey, Lolapolooza), they generally allow drinking in cups and a modest shakedown usually will appear.

Is there really a borderline cavity search entering the venue? I was wanting to take in a couple airplane bottles. I realize this place is pretty strict but it can't be as bad as some folks make it out to be.......can it?

JB

the search depends upon the person conducting it, and the number of people in line to get in. Last week at Lolapolooza, there was a box with over 100 confiscated airplane bottles next to the gate; however, there were many people filling up soda cups with airplane bottles in the bathroom - hit or miss. Just watch the lines as you go in and see who is not checking too hard. As long as you're aware that the cops can be random dicks, and you try to be low key, it can be a great place to see a show.

What time do the lots open for this show?

Don

Hi!- new here. I'm not sure when lots open as my tics say show starts at 5 pm. Best guess would be 2 but whoever is going here- BEWARE!! Mind your P's and Q's. Beer in cups is cool, but the MAN will be on heavy patrol. DO NOT piss in the sand dunes as folks got popped doing this during Phish. If you look underage, have a keg, or are acting blatent, you're an easy target. PLEASE on good behavior as we don't need bad press or to be a shill for the cops. You can have fun here, but be careful and remember the guy who seems really cool who asks for a doob might just be intent on wrecking your world. Have fun and be safe.

Two days to go until show time, and I am already sitting here in New York, ummm I mean New Jersey (what the f**k am I doing here?), in the pouring rain. The weather forecast does not look pretty for either show - what a shame.

Anyone else here think we may hear a Patchwork on Saturday night? It would be msot appropriate, given this is the place and day the song is about. Warren, where are you???

And Rev., if they do play this one, I promise to laugh hard enough for both us - what a way to turn a song completely upside down. That memory, no matter how tainted, is one that just won't go away - LOL!

I have an extra ticket for Sat, Aug. 9th...
my brother had to cancel...
it's in sect 9L, row E (you'll be sitting next to me!)
email me at sidewalkart@yahoo.com

(I also have a ticket
for Sun, Aug. 10th.)

check out the seating chart at
http://www.tommyhilfigerjonesbeach.com/seating

showtime is 7:00

Any plan for 'zoners to meet up around showtime?

We are heading up insanely early with kids in tow for a day at the beach Then just wife and me to show(We offerred, but I think the 4 ans 8 year old are still recovering from the trauma of Jazz Fest, lol).

Have a great time, everyone, and feel the love.

Well now that Darien is done, it's time for all of us neurotics and miscellaneous OCD'ers to think about what's in store for us over the next two nights at Jones Beach.

We're definitely due for most of these:

*ChinaCat
*Rider
*Dark Star
*St. Stephen
*Truckin'
*Sugar Mag
*Aiko
*Cassidy
*Sugaree
*The Wheel
*Cryptical
*The Other One
*Shakedown street
*Eyes of the World
*Estimated Prophet
*CRSS
*Alligator
*Ripple
*Midnight Hour
*Good Lovin
*Lazy Lightning (including Supplication)
*Stella Blue
*Hard to Handle
*Here Comes Sunshine
*One More Saturday Night

Out of the 25 songs listed, my bet is they'll play at least 20 of them. Gotta figure they'll play about 40 songs over the two nights. Lots of really good stuff is due. They have so many great songs. I like this band.

OK, time for me to go obsess about something else now.

phil (Keepinthefaith) this place it is a pig haven,the most amount you've ever seen times 10.And they don't leave you alone either, aint no way there is gonna be a shakedown st. and if they were total bastards at other non dead events can't imagine what it'll be like for this. This place is even worse than nassau.

I guess they don't call it "Jones Beach" for nothing.

Is Jimmy really going to play acoustic??? All I can say is wow!!!!! And Good Luck, Hope all goes well.

I always admired Jerry's decision to play aacoustic sets thoughout his career. When you dedicate your life to playin' electric guitar in a band, it is not obvious to play lead guitar for an entire acoustic sets.

G-13, g-13, G-13, g-13 G - 13!!
(did I get your attention?)
Looking forward to these Jones Beach Shows!! also can;t wait for the Saturday Night After Party

DON'T MISS THE NYC TOBACCO ROAD AFTER PARTIES AUGUST 9TH:
It's G-13!! ripping it up from Midnight till 4AM this will be a rager G-13 is very high vibe positive original music type of band, sure to get you dancing and leave you smilin'!

AUGUST 10TH:
It's Bernie Worrell andd the Woo Warriors. Legendary Funkadelic keyboardist!

for more info and tickets go to www.tobaccord.com

>I always admired Jerry's decision to play aacoustic sets thoughout his career.

well, in some ways it was his true love. not to mention that that grateful dead 's seminal 1970 albums were acoustic. should be interesting tonight

Acoustic Childhood's End.
Ala 94'

FYI All:

I just talked to the box office at Jones Beach and they said the show starts at 7 and there is a 12 Midnight show cut-off.......Enjoy.....KGB

FYI All:

Just talked to the Jones Beach box office. Show starts at 7 and there is a midnight curfew..Let's keep a good thought for good weather and enjoy the show.....KGB

DAMM, GO TO THE BROADCAST!!!

I am hearing Peggy-o acoustic!!!!

nah, guess it is last night Peggy-O acoustic

so far (from rmgd)

Strawberry Fields (Joan)>
Jam>
Friend of the Devil (BOB)
Lazy River Road(PB&J)
Candyman(Bob)
Stella Blue (Joan)

Cassidy

Jones Beach 8/9/03 Set @1:
Strawberry Fields (Joan, Rob on Piano) >
Jam (Jeff on Piano) >
Friend of the Devil >
Lazy River Road (PB&J, Rob on Piano)
Candyman (Bob, Jeff on Piano),
Stella Blue (J, Rob on piano),
Cassidy (Jeff on piano) >
Birdsong (Phil, Rob on piano)

pb&J


hahahaha


that is too good

ok since there seems to be issues with the boards right now, i'm gonna post what i have to this point ...

Jones Beach 8/9/03 Set @1: Strawberry Fields (Joan, Rob on Piano) > Jam (Jeff on Piano) > Friend of the Devil > Lazy River Road (PB&J, Rob on Piano) , Candyman (Bob, Jeff on Piano), Stella Blue (J, Rob on keys), Cassidy (JC on keys) > Birdsong (RB on keys)

Jones Beach 8/9/02 Set 2: Shakedown Street > Minglewood Blues, Crazy Fingers > Loser, Tomorrow Never Knows > Playin'

Jones Beach 8/9/03 Set 3: Playin' Jam > Milestones > Playin' Reprise > 1/2 Step > Ramble On Rose, Jam > October Queen > Drums/Space > Birdsong > Jam > Cassidy Reprise > Sugaree

Jones Beach 8/9/03 Set 3: Playin' Jam > Milestones > Playin' Reprise > 1/2 Step > Ramble On Rose, Jam > October Queen > Drums/Space > Birdsong > Jam > Cassidy Reprise > Sugaree E: Donor Rap,

boogaloo...you tease!

Jones Beach 8/9/03 Set 3: Playin' Jam > Milestones > Playin' Reprise > 1/2 Step > Ramble On Rose, Jam > October Queen > Drums/Space > Birdsong > Jam > Cassidy Reprise > Sugaree E: Donor Rap, One More Sat. Night, Ripple

October Queen.
Milestones.
Tomorrow Never Knows.
Shakedown.
& Playin.

All these songs didn't suck very much at all tonight.

The others weren't at all bad either.

The Dead - Joans Beach - 8/9/03

Set 1(acoustic):
Strawberry Fields(Joan vocal,RB-piano)>Jam>
Friend Of The Devil(JC-piano)
Lazy River Road(RB-piano)
Candyman(Bob,JC-piano)
Stella Blue(Joan,RB-piano)
Cassidy(JC-piano)>
Birdsong(Phil,RB-piano)


Set 2:
Shakedown Street>
Minglewood Blues
Crazy Fingers>
Loser
Tomorrow Never Knows>
Playin' In The Band>Jam....


Set 3:
Playin' Jam>
Milesstones>
Playin' Reprise>
Mississippi Half-Step>Jam>
Ramble On Rose
Jam>October Queen>Jam>
Drumz/Space>
Birdsong(ending)>Jam>
Cassidy Reprise>
Sugaree
Donor Rap
Ene More Saturday Night
Ripple

sweet, sweet show

well done, boys and girls!

even the weather (mostly) co-operated.

>>All these songs didn't suck very much at all tonight.

i'd say not. Shakedown, Playin', TNK, Milestones. wow! only questionable selection is October Queen.

The band ROCKED last night!!! -- setlist only tells 1/2 of the story. THE JAMS WERE UNREAL!! - especially the jam starting out the third set. We sat dead center behing the tapers -- sound was excellent - nice and LOUD!! This show was 10x better than Hartford and the Camden shows - there was definately magic in the air last night! The LOUDNESS of the band - perfect - the lightshow was awesome - Joan looked sexy as hell (I love NY shirt and all) and she nailed the Sugaree. Jimmy was friggin' unbelievable --you GOTTA hear this show!! Other than the lines to get in to the show and the speeding ticket I just got coming back to Philly on the NJ turnpike it was a perfect trip!!!

show was awesome. sound was great. crowd was good. ocean was warm and rough.

song selection was great
semi-acoustic set was nice

loser
sugaree
minglewood

all were great

can't wait for tonight


tom

Nice time on Long Island.I like the way they did the end to Bird song with the line for Jerry.
Very Jerry heavy setlist and no Mickey song.
A very good time.

This night was a wonderful experience. I was 10 row phil side and let me tell you they were on fire. I was holding up my "hog for you baby" sign for Joan because she is a powerful voice that is not to be rekoned with. I hope that she listens to the lyrics of that song becuase when"i go to sleep at night she is the only one i am dreamin of." After that Sugaree she sang i nearly had a heart attack. Because when she sang the verse" just one thing i ask of you, just one thing for me, ' i would hold up the sign and at one point she ran right in front of me singing and smiling and let me tell you i never felt like that in my whole life. It was a wonderful show, from such beautiful people that make my life extra special in only my 23year of exsistence. Thank you, Thank you Very much guys and gal.You are all such wonderful people.

Ate some shrooms in the parking lot before walking into the show.
caught the tail end of set 1, and started peaking during the set break.. The
show was just ok, there were points where it bored the hell out of me..
like i was on fire, and the music wasnt really enough to put out that
fire... All in all, it wasnt too bad.. but I must say Jones Beach
sucks.. The worst place to see a show ever, and I think that may have been
the last time I go to that place..can't even have a cold beer..
Imagine this.. at the very end of the show, during Ripple, about 100
people witnessed a security guard actually starting a fist fight with a
guy for dancing in the aisle.. He didnt try to kick him out, or call
backup to kick him out (which in itself would have been lame), but no..
this dumb ass meathead decided to throw a metal gate and attack this
dancing dude.. That is basically the mentality at this venue (and most of
Long Island for that matter).. Ya give a simple minded meathead the
slightest sense of power for a brief moment in time, and he acts like he's
in charge of the world...Then when the other guys came to break up the
fight, this brilliant security guard starts lying and saying that the
guy slapped him in the face... I hope he gets canned, and shit on.
I hope Phil and the boys could read my post.. GUYS! DONT PLAY AT THIS
FACIST VENUE EVER AGAIN! JONES BEACH SUCKS, JONES BEACH SUCKS! LONG
ISLAND SUCKS!
Love,Me

I attended the 8/9 show @ Jones Beach. It was my first time there. My nephew (his first concert) and I made the drive from Boston. I have to say the show was amazing, and the setting right on the water was incredible. However, getting into the venue was a nightmare! We had to go thru 2 sets of Security (how ridiculous is that?!) AND then an extremely rude and hostile ticket-taker just to get inside! We ended-up missing the first two tunes as a result. We were very disappointed.

I was at both shows and have nothing but praise for the venue. I read a lot of warnings about security and such in the weeks leading up to the shows. From my experience all the negative comments were bunk. I'll go so far as to say that Jones Beach is as good or better than any amphitheater I've been to. No I haven't been to Red Rocks. There were no problems vending in the lot or hanging out drinking beer. The only person I saw getting hassled was a fella who had a full bar set up behind his van. When I say full bar I mean the guy must have had 8-10 1/2 gallons of liquor. We had no problem getting airplane bottles into the venue. All of the inside staff were very nice and helpful.

I really enjoyed the shows too.

JB

yea, I'm glad you enjoyed yourself JB... I bet the guy who got punched in the face by the security meathead wishes he could say the same..

Jones Beach is exactly that: A fookin' Jones! Won't go there again.

We, too missed the first couple songs due to the ridiculous security.

I though the band was playing well (Playin, Shakedown were juiced) but we were so beat and tired due to our day in NYC that we left early and missed the Ripple. Oh, well.

>>Imagine this.. at the very end of the show, during Ripple, about 100
people witnessed a security guard actually starting a fist fight with a
guy for dancing in the aisle.. He didnt try to kick him out, or call
backup to kick him out (which in itself would have been lame), but no..
this dumb ass meathead decided to throw a metal gate and attack this
dancing dude.. That is basically the mentality at this venue (and most of
Long Island for that matter).. Ya give a simple minded meathead the
slightest sense of power for a brief moment in time, and he acts like he's
in charge of the world...Then when the other guys came to break up the
fight, this brilliant security guard starts lying and saying that the
guy slapped him in the face... I hope he gets canned, and shit on.
I hope Phil and the boys could read my post.. GUYS! DONT PLAY AT THIS
FACIST VENUE EVER AGAIN! JONES BEACH SUCKS, JONES BEACH SUCKS! LONG
ISLAND SUCKS!
Love,Me >>


This is bullshit. I was ten feet from this when it went down. The guy was not "dancing in the aisle." He and his buddy were attempting to move from the 'gully' down into the orchestra. They were to 'no' more than once. One A-hole starts screaming "Fuck you" at security while his A-hole buddy starts tipping the metal security barrier into the orch section. Security came over and started to push it upright. A-hole #2 reaches across and swipes at security guy's face. Don't know if he connected, BUT HE DEFINITELY TOOK A SWING AT THE GUY. THEN, security guy lunged forward and the barrier fell over. It wasn't thrown at anyone. A-hole #2 raised his hands again and it was game over. Another security guy took a running start and drove A-hole #2 straight back into the 'gully' wall and pinned him there, and quietly (and, IMO, with a great deal of restraint), told him to chill. A-hole #1 again starts screaming "FU", and A-hole #2, who NOW sees the error of his ways, yells at #1 to "STFU you see we're handling this here" (which made me crack up). Don't know what happened after that, but I do know the description in the above post is WRONG. My wife and I watched this unfold from BEFORE the beginning. (The 2 A-holes had been denied orch access (right after we tried) at a different opening seconds before.)

Sorry there, Joe Brown, but I was right there, and your account is plain wrong. Security up, A-holes down.

MUSIC was outstanding, though!

>>>>>>> Ate some shrooms in the parking lot before walking into the show.
caught the tail end of set 1, and started peaking during the set break.. The
show was just ok, there were points where it bored the hell out of me..
like i was on fire, and the music wasnt really enough to put out that
fire...

Folks, just READ this again - he went in at the END of the acoustic set - great way to start a post - let EVERYONE know what an A-HOLE you are "right oudda da gate!" THEN expect ANYONE to believe your story?!? Oh, and lemme guess, the boring part was THE JAMMING!?!?!? Natch!

The rest of you who bitched about lack of beer/security hassles causing you to miss the beginning of the show:

On point #1 - Isn't the point of attending these shows to "LISTEN TO THE MUSIC?!?!?!" You can schwill $8 Coors Lite and babble incessantly to your buds ANYDAY OF THE FRIGGIN WEEK!

On point #2 - Is it REALLY that hard to go in to the show AT SHOWTIME? They started at 7:20 both nights - I went in at 6:45 and there was NO line AT ALL - I'm SURE at exactly 7 there still was a MINIMAL line - is it THAT important to schwill another Coors Lite in the lot? Again, I ask, AREN'T YOU THERE TO LISTEN TO THE MUSIC?!?!?!?!

My biggest beef: That the venue has "Tommy Hilfinger's" fudgepackin' name all over it!

What is... "fudgepackin'"?

BrianD is just outright lying. But whatever, whats done is done.

"Security up, A-holes down."

Brian D strikes me as the type of guy who was once cool, or has some shred of cool in him back in the day.. but then he "grew up"..
Or maybe he was never cool.. Hard to tell...
Probably a long-islander.

>>BrianD is just outright lying. But whatever, whats done is done

Fuck you shroomboy. I was RIGHT THERE and these idiots were destined to get pounded, by security or otherwise. I was sober too, asswipe. I know exactly what I saw and heard.

For the record, I e-mailed you a personal fuck you
before posting this.

Maybe its time you grew up, or maybe you should stay as 'cool' as you are.

Let's see, either your dumbass shroom-laden head got the details wrong or I just made my post up to....I don't know. Why don't you dream something up? Seems to be your specialty. Dick.

Yea, its just like a simple-minded meathead from long island that gets all bent out of shape, and starts using obscenities... hey, just like that iditoic security guard.. Maybe theres some connection. Get a life you lying meathead.

Deep down you know you're wrong Brian

Maybe one your 'hundred' witnesses can back you up. But only if they saw it from before these guys were anywhere near the security guys. In which case, they should be able to pick ME out of a line-up. Because that's how close I was.

Deep down, you're a scumbag who should be more careful with the word 'liar'. That's all I'm saying. Done now.

For the record I was standing in the aisle right in front of the security guards.. so close i had to move out of the way of the metal gate to avoid being hit with it..
and all I have to say is..

FUCK THE SECURITY GUARDS! FUCK FUCK FUCK! FUCK THE SECURITY GUARDS!

The mentality of a security guard is the type of person who is not very intelligent, and really can't think of anything to do with his measly little life except attain a small sense of power by becoming a security guard..This is his chance to finally have a little control over people.. to finally get some respect...
So generally you get these geniuses who abuse that power by giving those who are having fun a hard time. And physically, these animals can destroy us, so we are forced to respect them in their moment in the sun.. But intellectually, and spiritually these meatheads are teeny little weiners.. and thats all I have to say about security guards!
Fuck you, you dumb meathead cocksuckers..
(oh yea, and cops too!)

I hate to enter this whining and pointless argument going on above, but Mr. Brown, in your above post you mention how you were "standing in the aisle". Shouldn't you have been in your seat? everyone likes to dance in the aisles, but part of the security guards job is to clear the aisles. Why? because if there is an emergency the aisles have to be clear, to prevent lawsuits and such. But, did anyone see the episode on the first night with the wasted girl swinging at security guards, who took the abuse to a point before dragging her away kicking and screaming. I dont know about the rest of you, but i go to shows to enjoy the music first, and the party second. I can get belligerent and wasted on my own time, but it is pointless to do so during a show. and in terms of the security at this venue, i was toking up in the daylight with some older heads before the show started, and was not bothered. In fact, i thought the security was loose and professional. The only real complaint I had was with the hordes of ticketless heads the first night. (so much so that you had to show your ticket to get into the lot the next day) i was thumbing through an old issue of Dupree's from 1990 and an interview with Bob Weir. Prophesizing the downfall of the Grateful Dead, he said that the major problem they were facing was people showing up to shows without tickets. This is still a problem, but not as widespread. But haven't we learned? the people who go to shows without a ticket should not be regarded as some sort of dead-head martyrs. they are a pariah on the scene, who--if they really loved the music--would honor the repeated request of the band to stay home. personally, unless you are certain that you will have a ticket--why the the hell would you go to the show. Being a clean-looking individual with a nice job, usually i am approached by miracle seekers when i go to a show. Most of these youngsters, (early 20s, late teens) do not like it when i tell them that they are helping to kill the entire scene. They tell me stuff like "i dont understand what the Grateful Dead are about". I then politely remind them that i was into the band when they were still creaming their pants over the Hanson boys and teeny-bop music. I dont do this maliciously, I try to do it as polite as I can. I offer these individuals a beer or such, and remind them that the band has begged people for years not to come to shows without tickets. they get pissed off and leave. me and my friends resume our pre-show warmups in great anticipation of the music, clutching the golden tickets we earned ourselves while leaving nothing but footprints.
Sorry about the rant, its a boring day at work.
Peace

Interesting perspective, Jughead, and right on....

Do you think that more than one of these 'security sucks' rants comes from someone has violated the rules somehow???? Of course, if you understand 'what the Grateful Dead are all about' (spirit and all) then there are no rules are there? I don't need a ticket to get in....I can just bum one off of someone who has worked hard to earn the $50 to see the show. I don't need a seat, I feel like dancin' man and you're violating my space, bumming my high! I can't afford any food, but I'll take the last swill of your beer.

And, that "you don't understand what the Grateful Dead are about" is such a lame and convenient excuse void of any intellect. What they are really saying is "you're a dick because you won't do what I am asking you to do, which might not be in your best interest but certainly is in my best interest".

For such a peace loving and environment friendly group, there sure is a lot of hypocracy out there.

Both of you guys have hit the nail on the head!
I couldn't agree more. I thought the security aspect as Jones Beach was the most user friendly I've ever seen (only lost two airplane bottles of Absolut the an eagle-eyed security guy. We both laughed and shook hands about it later).

whatever, lets stop all the bullshit... its like bob dylan says.. "we always did feel the same, we just saw it from a different point of view.." I think we're all just people who want to love and be loved... i'm sorry brian for calling you a liar.. its just me venting..

>> i'm sorry brian for calling you a liar.. its just me venting..>>

Classy of you to say so. Peace.

This being Jerry’s day, Saturday, the scarcity of tickets, the bad reputation of the state troopers in the lot, and all of that, I’m expecting a high anxiety affair all around. We check into the hotel, it’s obvious it’s gonna be a madhouse. There’s an underground parking garage already filled with vans full of puppy-pullers. The faint hiss of tanks wafts between the columns. It’s gonna be a long-ass weekend for these hotel staffers! We pass Nassau Coliseum and I see why they are at Jones Beach – Nassau Col is hosting the Justin and Christina tour – maybe they’ll show up and jam! The shakedown in the lot is raging, despite the heavy 5-0 presence and the intermittent threat of rain. I don’t bother taping since last night’s didn’t come out and it’s threatening rain, plus the official releases will be of the whole show, not missing parts (as is the case with the Dylan stuff – what gives w/that? Why would I pay full price for ¾ of the show?). I have 8th row left center tonight. They make anyone in the front sections wear a bracelet to keep the riff raff out. Because of this, and apparently since the next 2 seats to mine are no-show’s, I end up with 3 empty seats all night – quite a departure from last night! The crowd is actually very mellow – alcohol-free venue! There’s quite a bit of griping about this all around – my response is to affirm how much I love it “wow – people will actually have to listen to the music instead of babbling drunkenly – what a concept!” Actually, it wasn’t ‘till the mid-‘80’s that alcohol was routinely served at concerts – my earliest concert experiences were all quite mellow, actually. It was first cocaine, followed by the relentless pursuit of profit by promoters by selling beer, and finally X and other club drugs that have all conspired to permanently ruin the concertgoing experience. The wall street prep’s in front of me complain about the huge inch-plus-deep puddle surrounding our seats – the usher with the rag for wiping raindrops off people’s seats can only say: “not much I can do about it with this rag” – classic NYC ‘tude, dude! I take off my birks and make sure I frequently splash their brand new Air Jordan sneaks with my barefoot dancing. I’m thinking – “get the Zamboni machine over here from Nassau Coliseum!” The acoustic set is really only different from a standard set (w/Bobby on acoustic of course) in that Jimmy plays acoustic guitar, there’s a grand piano instead of the usual keyboard setup, and Phil plays an electric 4-string instead of 6-string. The drummers use their same drum kits. The acoustic set is mostly mellow songs, and not any of the things they did back in ’80. Very unusual song choices, although I kinda expected the Stella for Jer. Strawberry Fields was one I was really getting sick of last year, but now that it’s rare, it was actually welcome. It was obvious the Cassidy and Birdsong were left unfinished – they just stopped in mid-Jam to end the set. The 1st half of the 2nd set reads like a classic late ‘80’s GD set – nothing earth-shattering. At least Bobby didn’t screw up any lyrics. Tomorrow Never Knows got the jammy part of the show off to a start, this led to a very jammy Playin’, which suprisingly ended the set in mid-Jam, just like the Birdsong to end set 1. The 3rd set picked back up in mid-Playin’ jam, then morphed into Milestones, then the jamming switched back & forth between Playin’ and Milestones – very inspired stuff here – then eventually into Playin’ Reprise – the first well-explored one I’ve seen them do (besides Roanoke 11/14/02). ½ Step another unexpected choice – I really like the vocal arrangement and Phil/Joan vocal interplay – one of their stronger choices of a “routine” song – more jamming leads to Ramble on Rose sung by Bob and a chance for a piss break for yours truly. I notice the area around the Wharf Rat’s table is WAY crowded – and indeed the ‘Rats are having their gathering – there are many, many hundreds of ‘Rats here – MANY more than I have EVER seen at a show before – usually no more than a dozen or 2 – man that says a lot about Long Island! Back in the ‘70’s and ‘80’s, all the hardest core partiers were ‘Gilanders for sure – Nassau Coliseum was the first place I’d ever seen massive public coke use at a show – now they’re all burnouts. In 20 years all those upstate NY X-heads will be in the same space. Or dead. Go figure. More great jamming after Ramble, leading rather dissapointingly to the Schwagdog song. Well, it’s better than Saint of Circumstance is all I can think (“I’m Gonna Go For It Fer Sure” has GOT to be the WORST GD lyrics of all time). Still, there’s something disturbing hearing Bobby sing about “drag queens and strip joints”. Mercifully he left out the Even So – THAT is worse than Lost Sailor I must say. And more mercifully this leads to jamming and drums/space. This is all very well done, very deep, well explored space back to very intense jamming into the Birdsong and Cassidy reprises – very tasteful stuff – then a strong Sugaree closer. It starts to rain for the encore, and this gets the crowd going good for the Sat Nite rocker – a nice magical moment, even for me this was one of the most enjoyable Sat Nite’s ever – the crowd really into it- then a surprise Ripple double encore- well, at least more of a surprise for Bobby than for me (I saw by the clock on stage that they had 6 min’s ‘till midnite so I figured a double would happen) – he had to come running back onstage while his tech strapped his acoustic on – and miraculously he got it plugged in feedback-free just in time to sing the first verse – and he remembered all the words! A far cry from the butchered versions at Saratoga and Camden. The rain let up at the end of the show, again almost as if by magic, plus it never rained more than was tolerable. All in all an “A-“ effort, GREAT jamming and playing with just enough good songs in crucial spots to make up for the crappy ones – especially for a Saturday night! Certainly not as strong as the 4 NJ shows from Leg 1, but great nonetheless. And I will reiterate how much BETTER an experience an alchohol-free show/venue is! Especially when you can get away with puffin’ and actually have good stuff to puff, and enough to share around! One of the rare cases of me actually thoroughly ENJOYING myself at a show! But I KNOW it’s not just ME and my 40-something ‘tude – remove the booze and the X and there’s PROOF that going to a show can actually be an ENJOYABLE experience!

Hey Im one of those 'gislanders (ok Im from Queens. Just turned 40 I am A Warf Ratter
You said it Right YOU CAN ENJOY SHOWS SOBER
I enjoyed the shows for one reason and one reason alone

TTTTTTTTTHHHHHHEEEEEEEEE MMMMMUUUUSSSIIICCC

Sorry that was a flashback moment Our generation can use that instead of a senior moment excuse


LONG LIVE THE DEAD ( ok Phil}

See ya at the Beacon

October Queen SUCKS!!!!!!

Heavy anti-alcohol enforcement and security is unessesary. I've been to plenty of shows with laid back security and where I can bring a beer to my seat- and guess what- everything is fine. I found there is usually more "incidents" at places with heavy security because of confrontations with them. There is usually way more going on than can even possibly be enforced, so why try? I've always been able to sneak in whiskey anyways, so I don't care. Peace ya'll