07/14/70 Euphoria Ballroom, San Rafael, CA

As transplanted New Yorker now living in Berkeley, I found that the security
at both the Fillmore West and at Winterland, was not as tight as at the
Fillmore East. As a result I could usually migrate right up to, but not
onto, the stage. More often than not, I was right against the stage when I
attended Dead concerts in San Francisco. Early in July of 1970, we were able
to purchase tickets at Shakespeare Books on Telegraph Ave. to see the Dead
perform in San Raphael. a mere forty-minute drive up 101. People were
calling the venue Pepperland, but in the Dead Base it is called the Euphoria
Ballroom. Regardless of its name, a bunch of us New Yorkers drove up to see
the Dead at this new concert hall. Once inside, the venue was rather small
(I think it may have been a renovated movie theater). There was just a
lounge with a concession stand and the floor area with the stage. After we
established our spot on the concert floor, I left the group to get a Coke at
the concession stand. Read on friends... for what is about to follow really
did happen to me at this concert.

Upon purchasing my drink, I turned to head back when I saw Jerry and Phil
casually sitting at one of the tables in the lounge area. I simply went over
and said hello. Jerry said to me, " We are trying to have a conversation
with this other person here." Only seeing the two members of the band at the
table., I replied, " Far out. If you see someone else here well..." Phil
said, "Don't mind Jerry, he is in a funny mood." They offered me a seat and
I sat down. Jerry asked me where I was from and I responded, "New York
City." "Isn't everybody from there these days?", Jerry said. Phil mentioned
that they were had go on in twenty minutes so I wished them well and
returned to the concert floor. 

Twenty minutes was probably forty minutes but the concert was on. I got to
the front of the stage and enjoyed the opening acoustic set. By the way,
this set has recently surfaced on tape. I marveled at how Jerry, Bobby, and
Phil were becoming rather proficient in nice three-part harmonies. Word was
out that they were being influenced by David Crosby and Graham Nash. In any
event, these new found vocalizations allowed the band to perform many new
tunes. By now, the Dead could really customize their sets. They could do
either electric or acoustic sets or a combination of both on any given
night. After performing the acoustic set there was a break. We all eagerly
awaited the electric set.

The band opened the electric set with a familiar tune, perhaps St. Stephen
or Casey Jones. I really don't remember which song but there I was leaning
up against the stage watching the band and this group of dancers right above
me, on stage. In a flash, a hand came down and I was hoisted up onto the
stage. I quickly made for the shadows behind the amps and found myself
standing right next to Pigpen. "What a goof", I said to myself... "this
can't be happening." Pig said, "How are you doing", with breath that could
kill. "You look familiar", he said. I told him I was from New York City and
that I had seen the band there on many occasions. " I've seen you in the
audience", he said. I asked him how he was doing. He replied, "I wish Jerry
would use me more often like before. I really don't play the organ anymore,
just the harp on blues tunes." I didn't know what to say but I realized the
truth of that statement. As I recall, Pigpen never took the stage that
night. 

I began looking around from this novel vantage point realizing how different
things appeared from backstage. The amps almost completely hid the band but
I could see Phil clearly on the opposite end of the stage. Pig said to me,"
Here comes Dave. He's going to do a set with us." I wondered who Dave was
but within the next ten seconds David Crosby walked behind me and Pigpen and
headed for the front of the stage. I was floored. At that moment a security
guard caught my eye and said, "You don't belong here." With that, I said
goodbye to Pigpen and walked down the stairs and took up my usual spot at
the foot of the stage and enjoyed the rest of the concert. Two days later,
Janis Joplin did a set with the Dead at this venue. That was twenty-eight
years ago. Today, Jerry, Janis, and Pigpen are no longer with us. David
Crosby is a walking miracle. We should thank them all for their creativity
for they have all touched our lives.

Carl Jaslo