Saratoga Performing Arts Center
This is a famous show, the first time they played at SPAC, and my first time there. This one is well- known especially for its inspired performance of Morning Dew during the middle of the second set, on a night when there were lightning storms flashing in the sky.
This yet another show with a fine recording (in this case an audience recording) graced by the talents of Charlie Miller and readily available on archive.org.
Grover Washinton, Jr., Ramsey Lewis, Diane Reeves and other greats performed.
An interesting article about local fans of the festival here: http://thehudsonindependent.com/the-40th-anniversary-of-an-annual-outing-for-longtime-friends/
One of my favorite classic rock bands, Traffic reunited and opened for the Dead during 1994, and then played a number of US shows at excellent venues on their own as part of their reunion tour supporting their outstanding album "Far From Home." Two week later they would play a smoking hot set at the Woodstock ‘94 show, and a great video of that is available.
I had good orchestra seats at SPAC for this.
In later years the image of Capaldi singing "Light Up or Leave Me Alone" would pop into my head when I heard the original, or the Phish rendition. I remember thinking that Winwood still looked so young in 1994 when I saw him at this performance, which was only the first time I saw him perform after waiting a long while.
On the day of the show, we were pleasantly surprised to discover that the members of the Other Ones were staying at our hotel in downtown Saratoga Springs. I met Bruce Hornsby and spoke to him for a few minutes while Phil Lesh and his family (including the two boys) were having breakfast in the restaurant, and Mickey walked back from the pool covered in a towel. Later that night we would see the same two blond boys (Phil's kids) sitting on the stage with their feet draped over one of the cabinets, during the Other Ones' set.
Of course, I could’t help remembering the amazing 1983 Dead show when I attended shows like this at SPAC. These were some nice Ratdog setlists in this era, with Blackbird and whole bunch of Dead tunes. Ratdog’s set included Friend of the Devil, the same song I would see DMB would play there at SPAC with Bela Fleck on the weekend of the fare thee well concerts in Chicago.
In addition to playing with the Dead, Warren performed a nice acoustic set, which we enjoyed from some choice Orchestra seats for this show.
Al Green headlined the show.
Return to Forever closed the show with a performance in the main ampitheatre in the evening. This was just a really special thing - mind boggling really - to see Chick Corea, Stanley Clark, Al DiMeola and Lenny White playing together on the SPAC stage.
My only Allman Brothers show; I never saw them either in the earlier years or at any of their Beacon runs. I came to the SPAC box office on the day of the show and was pleasantly surprised to find that there were some 16th row seats on sale that day.
My first DMB show; after missing N2 of this weekend I would rarely miss another DMB show at SPAC.
Taj Mahal, who I listened to in College and saw on several other occassions, played as part of the lineup on this day.
This Saturday Night will be remembered for the frigid weather. It was unseasonably cold in upstate NY that weekend, with the temperature dropping quickly into the 30s that night. There is an excellent Copperpot video online of this show, including a poignant Seek Up to start and a classic version of Idea of You showing Dave with a large scarf around his neck as his frosty voice sang out. Dave joked about the cheap portable heaters the band's crew had placed onstage to help the players keep warm, saying that it reminded him of his Grandpa’s porch.
Dave Matthews opening with a solo performance to start the Acoustic Set.
Below: DMB Slideshow, SPAC 5/30/2014
This was perhaps my favorite show of 2014, which was a great year for shows. A lovely night at SPAC after the rains finally subsided. Everyone seemed to be dancing and having a great time at this show, and we had excellent seats.
Slideshow below: DMB at SPAC, 7-03-2015
Bela Fleck as a planned guest for Saratoga shows. Dreaming Tree with Bela was ultra great, and there's an awesome Copperpot video online of it. This show was chock full of big numbers.
Another classic night at SPAC, again with Bela. This was the weekend of the Fare Thee Well shows in Chicago, and while Bela joined on Banjo in the acoustic set, the opening G major scale notes of Friend of the Devil started to come forth, instantly recognizable. Copperpot’s video captures the event magnificently.
Slideshow Below: DMB at SPAC, 7-4-2015
