50th Grateful Dead Show At The Spectrum [FLASHBACK]
Hot of the heels of a well-earned vacation, we welcome the return of Philadelphia’s Greatest Citizen Pierre Robert on Tuesday October 8th. After spending some time basking in the Lake Tahoe sun, Pierre wanted to continue the laidback, good time feelings in the Workforce Blocks with one of his well-known favorites. That of course being the good-old Grateful Dead. There was indeed purpose intertwined in the twirling as an anniversary needed to be celebrated on P.S.T (Pierre Standard Time).
30 Years Since the 50th Spectrum Show
The final portion of Pierre’s Planner each day is a recap on what concerts took place in the Philadelphia area. You be hard pressed to find a day where the Grateful Dead weren’t in our city amid a multi night stint. Each one a special occasion in their own right, however, the night of October 7th, 1994 was quite remarkable. The evening marked the 50th show the band performed at the beloved Spectrum in South Philly.
To commemorate the 30th anniversary of the occasion, a very special banner was dropped before the performance. And dawning his finest tie-dyed attire, Pierre addressed the crowd that magical evening. In audio from the archives he stated “We’re happy to have you here on this very special occasion. Special because tonight is the night we celebrate the one band that has played 50 nights in this building. In fact, the only band that has played fifty nights in this building and that, of course, is the always amazing Grateful Dead”.
Pierre went on to say “The Spectrum decided that they would like to acknowledge the band. They created a beautiful banner, which you’re about to see, and they gave it to the band. The band was so touched by it that they in turn decided that they would like to give this banner back to you, the fans of the City of Philadelphia. I think it’s very cool. So you can consider this a gift from the Grateful Dead to the people of the City of Philadelphia”.
After the warm words from Pierre, the trumpets blared and the banner celebrating the 50 Dead shows at the Spectrum descended from the heavens. And as Pierre recalled on the air “The banner stayed there for about a couple weeks. It was then taken and is probably in someone’s garage!” Perhaps after this story the banner may turn up? Or perhaps it’ll remain one of life’s long lasting great mysteries? Either way we will keep twirling with the music and say: God Bless the Grateful Dead!
Setlist from October 7th 1994
Set 1:
Feel Like a Stranger
Sugaree
(Jerry Garcia song)
The Same Thing
(Willie Dixon cover)
Brown-Eyed Women
El Paso
(Marty Robbins cover)
Tennessee Jed
The Music Never Stopped
Set 2:
Victim or the Crime
Samba in the Rain
Foolish Heart
Corrina
Drums
Space
The Last Time
(The Rolling Stones cover)
That Would Be Something
(Paul McCartney cover)
Morning Dew
(Bonnie Dobson cover)
Encore:
Johnny B. Goode
(Chuck Berry cover)