The Grateful Dead, Idaho 2004

Posted by Lynn Mason-Pattnosh Dec 10, 2006

The Dead, a band happily comprised of members of the Grateful Dead and their celebrated group of talented friends, made a short tour of the Northwest in July 2004 on their Wave That Flag Summer Tour. They played Portland, Oregon, The Gorge in Washington and the Idaho Center Amphitheater. I happily attended this amazingly tight and climate rich show with my husband in Idaho. Here are some memories for those of you who were in attendance, as well as those who were there in spirit.

The Idaho Center Amphitheater is actually outside of Boise in Nampa Idaho, about a twenty minute or so drive without traffic (of course this was not this case as thousands of Deadheads had flooded Idaho). The Idaho Center Amphitheater is a deep and wide outside stadium, with lots of grassy areas to rest a blanket. There is also beautiful mountain view that surrounds the exterior of the stage area.

It was a hot muggy day. It reminded me of Philadelphia in August (my least favorite place to be at that specific time of year). Robert Hunter, Jerry Garcia’s lyricist extraordinary, opened for The Dead. He played brightly, as a solo performer on his acoustic guitar. As he played, the theater began to fill. Everyone was ready by the time The Dead took the stage.

The highlights of the show for me were: “China Cat Sunflower,” “Good Lovin’,” “Looks Like Rain,” “Reuben & Cerise,” and “Johnny B. Goode." We hung out with an executive from Federal Express who chatted with my husband for most of the first set (if you know my husband than you’ll get a good laugh from this). It was also very interesting for me to see so many kids in their twenties at the show, as well as an audience members that were in their late sixties!

Then suddenly, during the second set the hot muggy day turned into a stormy summer day! There was thunder, lightening and rain like I have never seen (although I did recall an extremely similar experience while seeing the Grateful Dead at Giants Stadium many years ago)! Everyone in the audience was drenched. And then it stopped, the sun come out, and the sky produced a brightly colored rainbow over the mountains! Yep, it was some Idaho show…

Here is a quick link, if you are in the mood to reminisce some more: The Grateful Dead.