Set One Prowler > Intentions Clear, Bad Poker, Professor Wormbog > “Jimmy Stewart” > 2nd Self, White Man’s Moccasins, The Stranger
Set Two JaJunk > Turn & Run, Pay the Snucka*, Uncommon > In the Flesh > Another Brick In the Wall > Raymond^, Slacker, Much Obliged
Encore Dear Prudence, JaJunk
Excellent 2nd set. The Snucka>Uncommon>In The Flesh>Another Brick In The Wall was great. Can’t wait to get the CD’s and hear it again.
Of all the images snapped during the original Woodstock weekend, one stands above all: a young couple huddled together in a blanket, standing alone in a sea of people lying on wet ground.
It’s an enduring image of love, care and protection that earned iconic status through its placement on the cover of the original “Woodstock” album in 1970, as well as on the movie poster.
Forty years later, the couple in the photo – Nick and Bobbi Ercoline, both 60 – remain together. They married two summers after the fabled weekend, and they still live less than an hour’s drive from the original concert site of Bethel, N.Y., and within spitting distance of where they both grew up.
Nick Ercoline works for the Orange County, N.Y., Department of Housing. Bobbi is a resident nurse at the elementary school in their hometown of Pine Bush.
The 40th anniversary of the ultimate hippie be-in, this Aug. 15-17, has thrown the Ercolines into the spotlight again – something they never expected or sought.
They say they remember nothing of the original shot, taken by Burk Uzzle. “We weren’t striking a pose,” Nick says. “We were as surprised as everybody to see that photo on the album cover.”
They discovered it while at a friend’s house listening to the album and passing around the gatefold jacket. First, Nick recognized the famous yellow butterfly staff in the left corner. “It belonged to this guy Herbie,” Nick says. “We latched on to him that day because he was having a very bad experience. He was tripping pretty heavily and he had lost his friends. After I saw that staff I said, ‘Hey that’s our blanket.’ Then I said, ‘Hey, that’s us.’”
Bobbi, then 20, wasn’t overly impressed. “Woodstock was over and done with at that time,” she says. “It didn’t seem like a big deal. The only thing was that then I had to tell my mother I had gone. She didn’t know. But by then, she didn’t mind.”
The two had arrived in the middle of the weekend, a rare feat given that all main roads were closed by then. “We were local kids, so we knew the back roads,” Nick says. “About 5 miles away we abandoned this big white 1965 Chevrolet Impala station wagon.”
The two didn’t realize the impact their photo had until Woodstock’s 20th anniversary, when the world’s media began seeking them out. In fact, their memories of the original event have more to do with the scene than the music, because they were too far away to hear or see much.
“I remember the rain, the lack of toilets and the body odor,” Bobbi says.
“I also remember an orange haze from the glowing lights of the stage. It was everywhere, lighting up the sky.”
The pair had met only three months earlier, over Memorial Day weekend, at the bar where Nick worked. “This waiter brought this beautiful blond in one day and said, ‘This is my girlfriend; keep an eye on her,’” Nick explains. “Every night she stood in front of me and we got friendlier and friendlier. Then one weekend he made the mistake of leaving her home while he went to the shore with the guys and he never told her. That was the end of that. And the beginning of this.”
Despite all the time gone by, Nick says they still get recognized. “We were in Germany, and right when we walked into the hotel they knew who we were.”
As to why their photo was chosen, Nick has a theory. “It’s peaceful, which is what the event was about,” he says. “And it’s an honest representation of a generation. When we look at that photo I don’t see Bobbi and me. I see our generation.”
Set One:
Sensory Deprivation Bank -> Blue Jeans Pizza, Queen Of Everything,
Four, Crab Eyes, Happy Hour Hero, Raise A Glass -> St. Augustine
Set Two:
Zed Naught Z, Moth -> Dr. Graffenburg -> Yodelittle -> Zed Naught Z ->
Moth- > meat., Johnny Lineup
No encore: After meat. Al stated that there would be no encore, but
they were taking requests. Johnny Lineup was that request.
First off, Pine Mountain Amphitheater is a great little venue. Holds about 2,000 people, but last night it was rumored that only 500 tickets were sold and I believe it. It’s situated among huge pine trees and with the clear sky last night, had a great view of the stars.
moe. was great, as usual and culminated in a great second set. Chuck and Al were trading leads and complimenting each other like only they can do. Rob’s bass added an extra dimension which allowed the songs to really get out there. Can’t wait to hear the soundboards of this one.
1. Don’t Want You No More >
2. It’s Not My Cross To Bear
3. Done Somebody Wrong
4. Don’t Keep Me Wonderin’
5. Woman Across The River
6. Ain’t Wastin’ Time No More
7. Leave My Blues at Home
8. Revival
9. Melissa
Set II
with Fireworks display
10. Melissa
11. End Of The Line
12. Rocking Horse
13. Statesboro Blues
14. Midnight Rider
15. Whipping Post
Encore
16. One Way Out
Derek Trucks was on fire. Arguably the best contemporary slide guitar player. Derek fills the void left by Dwayne and yet has a style all his own.
(Set 1)
Viola Lee Blues
Bertha
Viola Lee Blues
Caution
Viola Lee Blues
Black Peter
Cosmic Charlie
(Set 2)
Shakedown Street
New Speedway Boogie
Scarlet Begonias
Fire on the Mountain
Drums >
Space
Dark Star
Wharf Rat
Dark Star
Satisfaction
(Encore)
One More Saturday Night
A great show overall. The first set was all Phil. Went old school for Viola Lee, Cosmic Charlie, Caution and Black Peter. Excellent Bertha. I loved the second set Shakedown opener. Great Scarlet>Fire and Warren rocked Wharf Rat. I ordered the SBD’s from Dead.net and as soon as a glitch is fixed, I’ll have the MP3’s. Can’t wait to listen to it again.
Drove part way back to Las Vegas the same night and camped out in the desert. It was a nice night to sleep under the stars.
Ticket prices were just announced for the 2009 Dead spring tour. The average price for a seat is $100. WTF? That’s being very ‘unDead.’ I was expecting something along the lines of what Phish is charging for their tour, around $50. Not to mention it’s only the Core Four plus Warren. I’m disappointed they’d do this to the fans.
To quote Phil in an interview a few days ago:
Presale tickets go on sale January 13 — and even though sold-out shows have been a way of life for The Dead, Lesh isn’t taking their fan base for granted. “It’s rough times. Of course it’s an object of concern,” he says. “All you can do is play the best music you can, and hope people can get out to hear it.”
Yes Phil, you can hope people get out to hear the music, and I’m sure the reality will be much different. But you have to ask, if he were still around, what would Jerry do?
I hate to say it, but I’m going to boycott this tour and just wait for a summer Ratdog tour.
2009 is off to a good start. The Dead announced a tour in the Spring, their first tour in four years. Bobby, Phil, Mickey and Billy will be joined with Jeff Chimenti from Ratdog on the keyboards and and one of my of my all time favorite and perhaps the most underrated guitar players of all time, Warren Haynes. I’m a little disappointed that only three shows take place west of the Rockies. One show in Denver, one in L.A. and one in Mountain View. Not exactly ‘tour’ friendly for those of us on the West coast. In any case, I’m going to the L.A. show, ticket or not. I haven’t had a good Shakedown Street experience in years. To me, it’s almost as fun and entertaining as the actual show. Can’t wait to get some good veggie burritos, goo balls and join in a drum circle.
Thank you for your request.
———–
3/6/2009
Phish – Ticket Request, Hampton Coliseum
Number of tickets requested: 1, GENADM
Ticket Delivery: UPS 2nd Day Air (Domestic)
———–
3/7/2009
Phish – Ticket Request, Hampton Coliseum
Number of tickets requested: 1, GENADM
Ticket Delivery: UPS 2nd Day Air (Domestic)
———–
3/8/2009
Phish – Ticket Request, Hampton Coliseum
Number of tickets requested: 1, GENADM
Ticket Delivery: UPS 2nd Day Air (Domestic)
Jerry week begins.
I was at the 7.9.95 show and for a moment was about 10 feet away from him. We all yelled “JERRY” and he turned around and waved and I remember his sallow skin and how worn out he looked. He died about a month later and is said to have died with a smile on his face. Maybe he was smiling because he knew of all the joy he brought to us. Or maybe he knew he was going to that great gig in the sky.
