'Jerry's Rain' | My Mystical Experience with The Dead

Article Contributed by Anonymous (not verified) | Published on Thursday, June 17, 2004

This a story about my own first mystical experience with the band.  I can't remember exactly what year...82 or 83, I believe.  It was Friday the 13th and we were at the Greek Theater in Berkley Cal.  It was a gorgeous day...mid 70s and not a cloud in the sky.  This was back in the day when sold out shows were simulcast outside the facility so you were assured of a good time even without a ticket.  I was selling and trading painters hats with the steal your face stamped on top and was gifted a set of berkeley community theater stubs to get me in the shows.

That night the band played Dark Star for the first time in 10 or so years. However this is not the experience I speak of.  That happened the next night.  Saturday was a very different day.  It was cold and foggy as only the bay area can be.  The clouds hovered just a few 100 feet above the street.  There was no physical mist but you expected it to rain at any moment. the whole day passed in this fashion but not a drop did fall until... at some point and you must forgive me cause the green gels were excellent, the clouds seemed to drop to just a few feet above the stage and speaker structure... well the band broke into cold rain and snow and coaxed the clouds closer and Phil began strumming sick twisted chords on his bass while Billy worked a rhythmic mix...then it happened...the rain began gently and worked its way to a steady drizzle.  After ten or so minutes the whole band appeared and broke into Franklins' and the rain stopped.

The following day was warm and cloudless and I had experienced the my first time the band effected the weather.  With fond memories I tell this tale and welcome all to share theirs here and to keep the wheel rolling. Peace and Love,  We Are Everywhere!