This was probably the most surreal Jerry or GD show I have ever attended. I took the bus downtown in the afternoon, well aware of the riots going on in LA. Trouble was starting downtown already. There were police helicopters hovering low, busses running on alternate streets and some broken windows downtown. When the sun went down, things went from bad to worse. As others have mentioned, the police made an announcement that they were getting things squared away outside, so they were keeping the bar open after the show and we should stay inside till further notice. When they finallly gave the all-clear, things were definitely not all clear. Instead of catching the bus right out front of the Warfield, we had to walk the LONG block down to Mission. It looked like a war zone. Stores with windows smashed out and looted, burned out cars and dumpsters still on fire. You could hear gun fire all around. The cops said to travel in groups, which was sort of a good idea. Of course, the Dead Heads were sympathetic to the rioters, because we were all appalled at what happened to Rodney King. Our group of about 20, all headed to the same bus stop, tried to be as low profile and non threatening as we could. The anger from the rioters was palpable.

Then of course, some drunk started to mouth off to the rioters and all hell broke loose. We were attacked and I heard one of the rioters yell to leave the women but kill the guys. This became one of the times where you don’t have to outrun the bear, just the guy you’re hiking with. I didn’t know any of the people in the group, so I ran for my life. People were getting stomped left and right, and just as I was about to sucomb to the fray a taxi came speeding up out of nowhere. About 8 of us kiterally dove into the cab and the guy took off with the doors still open. The back window was smashed out, not sure if something was thrown or it was shot out. Had that taxi not appeared just then, I really don’t know what might have happened, but nothing good for sure.

The taxi driver was an old beatnik and he was sort of amused that we were coming from a Jerry show. We drove all over the city, dropping people off where they lived and he said no charge for the ride. We all gave him all the money we had in our pockets becasue he literally saved our lives.

I have PTSD in large crowds to this day, and unfortunately, I don’t remember the music from this show at all.

Definitely one of the stranger nights I’ve had in this long strange trip I call my life.