York Farm - April 26, 1970

York Farm - April 26, 1970 Five stars not enough for this one!
Just as the Dead were tuning up, there was an aerial bombardment from a monoplane plowing furrows like a speed boat in blue sky - I swear I saw him (Kesey?) lean out the window and give the peace sign!
Multi-colored peaces of paper fluttering into the trees to the NE. Everybody was waiting for instructions, looking at the Dead, who were looking at the trees.
A female voice off mike said something like, "go ahead and get the blotters - they won't start playing until you get the blotters," like you won't miss anything...
Jerry & Pigpen kind of nodded, and the blotters were retrieved.
Lovelight came early (so did I), and I remember Pigpen grunting, and Jerry tilting the red SG (I could swear it had the Bigsby tailpiece, but it's not in the photos) and ripples of paisley or something with those Blue Bland horn riffs. Everybody took their hands out of their pockets...
The Other One appeared early on its own, and later as part of "That's It For The Other One."
They must have played every song they knew - 4-5 hours - Dark Star at sunset -St. Stephen caused Turquoise Navajo rug/Tibetan mandala diamonds and triangles.
Very dry and dusty - water from tanker truck(s), which ran dry and made a run for a refill. When the truck returned, the driver hit the air horn with a syncopated synchronistic "Honk-Honk" - right in time w/the jam.
My friend Laurel said she saw Kesey and was sure he vibed at her that he "wanted" her. He wants everybody, Laurel, but then, everybody wants you, anyway...
After the Dead, Kesey ("everybody light a match!") consulted the oracle and got "Fire in the Heavens - Possession in Great Measure." I forget which hexagram # that is.
That meant either something really great - or we would be busted for possession (in great measure). I'll have to check Confucius' commentary.

http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/whi/results.asp?pageno=1&keyword1=obranovich&keyword2=sound+storm&keyword3=grateful+dead&search_field1=collection_name&search_field2=&search_field3=description&boolean_type1=and&boolean_type2=and&subject_broad_id=&subject_broad=&subject_narrow_id=&subject_narrow=&decade=&genre=&genre_text=&wi_county_code=&wi_county_text=&added_within=&sort_by=date&search_type=advanced&results_relevancy=

I helped set up the stage for this rock festival. It was the first time I saw the Grateful Dead play. Can't say I understood their importance yet. But, it was different. Wasn't until I heard the "Live Dead" album that I got it.