Warlocks@Hampton 1989

       A lot of people , some would say, "lucked out" when the Boys decided to play Hampton under the guise of "The Warlocks".  A spur of the moment type booking , many Heads had already headed West for CA and ended up missing what I consider to be The Shows during a really transformative time in many of our lives, as well as the bands'. I had been traveling blissfully along with the Spinners, embracing new outlooks and approaches to life, working stuff out in heart and head.  The recent tragic death of one of our Family, Sandra, had hit me hard.  And  as Jerry tour came to a close, facing the trip West back home,  I was emotional and restless and had decided to split from the caravan and hitch off alone.  Hitching into the unknown has always brought me great comfort when stressed and confused.   We were in Maine at the time.   Not ready to head home, I ventured South, down to the Charleston, SC.  My last ride was quite memorable, as I found myself riding in pretty much the only car headed East into Charleston.  The majority of SC heading North and West, the other way, in an attempt to escape the wrath of Hurricane Hugo which hit a day or two after I arrived. Had I not taken this road less traveled, I likely would have missed these shows along with their significant breakouts of Help/Slip, DarkStar, Attics, and all. 

       Tickets were lying in the parking lot for this Grand Daddy of shows.  That fact has always struck me as so perfectly fitting for some reason. And as we reunited with those who had turned around and made it back in time, the parking lot before the show was electric, as we all knew something was up here at Ol' Hampton Roads".  Inside, the crew I was hanging with, well, we had all managed to get really, really high as  the second set was beginning.  And here's the moment of experience that I'll always cherish as one of the most beautiful of my life:  There was this girl dancing next to me, and as the first notes of Help were played, upon recognition of what was happening, She burst into tears of joy.  And when I say burst, I mean I physically saw a tear shoot out of her eye, high into the air punctuating the moment perfectily as we all collectively began one of the highest of Peaks.  That kind where you're bawling uncontrollably, yet giggling like a child at the same time. For me, definitely the most emotional and spiritual of my life so far.

Thanks for letting me share.  I got a lot more.....