19860706 Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty

July 6, 1986

First up, Dead, Dylan, and Petty. I got tickets via mail-order. I filled out a form and sent in a check. It worked. I bought 4 tickets. Myself and best friend Dave Brown went to the show together (first of many). The other pair was for a high school friend Steve Miller. Steve and I went through school form 5th grade to graduation. He paid me for the tickets and I never saw him again. 

Dave Brown and I arrived for the show at RFK stadium in DC around noon. This day was one of the hottest of the year, like 104 degrees. We went on the field and had a good spot close to the stage. I guess we got there a little too early. Finally, when Tom Petty took the stage to open the show we were really pumped up! But then the crowd really started to fill in and did I mention it was really hot. How the show worked is that Petty would play a couple songs, then Bob Dylan would do a couple of his, and they would go back and forth. By the time Dylan and Petty finished up their set, we decided to move to the shade in the seats. We were both sun burned to a crisp, but it was better than staying on the field. 

We were really there for Dylan and Petty and not really into the Grateful Dead. We enjoyed the band, but just not really familiar with their music. We left when they started their Space set and we were both beat.

Setlist 

Edit this setlist | More Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers setlists

Edit this setlist | More Bob Dylan & Tom Petty setlists

Edit this setlist | More Grateful Dead setlists

Mister Roberts

While this was only a play, it’s one of my first live performances I remember. In 4th grade a teacher knew I raised goats. The play, Mister Roberts, was being performed at the Naval Academy and there was a part that called for a goat. I provided the goat. They provided me with tickets to see the play, and my goat in the play. My first theater experience.

I could only find the movie poster.

About this Blog

One of the questions you may ask when reading this, why didn’t I attend any professional concerts until I was out of high school? Two reasons mainly. Money was the first reason. I put the funds that I had into computers and technology at the time. Keep in mind that this was not a lot of money, but that’s how I used what money I had.

The other reason, I did see many concerts. My fathers band, The Gunsmokes, provided all the free entertainment I could handle. Throughout my childhood I went with the band to various venues and fairs. It was great to be able to go to various fairs and have the run of the place. There were perks to being with the band! So now you may be wondering about this band.

Charles Young Sr. (my father) started the band, The Gunsmokes, in 1972. This was formed with my brother Charles Jr. (CJ) on lead guitar and vocals, Paul Farthing on bass, and Barry Wietzel on drums. As with many local bands, the lineup changed over the years, but my father and brother were the lead players. 

The Gunsmokes played venues around central Maryland mainly. Occasionally playing on the Eastern Shore, southern Maryland, and southern Pennsylvania. Once they were established, they played exclusively at private clubs, private parties, weddings, and fairs. Basically anywhere a band normally plays, except bars. My father hated the riff-raft that came through public bars and refused to play them. And he didn’t need to.

The Gunsmokes were playing at minimum twice a weekend, usually 4-5 times a weekend. Many other bands played twice a month. The band played Top 40 and country/western. Also while performing they had a couple skits and jokes they would put on. This wasn’t ground breaking music by any means, but the crowds really enjoyed it and the band had a good time performing. This is entertainment was about in the 1970’s and 80’s. You went out and had fun. Everyone had a good time.

My father died on-stage, May 19, 1991. Playing music until literally his last breath.