Dec 31st, 1969 - Boston Tea Party

Boston Tea Party
Boston, MA
Dec 31st, 1969

Well here we are at the end of an amazing year and to celebrate it we have the Dead in Boston doing an amazing New Year's Eve gig. There is a poster for this gig but I thought this ad for a Pigpen look alike contest was just too classic not to mention.

Boston Tea Party - Dec 31st, 1969

Dec 26th, 1969 - McFarlin Auditorium

McFarlin Auditorium
Dallas, TX
Dec 26th, 1969

Another acoustic set starts this show with a very rare Master's Bouqet followed by Black Peter. The electric set contains the newly introduced New Speedway Boogie written about the incident at Altamont Free Concert with the Stones on Dec 6th.

McFarlin Auditorium - Dec 26th, 1969

Dec 19th, 1969 - Fillmore Auditorium

Fillmore Auditorium
San Francisco, CA
Dec 19th, 1969

If you asked me when 1970 really started I would have to say that this show is the beginning of 1970. Now fully integrated into their Working Man's Dead material including Mason's Children, Jerry and Bobby play a short acoustic set while they wait for Phil to show up and...There you have it! Acoustic Dead.

Fillmore Auditorium - Dec 19th, 1969

Dec 13th, 1969 - Swing Auditorium

Swing Auditorium
San Bernardino, CA
Dec 13th, 1969

This show is a great sounding soundboard for the late months of 69 when compared to the Fillmore West run and others just weeks before it and marks a further step towards their 1970 sound with the inclusion of Cumberland Blues.

Swing Auditorium - Dec 13th, 1969

Nov 7th & 8th - Fillmore Auditorium

Fillmore Auditorium
San Francisco, CA
Nov 7th & 8th, 1969

These two nights at the Fillmore Auditorium are truly spectacular. The second night was chosen for Dick's Picks Volume 16 and its clear why but, here for you listening pleasure, is the first night of this amazing two night run. These shows truly begin to lead into what was to be the Dead's sound in 1970.

Fillmore Auditorium - Nov 7th, 1969

Oct 25th, 1969 - Winterland Arena

Winterland Arena
San Francisco, CA
Oct 25th, 1969

Only a partial recording, which I generally stray away from for this blog but a great classic set none the less. They really were one of the greatest live acts out there.

Winterland Arena - Oct 25th, 1969

Sept 6th & 7th - At the Family Dog

Family Dog on the Great Highway
San Francisco, CA
Sept 6th & 7th, 1969

These two nights at the Family Dog are true jems. The first night has some highlights including Jerry singing on Good Lovin and the return of Big Boy Pete but it is really the second night that shines out the brightest as the band along with some of the members of Jefferson Airplane rock through some classic rock-a-billy tunes drunk off their gourd. Although not for everyone, this night is diamond in the rough without a doubt.

Family Dog - Sept 6th, 1969
Family Dog - Sept 7th, 1969

Sept 1st - New Orleans Pop Festival

Baton Rouge International Speedway
New Orleans Pop Festival
Prairieville, LA
Sept 1st, 1969

This is a solid show as the band begin to introduce their Working Man's Dead material with songs like Casey Jones, High Time, and Easy Wind.

New Orleans Pop Festival - Sept 1st, 1969

Aug 29th, 1969 - Live at the Family Dog

Family Dog on the Great Highway
San Francisco, CA
Aug 29th, 1969

It can be hard to find good recordings of the Dead at the Family Dog but this is one of them. A special highlight is the New Orleans>Searching>Good Lovin (with Jerry on vocals for Lovin). Enjoy.

Live at the Family Dog - Aug 29th, 1969

Woodstock 69

Max Yasgur's Farm
Woodstock Festival
Bethel, NY
Aug 16th, 1969

Although this show has been proclaimed by the band as one of their worst performances and many, I suppose would agree with them. I on the other hand have always loved this performance, maybe it is my secret love for flawed or damaged things or the fact that this show was one of my first introductions to the Dead. Many people search for the definitive versions or the shows with the highest energy and those shows are great, but for me this show will always be special for what makes it not definitive.

Woodstock - Aug 16th, 1969

July 7th, 1969 - Piedmont Park

Piedmont Park
Atlanta, GA
July 7th, 1969

This show was a free concert held a few days after the Atlanta Pop Festival and the Dead shine with a stellar performance which included the newly introduced Casey Jones.

Piedmont Park - July 7th, 1969

July 3rd, 169 - Reed's Ranch

Reed's Ranch
Colorado, CO
July 3rd, 1969

Another show from that special and short lived part of the 1969 tour with Jerry on slide doing some country-folk songs like Green, Green of Home and Slewfoot.

Reed's Ranch - July 3rd, 1969

June 28th, 1969 - Veteran's Auditorium

Veteran's Auditorium
Santa Rosa, CA
June 28th, 1969

This show is part of a short lived but special part of the 1969 tour with Jerry playing slide guitar for couple of country-folk songs like Slewfoot and Silver Threads and Golden Needles just before the material from Working Man's Dead takes over.

Veteran's Auditorium - June 28th, 1969

June 5th, 7th, 8th, 1969 - Fillmore West

Fillmore West
San Francisco, CA
June 5th, 7th, 8th, 1969

Another 4 night run at the Fillmore West and these were definitely some special shows. The first night is solid and probably my favorite of the run but two nights later on the 7th is the first Dire Wolf and features Janis Joplin of Lovelight. The next night and final of the run features the last ever New Potato Caboose and special guests in the second set with Wayne Ceballos on Lovelight and then Elvin Bishop with Pigpen for two blues songs. There was something special in the air at the Fillmore West in 69.

Fillmore West - June 5th, 1969
Fillmore West - June 7th, 1969
Fillmore West - June 8th, 1969

May 23rd & 24th, 1969 - Seminole Indian Village

Seminole Indian Village
Hollywood, FL
May 23rd & 24th, 1969

Good vibes on the Seminole Village Reserve.

Seminole Indian Village - May 23rd, 1969
Seminole Indian Village - May 24rd, 1969

Dick's Picks: Volume 26

Electric Theater
Chicago, IL
April 26th, 1969

Labor Temple
Minneapolis, MN
April 27th, 1969

I would be remiss not to mention this Dick's Picks release along the road of 1969. Although I don't always agree with Dick Latvala's cherry picking instead of representing the shows as they actually were, there is no doubt that he picked some great shows to represent the band. A definite must for any Deadhead.

April 21st-23rd - Live at the Ark

The Ark
Boston, MA
April 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 1969

What can I say? Another great 3 night run, this time in Boston.

The Ark - April 21st, 1969
The Ark - April 22nd, 1969
The Ark - April 23rd, 1969

April 5th, 1969 - Avalon Ballroom

Avalon Ballroom
San Francisco, CA
April 5th, 1969

The second night of a three night run at the Avalon. The shows in San Francisco are really the greatest time pieces for the Dead in 69 and this one is another fine example of what it was like to be there, another 'Cosmic Charlie' in the crowd.


Avalon Ballroom - April 5th, 1969

March 28th, 1969 - Modesto, CA

Student Center
Modesto, CA
Mar 28th, 1969

Another excellent recording brought to us by Charlie Miller.

Modesto, CA - Mar 28th, 1969

Live at the Fillmore West

Fillmore West
San Francisco, CA
Feb 27th-Mar 3rd, 1969

The four night run which spurned "Live/Dead" the first ever live recording recorded with 16 tracks. Officially released as a limited edition box-set in 2005, this run is a definite must for any Deadhead....I'm sure. It looks crazy, but sadly I'm still trying to get a copy for myself.

Feb 22nd, 1969 - Dream Bowl

Dream Bowl
Vallejo, CA
Feb 22nd, 1969

Another great show from early months of 69. What more can I say.

Live at the Dream Bowl - Feb 22nd, 1969

Feb 7th, 1969 - Stanley Theater

Stanley Theater
Pittsburgh, PA
Feb 7th, 1969

Just after their two show opening stint for Iron Butterfly, the Dead play in Pittsburgh with an unlikely Velvet Underground. I'm quoting this from someone on archive but apparently Lou Reed said to Jerry 'You fuckin paisleyassedflowerpickers couldn't stand a week of Chelsea!' Hilarious.

Stanley Theater - Feb 7th, 1969 (Early)
Stanley Theater - Feb 7th, 1969 (Late)

In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida: Pt. 2

Kiel Auditorium
St. Louis, MO
Feb 6th, 1969

The second show the Dead opened for Iron Butterfly. After Lovelight you can hear Jerry say that IB is coming up but apparently they were too intimidated and the band went on to play some more phenomenal songs. This show is a definite keeper for historical, humorous, and stellar reasons.

Kiel Auditorium - Feb 6th, 1969

In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida: Pt. 1

Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium
Kansas City, KS
Feb 5th, 1969

The first of two shows in which the Dead opened for Iron Butterfly and totally knocked them out of the water. This and the following show are simply outstanding performances and its a miracle that any band could try and go on after them.

Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium - Feb 5th, 1969

Jan 24th & 26th, 1969 - Avalon Ballroom

Avalon Ballroom
San Francisco, CA
Jan 24th-26th, 1969

This 3 day run at the Avalon Ballroom is the Dead's first attempt at 16 track recording and were the first recordings made for the 'Live/Dead' album. Although the experiment with 16 track recording experienced some difficulties these recordings are still great time pieces to that very special time period of the Dead in 1969 and marked the beginning of a stellar year. The first show has the first Dupree's Diamond Blues and first Doin that Rag and the 3rd show has a great and rare Clementine. Sadly the second show of the night suffers from an overly high organ in the mix which makes it somewhat unlistenable.

Avalon Ballroom - Jan 24th, 1969
Avalon Ballroom - Jan 26th, 1969