04-26-1969
Electric Theater
Chicago, Illinois
Let’s get it out of the way early, this is a stratospheric show. The early going is so good, particularly the brilliant, short Dark Star jam into China Cat, the latter of which is so fine with a rich, upbeat texture. A few tunes later, Phil lays down a raunchy bass line, Jerry lays in some sweet riffs, and Pig throws down in his ballin’ style on a rocking Hard to Handle. Immediately afterwards, the boys head into a methodically enchanting Cryptical. The drummers seem hesitant during their solo until the very end when they launch a powerful charge into The Other One. And that Other One eventually heads into a resplendent Eleven, eventually coming back to TOO for another verse that retains a hint of the carnivalesque sound of the Eleven. After It’s a Sin, the boys – with Jerry leading the way – touch off a beautiful, but achingly melancholy, Morning Dew. After a few more tunes, Bobby announces a “lady’s choice” as the band heads into a surly Stephen. After that, it is a 33-minute Lovelight before the band goes into full-on psychedelia for the last forty minutes of the show until the final We Bid You Goodnight.
The Dead released parts of this show, together with all of the next night at the Labor Temple in Minneapolis, as Dick’s Picks 26.
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