Dead of the Day: 06-05-1970
Fillmore West
San Francisco, California
Our Dead of the Day was a tough choice between two Fillmore West shows in ’69 and ’70. But we ended up going with the latter for its sensational acoustic set and epic second half. The show starts off with a Dire Wolf that is sure to please. However, the acoustic I Know You Rider that follows it is even better – rough, yet totally pristine. Jerry does a superlative job and puts in the extra verse, “I’d rather drink muddy water…” for one of the all-time best renditions. Bobby answers right back vocally with a lovely Silver Threads and Golden Needles. The acoustic set continues in similar fashion, with the boys providing some beautiful music.
The second half kicks off with a hot Cold Rain and Snow, so refined from sixties versions, but with a psychedelic undertone still remaining. But the heart of the show and the highlight of the night has to begin with The Other One suite, which starts off so dark and moody then rips through The Other One with an insane, face-melting, driving jam in the middle before coming back into Cryptical one more time. Then the Dead transition from that mess of iniquity into one of the most lovely pieces of music the band ever played in Attics of My Life. From there, they head right back into pure sin and bodily tremulations with a scintillating Hard to Handle. Pig starts off dominating the tune with his relentless, macho rapping before the rest of the band takes over with an overwhelmingly hot jam, like a pinball on acid, careening to and fro in perfect, harmonious chaos only to come around for another chorus, all somehow contained in only seven minutes of music. The show never lets up as the boys pile on a stellar It’s A Man’s World and Uncle John’s before surprising everyone with a blistering late-set Stephen that blows the doors off. Finally, they finish it all off with a solid Casey Jones.

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