07-07-1969
Piedmont Park
Atlanta, Georgia
Between a show at the Electric Theater in Chicago two nights prior and another the next night at the Rock Pile in Toronto (for which there is no extant recordings), the Dead somehow hustled down to Atlanta to play a free festival in Piedmont Park. They topped a bill that included Delaney and Bonnie, Spirit, and Chicago. Rumors have Duane and Gregg Allman sitting in on the Lovelight, but we don’t really hear it. Of course, that does not mean it did not happen; give it a listen yourself.
Morning Dew starts things off, epically high-energy with some serious guitar work from Jerry. A little faster paced Mama Tried comes next before High Time. Then just the seventh Casey Jones ever rolls out minus the opening riff that would become so familiar, providing a little unexpected treat. But then it is on to the meat of the show, starting with a prodigious Dark Star that has a nearly fifteen minute intro jammed to the hilt. And the latter portion descends into seriously spacey territory with Jerry and TC both offering lovely contributions while Billy and Mickey keep things ever so slightly grounded. Eventually, it all morphs into a juicy St. Stephen that cascades into a kaleidoscopic Eleven, romping with lots of TC-fueled fills setting off the raging Jerry-driven fifteen-minute lovable monster. Then the set ends with Pig taking center stage on a colossal Lovelight, clocking in at nearly forty minutes, delivering yet another command performance of the classic.
Today’s Dead of the Day:
Other July 7th Shows and Recordings:
- 1975 – Ace’s Studio – Mill Valley, California
- 1978 – Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, Colorado
- 1981 – Kansas City Municipal Auditorium Arena – Kansas City, Missouri
- 1984 – Alpine Valley Music Theater – East Troy, Wisconsin
- 1986 – Robert F. Kennedy Stadium – Washington, DC
- 1987 – Roanoke Civic Center – Roanoke, Virginia
- 1989 – John F. Kennedy Stadium – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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