07-23-1967
Straight Theater
San Francisco, California
Early in 1966, several San Francisco hippies, led by Reggie Williams, wanted to open a music venue and community center for the Haight. Over the next year, they renovated an old, dilapidated vaudeville and movie theater at 1702 Haight Street, converting it into the Straight on the Haight. The Grateful Dead, who had played several benefits for the effort, headlined a soft opening – The Straight Theater Christening – on June 15, 1967, the night before the start of the Monterey Pop Festival.
But on this day in 1967, the Dead shared the bill at the Straight Theater with Big Brother and the Holding Company, Phoenix, and Wildflower. At some point in the evening, the Dead invited Neal Cassady up on stage with them. Jerry introduces Neal, and then Cassady proceeds to rap – surely on acid and who knows what else – for about fifteen minutes while the Dead occasionally jam a little in the background. At the end of our recording, Pig and the band start in on what seems like a luscious Lovelight. But, unfortunately, the tape cuts out.
There are some rumors of a more complete recording out there, including more of the Lovelight and what might be the first Dark Star. The recording here is an interesting piece of history, no doubt, but we would love to get our ears on more.
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