2/19/71 - show #2 of a six-show run at the Capitol Theatre. This night finds the original quintet quickly regrouping, after the sudden departure of Mickey Hart, after the previous night’s show. The band came into this run with guns blazing, and lots of new songs, and it was that momentum that kept them going.
This evening featured the debuts of “Deal” and “Bird Song”, both of which are raw and to the point (a year later, both songs will be be giant), as well as several that were premiered the night before - “Playin’ In The Band”, “Wharf Rat”, “Bertha”, “Loser”, “Greatest Story Ever Told”, as well as their first stab at “Johnny B Goode”. I cannot imagine being a fan and coming into one of these shows and hearing these songs for the very first time. These would all go down as Grateful Dead classics, remaining in rotation until the very end. While nothing compares to a ‘73/74 version of any one of these songs, these initial takes are solid and quite fun.
This entire run was recorded for Skullfuck, and was absolute 🔥 but none of it was used. While the original album is essential listening, this run (esp this set) is well worth seeking out.
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