Grateful Dead—Piedmont Park, Atlanta, GA, July 7, 1969
w/The Allman Brothers, Spirit, Chicago Transit Authority, Delaney & Bonnie, and Hampton Grease Band
On a steamy Monday in early July of ’69, the Grateful Dead and a host of other bands played a free concert in Atlanta’s Piedmont Park as a thank-you to all of the fans who attended the Atlanta Pop Festival several days earlier. The fact that the Dead played a free show that had them flying to Atlanta for the gig is a bit strange, given that their financial resources were quite tight at that juncture. We can only imagine this was a publicity thing, as the band had no real following in the southeast at that time.
The Dead’s performance is a real barn burner and is not to be missed. From the opening Morning Dew, you can tell the lads came to play. Some other highlights include a sublimely poignant take on High Time, a funky early version of Casey Jones with a very groovy intro, and a colossal Dark Star suite that'll leave your brain in ashes. And if that wasn't enough mojo, they still have room in the tank for a 37-minute Turn On Your Lovelight finale with Gregg Allman on keys, probably Duane on guitar, and perhaps the Chicago horns. Word is that there was a large multi-band jam session after the Dead played, although no recordings seem to exist. Fingers crossed that a tape of that jam rears its head someday.