8/3/69: family dog at the great highway, san francisco, CA.

here's a very unusual gig worth checking out from chet helms' short-lived rock dance club. part of what makes this night atypical, is the addition of a few jazz players: electric violinist michael white and saxophonist/flutist charles lloyd, who bring a distinct vibe to the mix. the intro stuff is solid (including a rare high-heeled sneakers with garcia and mckernan singing alternate verses), but it’s the final 70 minutes that makes this performance so special. both the dark star—with lloyd’s sax work and white’s improvisational touches—and the set-ending alligator > other one > caution > we bid you goodnight is, without a doubt, some of the most interesting 1969 grateful dead committed to tape. recorded by bear, with a swell digital transfer by charlie miller, this night at the family dog is one i'm happy to queue up at any moment's notice.

https://archive.org/details/gd1969-08-03.sbd.miller.30652.sbeok.flac16/gd69-08-03d2t03.flac