Saturday, January 25, 1969

as previous reviewers noted, there is some strange overlay of guitar-like keyboardy-synthy track (on Dark Star mainly as i recall). it is not an easy call; it could possibly be a weird miking issue, or some unusual occurence at a show (the Boys did a lot of social gigs, "everyone get on the stage and bang on something!". Or, some musician taping themself, doing a pretty good job of jamming with the Dead. But that was only on like one tune, so that "distraction" isn't there afterward.

This was the first bootleg I ever came across and I don't remember there being any keyboard on it like this. Ever. I think someone may have added a track. Any thoughts? Am I completely off base? However, this concert is, to me, one of the finest ever when the Dead were less of an institution than they were an innovative, compelling, and absolutely unique musical experience. Their art shines in this concert like in few others, to this degree.