Friday, May 23, 1969

Well well, the previous show I heard from 1969 was 4/21/69 at the Ark in Boston. It was good but flawed. What a difference a month makes. It doesn't even sound like the same band they are SO much better for this show. Yes it's a short show, is this the whole thing?, but the vulnerability that Bob exhibits on Me And My Uncle parred with the guitar virtuosity of Jerry on Dark Star, more than makes up for the show's brevity. Damn this is some beautiful stuff, I kid you not.

This is a spectacular sounding copy of this show, certainly a sonic upgrade from the older tape, and I strongly recommend it. This is also one of the peak performances of this year, with an absolutely stellar Dark Star, and also the rest of the Stephen>Eleven>Lovelight medley is outstanding too, with an especially energetic Pigpen on Lovelight. The Morning Dew early in the set is also a very strong keeper rendition, one of the best 69 versions.