It always feels special when I can reach way back in the archives for some truly 'primal' Dead, and this week's show certainly fits. This is a fabulous show from September 3rd, 1967 at a dance hall in Rio Nido CA. There were supposedly a very small crowd, perhaps as few as 25 there, but as Phil recalled later, " This was recorded at a Russian River resort ballroom on Sunday night of Labor Day Weekend - I don't think there were more than 25 people there, but we played our little hearts out for them anyway. " Garcia and Lesh are endlessly inventive on these songs; and while there are plenty of flaws and dropouts I think the pure joy of hearing the band at this time in their youth more than makes up for it. Pigpen in particular is outstanding, and the places Jerry takes the jams, for example in the opening 'Midnight Hour' is outstanding.

Grateful Dead

Dance Hall Rio Nido, CA

9/3/67 - Sunday

One

In The Midnight Hour ;

Dancing In The Streets ;

It Hurts Me Too ;

Cold Rain And Snow ;

Good Morning Little Schoolgirl# ;

#Viola Lee Blues >

Big Boss Man (1) ;

Alligator (2)

(1) introduced as "an old song"

(2) no "Caution" yet, it simply returns to the shouted "Alligator" refrain & then ends

You can listen to this week's Deadpod here:

http://traffic.libsyn.com/deadshow/deadpod090718.mp3

Hope you had a short week and, like me, glad for it to be Friday!