grateful dead 1968-10-13 avalon with lightshow

grateful dead at the avalon balroom san francisco ca.10-13-68.lightshow by marmalade sky. / marmaladelights

[@captaincoconut8967]

I love this band

[@jamesfairfield3593]

Must've jammed to this show at least a hundred times, never ever, gets old ..sounds fresh n new everytime

[@massey1231000]

This is one of the best long song back to back shows I've ever heard.its amazing lately how timeless and diverse it is. Everything happens for a reason.i was goin through a negative patch and to say this music isn't motivational and inspiring is a major understatement .im older now and I'm still a musician,they achieved their purpose in inspiring me in alot of ways just when I needed it the most.and they came back.one love.

[@stefanschleps8758]

One love brother man. We fell you. Stay focused. Resist less. And just go with the flow. Even a blind man knows when the sun is shining. Serenity. NFA.

[@jonathansheehan3121]

Love love love

[@cron0113]

0:00 Dark Star 13:32 St Stephen 18:26 The Eleven 31:38 Death Don't Have No Mercy 40:58 That's It for the Other One 59:22 New Potato Caboose 1:09:07 Feedback

[@eminem13001]

Just an epic dark star

[@sweet.n.soursauce]

@@eminem13001 absolutely mindblowing

[@yousleeze1]

Tasty! Thanks 😊

[@daveanthony2959]

Thanks

[@ryancarey766]

Much thanks

[@Aldebaron9]

Ahhhhh... wonderful sounds of hypnotic, pulsating, psychedelic, acid rock, true sixties style... At one time it dominated the airwaves.

[@franklinrussell3042]

Those days were sublime

[@stevenhk8856]

This never dominated the airwaves. Grateful Dead? This was niche stuff even on the "underground" rock stations.

[@AnthonyMonaghan]

Possibly the best Grateful Dead show I have heard. Astounding energy from start to finish. The peak. The best Version of Death Don't Have No Mercy hands down. Thank you so much.

[@ClueSign]

Totally agree -- so solid, so in the pocket, and yet beyond this earth all at once. Every band member so completely on.

[@AnthonyMonaghan]

ClueSign Righteous!

[@joeherbert7555]

This was an instant favorite the minute I recieved the 90 minute maxell, back around 1983. There were some early problems trying to track down the lineage, but i'm sure my copy (initially titled 10-13-68, then 10-22-68, as well as some others) was a compilation from a few shows. But the bulk of the jams come from this night of sheer musical madness. This one's for the hard core heads, no doubt about it.

[@jamesroof6150]

If I was stranded on a remote island and I could have only one year of dead to listen to, it would be 1968. Raw sparkling brilliance

[@barne3668]

100 percent agree I never tire of this era of the Dead. Jerry was truly a wonder in all the epic shows. I run out of adjetives trying to describe the primal dead.Awesome sums it up

[@jamesroof6150]

@@barne3668 Pigen Dead and epic Dark Star journeys hooked me in 1973. All years are fantastic but that 68-71 era expanded my 14 year old mind but good

[@calebbernstein5163]

its crazy how much life they've lived and we've lived though these incredible passages of time!

[@aprilriddle4740]

In MAD CRAZY IN LOVE W/THIS❤️🙏🤩🤷🏻‍♀️🫶😍I cant stop listening to it over & over & over!!! ThankGod FOR This band❤️🙏❤️🙏❤️🫶

[@ghost2031]

Love me some 68' Grateful Dead.

[@baileyfurio2327]

The eleven is just a fantastic ride everytime.

[@pammcneil6270]

I feel sorry for all those satellite radio listeners who may not know better, and are fed a diet of nothing but 80s-90s live bootlegs. This destroys all that.

[@letsplayclassicgames5024]

Pam McNeil I noticed that the other day, wife got a new car that has XM Radio on it and nothing but 80's and 90's shows with a couple Europe 72' tracks here and there. Although I'm newer to the grateful dead, there's something so special about '72 and back Dead it's a shame they don't play more of those early shows.

[@markhorton3041]

The Peacemakers Channel 23 on XM Radio is a Grateful Dead channel and nothing else.

[@ClueSign]

Mark Horton I think he's complaining about the GD Channel on Sirius. I complain too but when I'm driving I like to try to guess the year of the live recording based on how shredded Jerry's voice is, the tempos, the tone of his guitar, and for example if Donna is singing. You won't hear ANY very early stuff like this on the GD Channel-- but the other day I heard a decent 1971 Santa Barbara show. The Internet Archive is still the best place for true archivists to go to listen to old live shows.

[@jstantino]

Sirius bought over XM it is Sirius XM. Anyway this show has opened me to the feel of primal dead. Holy shit I’ve enjoyed Avery aspect of discovering and learning this bands vast musical catalogue and different styles throughout the many years of musicianship. Words can not describe it. This is the best band ever

[@jacksprat3009]

@@letsplayclassicgames5024 - The early Dead were a raw, revolutionary, energy producing, turn-you-on band carrying the psycodelic universe message around the world to those who tuned in. Sometime in the late 70's they became a well oiled machine, suitable for commercial radio and TV. Had to happen i s'pose.

[@bluesriot2]

just saw a KZbin of the Beatles rooftop concert, and was blown away at how tight they were and the lack of gadgetry to pull off that in-fucking-credible show, glad to find this right after so as to realize just how lucky we are to have had this abundance of absolutely amazing audio grace our earwaves , miracles everywhere

[@malgorium]

this is where i go when things get rough ...

[@capnjimmy805]

Yeah, Really. The best Mantra ever is “the Grateful Dead”.

[@robsgirl6465]

malgorium : me too

[@sometimeswelivenoparticula2678]

ha, me too!

[@chrisrutherford3]

I feel fortunate to have been able to check out of the daily reality grind & catch a Dead show or twelve. Its not the same anymore. It used to be like going home, no matter if you'd been away from the scene for one month or one year+. I'm glad that most of the bands still out there doing what they do but I'd give almost anything to have Jerry & the olden days (65-95) back again.

[@hikesteepfishhigh]

this is where i stay... times are always rough....

[@JOHNILYSM67]

Thanks so much for posting. Lightshow is great work. 68 was for sure THE best year!!!

[@MERRYJERRYL]

+JOHNILYSM67.......... YES 1967 THRU DEC 1970 WERE THE PEAK YEARS.............HIGHEST PEAK WAS SPRING TOUR 1969.............BUT 1968 WOULD BE THE BEST YEAR WITH 1969 COMING IN AT A CLOSE second or tying 1968..........DEAD 1985 THRU 1995 IS A DIFFERENT TRIP........DOES NOT EVEN come close to 1968..............

[@veneta72]

love the enthusiasm.

[@erasmusomnius]

need to go to bed, but I can't stop listening to this.

[@willieluncheonette5843]

OMG the young Dead busting a step. The Eleven is my all time fav Dead song. Brings back so many memories.

[@johnferguson5056]

Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!! haven't checked in for awhile. wonderful to stop at ur spot here.........enjoyed and remembered

[@myopiadesign]

One of the best shows they ever did... brilliant

[@experimentalelectronica5016]

This is one intense Darkstar. Weir is jabbing those A chords like a madman. Phil and Jerry having a separate conversation that only They could...

[@rickfitzgerald4426]

Great concert! Early, engaged, and flowing. The light show was special also. One of the better. Great to melt to

[@daskitten1]

Great job with the visuals, & of course thx for the show!

[@philipcanale1521]

This is why I fell in love with Garcia and the dead because of the way they just opened up the mind the space if you could get a you were better than most people guy brings you back to great times

[@hermenutic]

Absolutely classic. Ten thumbs up for this one. The visuals ...whew! Great job.

[@marcusteblano6376]

This a mind blowing performance. The best version of the Live Dead set I've heard off of the album. The Anthem material is equally good. If this is a compilation from different shows then that brings the bar down a little, but none the less an amazing listening experience. The best jam rock ever done IMHO. Nothing else comes close, except the Allmans Live at the Fillmore East 1971.

[@jahrojasexqsys5238]

Its so amazing how this band managed to form and develop let alone how they survived and thrived by going off on a 90 degree tangent from everything else any other band was doing

[@calebbernstein5163]

osmosis

[@johnzias284]

I guess after '74 or so, they got self conscious about going to these really special places. I'm just happy to have caught this in real time, though it has cost me an occasional disconnect with later era fans at times.

[@donaldgehre5964]

Good point. How many times can you open the door and expect to see?

[@jacksprat1124]

Well, they got so big, the audiences got huge, the acid stopped flowing, and they got older - all of it took its toll. But the early days it was new, mind blowing expansion, wide open, free, the audience interacting with the band, creating magic acid communication flowing back and forth building, ebbing, changing, fountains of crescendos, vast spaces to explore...

[@capnjimmy805]

The great Visuals seem to be made just for the Music & vice-versa. Jerry’s Guitaring is always great, but in this one I’m especially impressed by Bobby’s crisp, chiming Rhythm Guitar playing. Thanks for posting. Simply Timeless !

[@bills.7175]

Great light show, beautifully synced; well done!

[@Pyramidtone]

Garcia Expression on a Gibson - Cosmoheavenly

[@johnhockett1648]

50 years ago still I am taken to a place where I was all those years ago.

[@dantean]

The psych ward still taking admissions?

[@newusernamehere4772]

That place is everywhere at all times, if you can see it. If you can't, better start praying boy!

[@markhorton3041]

Thank you Marmalade Sky for this beautiful light show and great upload!!

[@soyounoat]

1968-10-12 is also essential listening. It is certainly among the best from the amazing late 1968 period.

[@jonathansheehan3121]

When I listen to this so do my neighbors

[@cryptoroseaz]

The Dead were way ahead of their time. Minds were blown.

[@deckard2665]

"minds were blown"... and minds were melted, and continually are.🙂

[@bills.7175]

We still haven’t caught up with the Dead yet; probably won’t in my lifetime.

[@uncasist]

This was their best era (for live playing) by far their Zenith 68-70. I think Garcia said they stopped playing all these complicated songs because they were so hard to pull off well.

[@cycloptical26]

+uncasist Agreed. I'd go as far as 10/74, Winterland. After that, it just was not the same.

[@jacksprat3009]

+uncasist - Strong magical theater feeds on the interaction between the stage and the audience which the Dead and the audiences on pure acid which could lift the whole thing into another sphere. IMO think it would be impossible to maintain that "height" for longer than it did. They carried it on losing more and more of the experimentation, fun and spontaneity, while becoming more "professional" and expanding their music and world dates. Later audiences came drunk, on downers, speed or looking for the band to do it all. Thank Heaven they recorded these early live performances - so when we are in a certain "place" we may experience the magic in them.

[@marcusteblano6376]

+uncasist I'd go as far as '69. My theory has always been that they did too much acid in too short a time and burned themselves out of all their energy. They then moved on to other drugs themselves, never mind the audience, as commented below.

[@thomasbedell4770]

+Marcus Teblano don't see how they could have keep this level of intensity on the road, city to city, without just exhausting themselves. After a while I can see why they would want to move on because after such incredible musical statements for a couple years it must have seemed to them, like, ok, now what?

[@yofryman100]

simply not true, although i see the allure to yall's arguments. this shit is high quality, all the way throught he set, thats for sure. there's high quality all across the board tho. LIghtning rarely strikes twice in the same place.

[@stacyblue1980]

Makes the day better♥ Thank you for posting this. Always a treat to hear early Dead shows. Fantastic playing here. Like a cozy blanket.

[@chicklets4ever51]

Searingly good stuff here. A reminder of how the GD were in fact probably the best rock band ever. The absence of Pig for this gig seems to have inspired Jerry, Bobby, and Phil to step up their game. And Mickey Hart's various percussion instruments--bells, gongs, washboard etc.--fill the void left by Pig very nicely, adding to the magical psychedelic aura. Absolutely superb.

[@gmcsrbosavl6964]

Definitely the best American rock band

[@stefanschleps8758]

Thank you Marmalade Sky. We ain't dead yet. Though we be grateful.Through it all the band and the family brought forth such magic!! Thank you family. See you all at the big Dead concert in eternity. I'll be there. You'll be there. Alice Dee will be there. It will be awesome! NFA.

[@solsen722]

Thanks for all your efforts for this post, wonderful!

[@Freeworldarchitect]

A total vibe man helps me out a lot merry Christmas Eve everybody 2022

[@MERRYJERRYL]

THANK YOU FOR UPLOADING!!!!!!!!!.............PURE OWSLEY BATMAN SUPERHERO!!!...........OR SUNSHINE CRYSTALS..............LOVE YOU ALL!!

[@xxoxxyxvii]

This is God’s gift to humanity🤑🤘💯

[@xxoxxyxvii]

Acid

[@starrguitargoddess]

Excellent show ! Thanks for posting.

[@donaldgehre5964]

My listener's choice for the real era of the Grateful Dead. Some may disagree; they were so cosmic at times or too blasted to play coherently that friends of mine in this era 66, 67,68 just wondered what the fuck was that they just experienced? Life is like that, hit or miss.

[@veek.6463]

Seriously kind visuals here. Beautiful work. Really grate job. A great show.

[@jstantino]

Something special about this saint Stephen. Gonna have to listen to the whole show now ☺️🙃

[@sometimeswelivenoparticula2678]

this show takes me to that crack in my mind place, thank you for posting, wish i was there!

[@jondavid3641]

Wonderful sound quality recording for a pretty early show.

[@StephenKemp777]

Thanks for sharing this choice early Dead performance.

[@johns.8239]

This is so outstanding. So much better than what they became after the year off. They came back in 76 boring and as the years went by became even more so. Sad but true in my humble but accurate opinion.

[@jaredgunn6131]

This is the grateful dead and the best fan art around 🌹❤️🌹

[@thomasbedell4770]

Alex: it was at Fillmore East 5/4/68 when Airplane played. Next day, 5/5, free concert in the Park.

[@WolffBachner]

oh yes it was good to be 17 and living on my own on the LES in 1968.

[@robsgirl6465]

Wolff Bachner : I was 3 in 68. Born too late. But discovered them soon enough.

[@artwarrior5124]

Dare I say it, best Grateful Dead show??? :P

[@veek.6463]

Nobody would argue with you. There are many best shows. Honest to God I can't decide among literally about 400 shows if any are better than any by this show is -wow- there aren't any words for how brilliant this is. If you think this is the best show then I'll prostrate to that for sure. It's just---- it's beyond words. It's enlightenment is what it is.

[@pnpconsulting3743]

Yes. It is!!!

[@deathboyinc]

This has turned into my favorite Dark Star absolutely love it

[@seanod7157]

Thanks a million!

[@alexolivo4565]

The Dead were the only band to successfully meld into the second level of psychedelic transformation playing live. Other so called psychedelic jam bands made better studio albums and could enter into the first level of transformation but usually fall apart before the second. Thanks for this great sounding upload with light show.

[@ichupichu]

Have to slightly disagree with you. The Allman Brothers were also on this level. Their epic "Mountain Jam" from Eat a Peach says it all. Quicksilver Messenger Service could pull it off as well. Listen to Happy Trails and you will get an idea. The Byrds "Eight Miles High" from the Untitled album is worth a listen. The GD is my fav but there are other great bands that could get it done live and should not be so easily dismissed.

[@alexolivo4565]

I know all of that music very well and I still say that the Dead were the only jam band to transform to the second level successfully and hold it without falling apart and that includes Jefferson Airplane, Phish, Quicksilver, MOE and the Allman Brothers . The psychedelic sound of the Dead are the only live jam band to hold on to the second level of transformation imho due to Jerry's guitar playing and the tightness of the band due to being forged by fire through being the house band at the Acid Tests.ichupichu

[@thomasbedell4770]

The Airplane ran a close second.

[@alexolivo4565]

The Airplane were sloppy and usually would fall apart before the second level of transformation that the Dead were so good at. I like the Airplane and other jam bands, but none could touch the Dead imho.

[@thomasbedell4770]

I agree to a point on the Airplane having a tendency to be sloppy but they were often on their game, so to speak, and when they were it was fantastic. They did not master the improvisational jams and the segues from song to jam to song that the Dead did. So, you have a great point. I guess it is because my first 2 San Francisco bands I ever saw happened the same weekend of 4/4 and 5/5 1968 in NYC and was with these 2 bands that my impressions were set for life and have always seemed stellar and magical. Airplane first night and they played for hours until only Jack and Jorma were left along with Mitch Mitchell from JHE at about 1 or 2 am. The next day was free concert in Central Park with Paul Butterfield, Airplane, and the Dead. The Dead blew them both away and I had to lead in the middle. I also agree that the Allmans were obviously good at jams but not quite as psychedelic.

[@12Radius]

Some of the best !!! Put this in my ears !

[@undergroundjohnny]

OMG this set is stunning!

[@integralstanley]

Glory! God bless you Jerry.

[@DriftinAndDreamin]

Thank You....Nice Job!!!! Long Live The Grateful Dead!!!!!!

[@jimmy5391]

10-12 and 10-13 back to back amazing concerts !

[@WeilerJ87]

Excellent!

[@uncasist]

I do believe this is all one show. 1) The lack of fades- it is continuous. 2) No Pigpen -I think his girlfriend was in the hospital 3) Sonic consistency and placement of instruments in the stereo mix does not change.

[@bluesriot2]

astute ear my friend

[@NicholasOsella]

thank you very much :)

[@edwardgonczy3170]

It's so weird. Whenever I have a version of Dark Star on, my cat (Franklin) walks in the room and lays down. I think he especially likes this one. It was a strange cold night in late November 1969 in New Jersey when "Live/Dead" was released and my life has never been the same.

[@susiefairfield7218]

Happy Jerry Daze Marmelade Sky ✌🏽🤗💞🌹🎟⚡💃🎩🐺Thank you

[@erasmusomnius]

we're alive!!! and we knew the Dead. So thankful.

[@bobvanwagner6099]

So forth. The death don't have no mercy reminds me of the Allman Brother's "Tied to the whipping post". Quite a gig that night, back then for this 3 hours of thought as music, so long long ago ...

[@flexibartr]

Hey, finally found it - always liked those relaxed parts on one album by the mothers and just a few seconds in voodoo chile slight return by the experience. Found some of this stuff on bitches brew and some by Neil Young. Then I even set up my own jazzrock band just to recreate this sound I had in mind and extend it to ages, haha. Now some 20 years later I find that this is it, hahahah ... it's always been there hahaha ... right in front of me ...

[@joonkim9860]

How good is this? More liquid Dead please.

[@YellowJeep]

When they start off with Dark Star, you just know it's going to be epic.

[@adamjacobrogers9155]

Classic 68' Magic

[@cycloptical26]

Whoa! Just whoa!

[@jakepadorr421]

the best Primal Dead show ever?

[@zachbruneau358]

Damn close to it. This is phenomenal. Totally taking flight here. The omnipotent Grateful Dead, seen here in their primal/acid era.

[@hashburystumble6021]

Best visuals since Owsley from marmalade .sky to match the Dead's superb set.

[@Darrylizer1]

Wow, I've got the previous night also at the Avalon and it's smokes. This one is just as smokey! Too bad Pigpen wasn't there for this run. I really miss his organ playing and singing, but the rest of the lads make up for his absence. I believe his girlfriend was in the hospital. He made it back by the 20th which is also an amazing show!

[@chucksigler4342]

Pig is playing percussion

[@thomasmantellwilliam]

Dark Star always "does it" for me!

[@xds900]

Me encanta con toda la corazon.

[@damonarvid3548]

I've been thinking over these Dark Stars and probably the reason why they are so good is that the band still has Pigpen's organ loops running in their ears... so the phantom rhythm is tight.

[@erikjohnson8334]

THE ELEVEN!!

[@jcolterh]

A nice little jar of Psychedelic Jam Net Weight: REALLY HEAVY MAN

[@yousleeze1]

The faster we go the rounder we get!

[@DutcherDog]

Love how tight they are , awsome !

[@rolandramirez4557]

They were definitely "ON" this night😳

[@jimdoolittle6717]

To those who put a thumbs down are not deadheads

[@ThadCashin]

"Grateful"ly appreciated for sure. Later Peace

[@cjnav7832]

The Grain 4 years ago 0:00 Dark Star 13:32 St Stephen 18:26 The Eleven 31:38 Death Don't Have No Mercy 40:58 That's It for the Other One 59:22 New Potato Caboose 1:09:07 Feedback

[@HH-xyz123]

Time travel time. So good.

[@baileyfurio2327]

Death dont have no męrcy Gives me The chills, and not always in a good way. So mournful, Jerry was something else. This show is phenominal. One of The best 60s show Ive ever Heard from top to bottom. I know some Will scoff at this, but Ive seen DSO recreate a couple 60s shows and it was prętty damn exciting, closest Ill ever get outside old GD bootlegs.

[@chrischanin767]

Phil! ❤❤❤ R.I.P.

[@TheBolillo310]

very nice work on the video, should get more views, plus this is a great show to boot

[@bluesriot2]

super job on the video

[@erasmusomnius]

Remember that classic "chinese gong" Mickey used to hammer on? :)

[@bluesriot2]

you mean a crazy blunt ? Lol

[@zachbruneau358]

What about the Persian that Jerry used to hammer on? Haha.

[@jcolterh]

Pretty sure he would "kick the gong around" as well. I know I did.

[@irasparer6111]

Always liked the complete the Other One that includes New Potato Caboose.

[@garyadams7459]

Make America Grateful Again !!!

[@kornysinclair9145]

The song I think Captures TheDead. HANDS DOWN

[@josephbrabander9124]

Of course this is the Avalon, Chet Hems place. I met him a couple of times at poster shows in the 90's. Had him sign a couple of posters. He wouldn't even accept money. The next time I insisted that I pay him. Chet was a true believer.

[@Randomclip27]

In my opinion the Guild bass that phil used in 68 and the alembicized Gibson from the 69-71 period sounded better than the other basses he used in the following years

[@nikolaosmosxakis3395]

very very good..................................................................................................

[@hammer44head]

I think i either read or heard and interview with Jerry saying they hit their peak with improvisation in 68 performances and listening to this you can hear what he was talking about. No way they could have continued on this level, they would have burned out. After these kind of performances no wonder dead fans were a little surprised when they were getting into a softer approach with the advent of well written songs (western themed) and country flavored tunes. I cant forget my fave, Pig squealing the blues and R & B numbers throughout. Then mixing the two styles for years with Pigpen and long after. Cool to float into these space jams though.