Grateful Dead

The Grateful Dead - Viola Lee Blues Live at Monterey Pop Festival

Monterey Pop Festival
Monterey, CA, United States

• In June 1967, during the pivotal summer of love, the Grateful Dead were at an exhilarating point in their career, having just released their self-titl... Read Full Description >

  In June 1967, during the pivotal summer of love, the Grateful Dead were at an exhilarating point in their career, having just released their self-titled debut album in March of that year. The album featured a blend of psychedelic rock and folk influences, showcasing their unique improvisational style. The live performance of "Viola Lee Blues" at the Monterey Pop Festival marked one of their early appearances on a significant national stage, helping to cement their reputation as pioneers of the jam band scene. Notably, the Monterey Pop Festival was not only a landmark event in counterculture history but also one of the first major music festivals, where the Grateful Dead shared the stage with iconic performers such as Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin. Their lengthy, improvisational approach to "Viola Lee Blues" exemplifies the band's ethos and foreshadowed their future live performances that would become legendary in the years to come.

The Other One Performance by Grateful Dead at Golden Gardens Beach

Golden Gardens Beach
Seattle, WA, United States

• On July 16, 1967, during the Grateful Dead's performance at Golden Gardens Beach in Seattle, the band was riding the wave of success following the rel... Read Full Description >

  On July 16, 1967, during the Grateful Dead's performance at Golden Gardens Beach in Seattle, the band was riding the wave of success following the release of their self-titled debut album, “Grateful Dead,” which had come out just a few months prior, in March of the same year. This album established their unique sound that blended rock, folk, blues, and psychedelic music. The performance captured in the recording features "The Other One," a song that would become a staple of their live shows. By this time, the band was beginning to gain a reputation for their improvisational style and extended jams, which would later become a hallmark of their live performances. The concert at Golden Gardens reflects their ongoing evolution and experimentation during the late 1960s, a period marked by significant cultural and musical shifts. This recording is a great glimpse into the energy and creativity of the Grateful Dead during their formative years.