February Fillmore

The Grateful Dead shows from the Fillmore East of February 1970 are considered the best damn Dead shows - ever. A strong statement for sure, especially coming from a DeadHead who does not subscribe to these type of proclamations, but, these shows from February 11th, 13th & 14th, 1970 are quite good. We are already familiar with this run of shows from the "Bear's Choice" album released in 1973 or even Dicks Picks #4. Each night has a  Dark Star or Turn on Your Lovelight or new songs from "Workingman's Dead." On the 11th, the band are joined by the Allman Brothers, Peter Green and other musicians for a monster jam of Lovelight. The 13th and 14th shows treat us to the first acoustic Dead with Dark Hollow, Monkey & the Engineer, Little Sadie, Wake Up Little Suzie>Black Peter and Pigs' vintage Katie Mae. I now appreciate the quality of these recordings more now than ever. The sound engineering and recording of Owsley Stanley or the Bear are exquisite. Also, it should be noted that the Grateful Dead and Bear were busted 2 weeks earlier down on Bourbon Street, New Orleans before this run of shows at the Fillmore East, New York City. Bear would eventually be jailed on Feb 27th, 1970 for violating his bail conditions, and yet, it was still important to him to be at the Board for these shows on 2/11, 2/13 & 2/14 and Thank God he did.