also: Ballet Afro-Haiti; Albert Collins
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Light Shows on Strike!
I think I made all five August shows at the Family Dog - I remember Albert Collins - my first Commander Cody show (changed my life - again)!Do you guys remember which were the nights of the light show strike? They were picketing outside the F Dog - projecting the light show on the front of Playland. They had an extension cord coming from inside, and I noticed a handwritten sign in the window that said "Power supplied by the Family Dog," and as I was reading it, I noticed - thru the window - Chet Helms nodding and smiling.
Everybody was debating whether to honor the pickets, or ashamedly break solidarity just to see the Dead. I'm ashamed - I crossed - I'd hitched all the way from Minnesota just to see the boys - but the joke was on me, as the lightists had convinced Jerry not to cross - "I ain't goin' in!"
So there we were, watching Billy and Bob (scabs!) and maybe Mickey jamming. They said,"Anybody that can play can play." That wild guy that danced with everybody - remember him? - got up and played drums. I was too chicken, damn it.
One night when Jerry did show up, they had a couple of guys sitting in on flutes - very informal.
Hard To Handle, Mama Tried,
Hard To Handle, Mama Tried, High Time, Silver Threads, Slewfoot, I'm A King Bee, Cryptical Envelopement-> Drums-> The Other One-> Cryptical Envelopement-> Turn On Your Love Light
wild guy that danced....
Are you talking about Beast? Always have been interested in learning more about him. I know that his persona (dancing crazily in front of the speakers) was more freaky than he really was... at least I do remember that it turned out that he could help us get some lucy sky diamonds...Anyway, I also remember going to see them at the Family Dog Great Highway. I was amazed at the expansive drum set-up and the whole show seemed dark... don't know if it was this show