Dave's Picks Volume 6: Grateful Dead - Fillmore Auditorium 12/20/1969

Dave’s Picks Volume 6 is a remarkable installment in the Grateful Dead's official live release series, taking fans back to a pivotal moment in the band’s early history. This particular volume showcases the band's performance at the Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco on December 20, 1969, during one of their most influential periods. With the Dead transitioning between the exploratory, psychedelic sounds of the late '60s and the more structured, yet still improvisational style of the early '70s, this concert represents a key turning point in their evolution as a live act.

The Fillmore Auditorium: A Historic Venue

The Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco has long been a legendary venue in the history of rock music. During the late 1960s, the venue was a central gathering place for the burgeoning counterculture and served as a home for the Grateful Dead’s early performances. By December 1969, the Dead were already well-known in the Bay Area and beyond, and the Fillmore, with its intimate but energetic atmosphere, provided the perfect stage for their intricate, expansive jams.

At this point, the Dead had been playing together for nearly five years and had begun to refine their sound into something uniquely their own: a blend of folk, blues, rock, and jazz with sprawling, exploratory jams that could stretch for miles. With the band’s legendary chemistry and improvisational prowess on full display, the December 20, 1969 show at the Fillmore Auditorium would be one of those performances that would go on to be fondly remembered by Deadheads for its deep grooves and musical variety.

The Setlist: A Mix of Classic Dead

The setlist for December 20, 1969 is a beautiful snapshot of the Grateful Dead's eclectic and evolving musical approach. The night starts with a bang as they dive into "Cold Rain and Snow", a haunting, bluesy track that always brings an edge to the proceedings. This is followed by "I'm A King Bee", a cover of Slim Harpo's blues classic, a song that allowed the band to stretch out musically, creating some loose, swampy rhythms while still keeping their signature energy.

What stands out in this performance is the way the Dead seamlessly moved from one song to another. "Dark Star", one of the band's most iconic songs, finds its way into the show early on, demonstrating just how central the song had become to their live sets. Known for its long, meandering instrumental breaks, “Dark Star” was the perfect vehicle for the band to stretch out and let their improvisational tendencies run wild. The extended jam that follows provides a perfect example of the Dead's willingness to push musical boundaries, with Jerry Garcia’s guitar lines weaving in and out of the atmospheric backdrop created by the rest of the band.

The performance of “St. Stephen”—another staple of their setlists during this period—stands as one of the highlights of the evening. The song had only recently been introduced, but it quickly became a favorite among fans, and this version shows just how tightly the band had crafted it. The shifts between major and minor keys, the intricate drum work, and the soaring vocal harmonies all come together to create a song that encapsulates everything the Grateful Dead was about in the late '60s.

As the night unfolds, the Dead delve into more experimental territory with tracks like "The Eleven", a track that was known for its complex time signatures and irregular structure. The song's rapid changes and intricate rhythm patterns show how the band was still pushing the envelope in terms of musical complexity, blending jazz, rock, and psychedelia into a truly unique sound.

The second set continues the intensity, featuring performances of "Turn On Your Love Light" (a song that always brought a healthy dose of bluesy funk to their shows), and "Casey Jones", a fan favorite that still resonates as one of the Dead's signature anthems.

Band Chemistry and Performance

By 1969, the Grateful Dead were hitting their stride as a live band. The chemistry between Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Bill Kreutzmann, and Mickey Hart was at an all-time high. The addition of keyboardist Tom Constanten, who had joined the band earlier in the year, also helped add a new texture to the band’s already rich sound, particularly during more experimental jams.

The interplay between Garcia’s guitar and Weir’s rhythm playing is particularly notable on this recording. Garcia’s fluid, almost telepathic communication with his bandmates is on full display, weaving intricate melodies while also allowing room for improvisation and collaboration. Phil Lesh’s bass lines are crucial to the group’s sound, providing a melodic underpinning that is especially present on “Dark Star” and “The Eleven”. Meanwhile, Kreutzmann and Hart’s dual drumming creates a dynamic and intricate rhythm section, offering a driving pulse that allows the music to move in unpredictable directions.

The addition of Tom Constanten on keyboards was also a crucial aspect of the band's sound during this period. His classical training added a new layer of sophistication to the Grateful Dead's musical landscape, making their more experimental moments even more compelling.

The Legacy of the Fillmore Show

The December 20, 1969 show at the Fillmore Auditorium stands as a perfect example of the Grateful Dead’s early sound and their ability to transform a venue into a space for musical exploration. By this time, the Dead had already established themselves as masters of improvisation, and this show allowed them to showcase their ever-growing repertoire of original songs alongside their ability to bring new life to covers and jams.

The legacy of this performance—and of Dave’s Picks Volume 6—lies in its ability to capture the magic of the Grateful Dead during a key transitional period in their career. The band's ability to blend blues, rock, psychedelia, and jazz into a sound that was uniquely their own is on full display here, and the inclusion of “Dark Star,” “St. Stephen,” and “The Eleven” makes this a must-have for any Deadhead looking to dive deeper into the band's early years.

Dave's Picks Volume 6 is a must-listen for anyone wanting to experience the raw energy and musical experimentation of the Grateful Dead in 1969. The Fillmore Auditorium performance on December 20 of that year encapsulates the very essence of the Dead's live shows—free-form, exploratory, and filled with a deep sense of joy and camaraderie. With the band at the height of their improvisational prowess, this release is a definitive document of the Grateful Dead's early, transformative years. Whether you're a long-time fan or a newcomer to the Grateful Dead’s expansive catalog, Dave’s Picks Volume 6 offers a vibrant snapshot of a band that was truly ahead of its time.