Grateful Dead - 1973-06-09 - Washington DC (SBD)

Grateful Dead

1973-06-09

RFK Stadium

Washington, DC

Soundboard Recording

256 kbps (vbr0

Artwork Included

1st Set

01. Promised Land

02. Deal

03. Looks Like Rain

04. They Love Each Other

05. Jack Straw

06. Loose Lucy

07. Mexicali Blues

08. Row Jimmy

09. El Paso,

10. Box Of Rain

11. Sugaree

12. Beat It On Down The Line

13. Tuning

14. Tennessee Jed

15. Greatest Story Ever Told

16. China Cat Sunflower >

17. I Know You Rider

2nd Set

01. He's Gone >

02. Truckin' >

03. Playing In The Band

04. Tuning

05. Loser

06. Me And My Uncle

07. Mississipi Half Step

08. Big River,

08. Eyes Of The World >

10. China Doll

11. Sugar Magnolia

Grateful Dead - 1973-06-09 - Washington DC (SBD)

In 1973, The Grateful Dead, like the Allman Brothers found themselves rebounding from signifiicant personnel losses. Drummer Mickey Hart had left the band in late 1971, and would not return until 1974. In early 1973, original keyboardist Ron "Pigpen" Mckernan passed away at age 27, the first of the band's keyboard players to die tragically. The Dead's sound began a new evolution, with Bill Kreuztman handling the drums solo, while Keith and Donna Jean Godchaux added new musical elements to the mix. Keith's piano playing was more jazzy compared to Pigpen's bluesy sound, while Donna Jean helped fill out the band's harmonies. New tunes such as Jimmy Row, Let It Grow, Eyes Of The World, Loose Lucy and Wave That Flag (an early version of U.S. Blues) entered the band's repertoire. By year end, the band would even launch their own record label! They would also tour that summer with the Allman Brothers. This soundboard recording captures The Dead opening for the Allmans in Washington Dc on June 9, 1973, 46 years ago today.  We'll bring you the Allmans show from that date later today, and then feature the June 10, 1973 double bill tomorrow.

Grateful Dead/Allman Brothers Connections

• Few bands are more linked together in musical history than the Grateful Dead and The Allman Brothers. The San Francisco psychedelic pioneers and the Macon Georgia Southern rockers both were renowned for their improvisational jams. 
• They played 3 dates together in February 1970 at the Fillmore East. ]
• Both bands were connected to Bill Graham, and as a result frequently headlined both Fillmores. In fact, The Allmans closed the Filmore East, while the Dead did likewise at the Fillmore West. 
• In 1973, The Almans & Dead played together for 3 shows that summer, the June 9 and 10 shows we are in the middle of posting, and on July 28 at Watkins Glen. During those shows, various band members shared the stage together during the encores. 
• On December 31, 1973, the Grateful Dead took a rare break from performing on New Year’s Eve, so who else but the Allman Brothers stepped in to play a show at the Cow Palace. Of course, the Dead couldn’t stay away completely, as Garcia and Kreutzman showed up to join the Allmans for the encores. 
• The relationship between the 2 bands continued into the 21st century. For example, in March 2009, during the Allmans 40th anniversary series of concerts at the Beacon, who else showed up for the last night of the run but none other than Bob Weir and Phil Lesh.
• Waren Haynes of the Allmans played numerous Jerry Garcia Symphonic Cerebration concerts in honor of the Deads legendary led guitarist.