THE GRATEFUL DEAD MEET THE BEACH BOYS!

You know I dig the Dead. Remember?

On April 27, 1971, The Grateful Dead played the Fillmore East in New York, and put on what I consider to be one of the greatest shows they did that entire year. In fact, the First Set recording of Bertha was the one used on their Skullfuck live album. (Overall, I’m generally a ‘77 man, myself, although 1974 was also a good year.)

But the real keen thing that happened on April 27 was the encore set, where the kings of the three-minute surfpop tune, The Beach Boys, came out and joined with the stoner jamband heroes. The encore set began with the classics “Searchin” and “Riot in Cell Block #9,” with the two bands playing together. Then the Dead stepped away and allowed the Beach Boys to play solo, which they did, on their two hits, “Good Vibrations” and “I Get Around.” Six minutes must have been just enough time to beam up, because the Dead came back, ready to jam on the Merle Haggard classic, “Okie From Muskogee,” and finally on the Chuck Berry classic, “Johnny B. Goode.”

Dig it.

SETLIST

1. Searchin’

2. Riot In Ceil Block #9

3. Good Vibrations

4. I Get Around

5. Okie From Muskogee

6. Johnny B. Goode