Don’s Pick: Grateful Dead – August 13, 1975 – Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA
DJ Don Edwards
The Grateful Dead’s August 13, 1975 performance at the Great American Music Hall is a night etched into Deadhead history. Known for its intimate setting and stunning setlist, this rare mid-70s show captured the Dead at their most experimental, introducing new material that would soon become classics.
Setlist Breakdown
Set One
-
Help on the Way → Slipknot! → Franklin’s Tower: A flawless opening sequence, premiering the band’s now-iconic trilogy.
-
The Music Never Stopped: One of its earliest live outings, filled with raw energy.
-
It Must Have Been the Roses: Garcia at his most heartfelt.
-
Eyes of the World: A glowing version, full of jazz-inspired interplay.
-
Drums → Stronger Than Dirt (a.k.a. King Solomon’s Marbles): A deep instrumental journey showing the Dead’s progressive edge.
Set Two
-
Rockers like Around and Around, Big River, and a soulful Sugaree.
-
Crazy Fingers: A shimmering highlight that defines the beauty of 1975 Dead.
-
Drums → The Other One: Cosmic exploration at its finest.
-
Sage and Spirit: A rare and delicate gem.
-
Goin’ Down the Road Feeling Bad and U.S. Blues: Pure Dead energy closing the main set.
Encore
-
Blues for Allah: A mystical, rare encore performance, making this night even more historic.
Why This Show Stands Out
This was no ordinary concert—it was a private record release party for Blues for Allah. With only a small crowd in attendance, the Grateful Dead delivered a career-defining performance, blending fresh material with classics. It’s a perfect balance of intimacy, innovation, and musical risk-taking, all wrapped in the magic of 1975 Dead.
Essential Listening for Deadheads
If you want to experience the Dead’s post-hiatus creativity and hear their most progressive work come to life, this is the show. From the dazzling Help → Slip → Franklin’s to the otherworldly Blues for Allah encore, the Great American Music Hall 8/13/75 is one of the crown jewels of the Dead’s archive.
👉 Don’s Pick of the Day: Crazy Fingers → a transcendent version that captures the spiritual heart of 1975 Dead.
