Hey, it’s the Baby Dead in Montreal! This was at what was called the Montreal Expo (which was really a World’s Fair, but you know Quebecois can’t call anything by its Anglo name) in 1967, and it marked the Dead’s first gig outside the United States*. They played at the Youth Pavilion along with the Jefferson Airplane (seen at the end of the clip), Thelonious Monk, the Supremes (Diana Ross-led version), and Tiny Tim. Sadly, Mr. Tim did not sit in for Dark Star. There’s no recording, but they did play Viola Lee Blues and Alligator; they repeated the two songs at the Monterey Pop Festival a week or so later, so why don’t you just listen to this and pretend that it’s Montreal?
And hey! Here’s another shot of Garcia and Bobby getting waaaaaaay too close to the Airplane’s gear:
Check out Dorkenheimer in the shorts back there.
And here’s one of The Boys playing:
FUN FACT: The set is a direct result of one 50-year-old Montrealer asking another, “Wot do ze children like zese days when zey take ze drugs?”
*The Expo gig was actually the last show in a Canadian mini-tour, but I still stand by the tenets of Without Research.
I still maintain that the set was an early iteration of The Beast. I mean, just look at it!
Found footage has surfaced from the free 1970 coronation park and elsewhere in Toronto concert on the festival express tour.
https://vimeo.com/146999213
I’d recommend hard to handle from 71 houseboat tapes or easy wind from May 15,1977 for a soundtrack as it is silent footage,oh it starts around 17 min. Mark.
If Mickey had of been in the band those giant bass drums would have been going home with him that day in Montreal , itwould have changed the history of rock. Spot bill graham in the photo overseeing the scene.
Is that Phil behind Jorma’s amp? Also, talk about bush league, the Airplane have their amps set up on fucking chairs.
The YouTube video is from the plaza morning show at place ville-Marie, as recounted on p. 109/110 of phils book. The Vimeo one will play if you click on the blue ‘watch on Vimeo’ link.
They played there on youth day! Even.
Youth pavilion:
“The performers and the artists are young amateurs, semi-professionals or professionals from around the world. It is a continuous experiment.
Atmosphere: it’s way out, because you’re in! And when you play the game, the fellow next to you is not a stranger anymore, because he has come a long way to do the same, and to meet you.
Every day, from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. (The program is sponsored by Steinberg’s Ltd)
P.S. The 6th of August is Youth Day at Expo 67.
Trawna.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbEFGc3XByo
Onscario. A Place To Stand. you see. key changes build tension.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0F10Sc3Vcw