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The Grateful Dead in 1968....
The Grateful Dead in 1968....
Item # 722824
May 02, 1968
THE VILLAGE VOICE (weekly), Greenwich Village, New York, May 2, 1968
* Grateful Dead concert in Electric Circus
* East village performance advertisement
* Jerry Garcia - Bob Weir - Ron "Pigpen" McKernan
* HAIR, the musical opens on Broadway at the Biltmore
Page 34 has a 9 1/2 x 7 1/2 inch advertisement for "GRATEFUL DEAD" for there performances at the Electric Circus in East Village.
AI notes: In May 1968, the Grateful Dead played a brief but evocative stand at The Electric Circus, the psychedelic East Village club at 23 St. Mark’s Place in Manhattan, performing two shows nightly on May 7, 8, and 9 during their East Coast tour. These performances occurred at a transitional moment for the band, just after the release of Anthem of the Sun, when their sound emphasized long, exploratory improvisation rooted in blues, folk, and emerging psychedelic forms. The Electric Circus—known for its immersive light shows, circus performers, and sensory overload—was an ideal setting for the Dead’s free-form approach, blurring the boundary between audience and performance. While complete setlists do not survive, contemporary recollections and partial documentation suggest staples such as Morning Dew, Good Morning Little Schoolgirl, Turn On Your Lovelight, Alligator, Caution, and He Was a Friend of Mine, with extended jams particularly in the late shows. Featuring the classic 1968 lineup with Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Bill Kreutzmann, Mickey Hart, and Ron “Pigpen” McKernan, the Electric Circus run remains largely undocumented in recordings yet stands as a vivid example of the Grateful Dead’s deep engagement with New York’s late-1960s countercultural scene.
Page 43 has a 6 1/2 x 5 1/2 inch advertisement for the opening of HAIR on Broadway at the Biltmore Theater. (see images)
I suspect this to be an extremely rare item because there was really no reason to save it at the time.
It is worth noting that "The Village Voice" was an American news and culture paper, known for being the country's first alternative newsweekly. Founded in 1955, the Voice began as a platform for the creative community of New York City.
Other interesting items from the counter-culture era. Complete in 64 pages, tabloid-size, one crease across the center, very minor margin wear, nice condition.
Provenance note: This issue comes from The Village Voice's own archives, part of their in-house collection used to create their digital archive.
Alert: Many issues of The Village Voice contain articles and/or photos that some consider offensive, and are certainly inappropriate for children. Please purchase with discretion.
Category: The 20th Century
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$58.00
