The Grateful Dead may have only played The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY a limited number of times during a brief period in their 30-year run, but what incredible shows they were.
Beginning in March 1970 through 1971, the Dead performed at The Cap 13 times, and the band’s performance on February 18th, 1971 was one for the history books. It was during this show that the band debuted not one, not two, not three, but five original songs, some of which became staples during their shows up until the end of their amazing run in 1995.
Opening up with the live debut of “Bertha”, the band also treated fans in attendance that night to renditions of then-new songs including the debuts of “Loser”, “Greatest Story Ever Told”, Bob Weir‘s solo original “Playing in the Band”, and “Wharf Rat“. Other songs included in the setlist that night were “Sugar Magnolia”, “Truckin‘”, “Dark Star”, “Casey Jones”, “Candyman”, “St. Stephen”, and more. Experimental electronic musician and keyboardist Ned Lagin even sat in with the band on a number of songs throughout the evening.
Grateful Dead even debuted their cover of Chuck Berry‘s rock anthem “Johnny B. Goode” during this show, which would be performed many times in the years that followed.
The February 18th, 1971 concert is such a treasure within the Dead vault, that RHINO released the show as part of the American Beauty 50th Anniversary reissue in 2020. Stream the band’s full performance via the Spotify player below.
Grateful Dead – The Capitol Theatre – 2/17/71 – Full Audio