List of performances/Pre-Dead

The Grateful Dead are famous for having a giant catalog of performances, especially taped ones. They are one of the most bootlegged bands of all time. Here is a list of every performance from the years 1959 to 1964. It also lists the timing of the song on the most complete bootleg or official release. '''The list includes a complete list of who sung what. The uncirculating tracks will be bolded and underlined, as opposed to banter / tuning tracks, which are unbolded.''' If you want more history or information behind a show or city, look it up with the Fandom Search feature. All shows performed by the Grateful Dead unless noted.

= 1961 =

May 5, 1961 (Bob and Jerry)

 * Arroyo Lounge, Stanford University
 * East Palo Alto, California
 * Performed by Bob and Jerry
 * Uncirculating

Jerry Garcia – vocals, acoustic guitar Robert Hunter – vocals, upright bass

May 26, 1961 (Bob and Jerry)

 * Brigid Meier's birthday party
 * Menlo Park, California
 * Performed by Bob and Jerry
 * Released on Before the Dead (Disc 1)


 * 1) Follow the Drinking Gourd
 * 2) John Henry
 * 3) Santy Anno – 2:15
 * 4) Poor Paddy Works On the Railway
 * 5) I Got a Home in That Rock – 1:46
 * 6) Oh, Mary, Don't You Weep – 3:31
 * 7)  Wasn't That a Time? 
 * 8) All My Trials – 4:01
 * 9) I Was Born Ten Thousand Years Ago – 2:12
 * 10)  Michael, Row the Boat Ashore 
 * 11)  Down by the Riverside 
 * 12) Blow the Candles Out – 2:02
 * 13) Rake and a Rambling Boy – 1:31
 * 14) Trouble in Mind – 3:11
 * 15)  Shady Grove 
 * 16)  Silver Dagger 
 * 17)  East Virginia 

Jerry Garcia – vocals, acoustic guitar Robert Hunter – vocals, upright bass

Jerry Garcia sings lead vocals on "I Got a Home in That Rock", "Blow the Candles Out", "Rake and a Rambling Boy", and "Trouble in Mind". Robert Hunter sings lead vocals on "Oh, Mary Don't You Weep". Jerry and Robert sing dual lead vocals on "Santy Anno", "All My Trials" and "I Was Born Ten Thousand Years Ago".

June 1961 (Bob and Jerry)

 * Peninsula Middle School
 * Menlo Park, California
 * Performed by Bob and Jerry
 * Uncirculating

Jerry Garcia – vocals, acoustic guitar Robert Hunter – vocals, upright bass

July 1961 (Garcia, Leicaster, and Hunter)

 * Carlos Bookstall, Boar's Head Coffee House
 * San Carlos, California
 * Performed by Garcia, Leicaster, and Hunter
 * Partially released on Before the Dead (Disc 1), rest unreleased


 * 1) Cricket on the Hearth – 2:28
 * 2) Poor Ellen Smith – 4:16
 * 3) Wildwood Flower – 3:24
 * 4) Late Last Night When Willie Came Home (Way Downtown) – 5:29
 * 5) All the Good Times Are Past and Gone – 3:21
 * 6) Darling Corey – 2:56
 * 7) The Ballad of Harry Pollitt – 0:46 ( Cut )

Jerry Garcia – vocals, acoustic guitar Marshall Leicaster – banjo, vocals Robert Hunter – upright bass, vocals

"The Ballad of Harry Pollitt" is usually listed as "Bolsheviks in Hell" "Late Last Night When Willie Came Home (Way Downtown)" is usually listed as "No One to Stand by Me"

August 1961 (Jerry Garcia and friends)

 * Carlos Bookstall, Boar's Head Coffee House
 * San Carlos, California
 * Jerry Garcia (and friends)
 * Released on Before the Dead (Disc 1)


 * 1) Down in the Willow Garden – 1:48
 * 2) Long Lonesome Road – 2:39
 * 3) Railroad Bill – 3:17
 * 4) The Wagoner's Lad – 3:00
 * 5) Katie Cruel – 3:40
 * 6)  Pay Me My Money Down 

5 other songs from this date with Rodney Albin, Peter Albin, David Nelson, and Robert Hunter are said to have circulated. It's unknown if it's a rumor or not, but they are currently unavailable. There is also a rumor that Ron "Pigpen" McKernan performed at that show, but it is probably false.

Jerry Garcia – vocals, acoustic guitar unknown – upright bass (on "Long Lonesome Road")

= 1962 =

May 11, 1962 (Thunder Mountain Tub Thumpers)

 * Geology Lecture Hall, Stanford University
 * Palo Alto, California
 * Stanford Folk Festival
 * Thunder Mountain Tub Thumpers
 * Uncirculating

Jerry Garcia – vocals, banjo, acoustic guitar Joe Edmiston – acoustic guitar Ken Frankel – mandolin Robert Hunter – upright bass

May 12, 1962 (Thunder Mountain Tub Thumpers)

 * Dinkelspiel Auditorium, Stanford University
 * Palo Alto, California
 * Stanford Folk Festival
 * Thunder Mountain Tub Thumpers
 * Uncirculating

Opened for Guy Carawan, and replaced Hedy West, who dropped out the previous morning.

Jerry Garcia – vocals, banjo, acoustic guitar Joe Edmiston – acoustic guitar Ken Frankel – mandolin Robert Hunter – upright bass

May 1962 (Thunder Mountain Tub Thumpers)

 * Hugh Bagley Campaign Truck
 * throughout Monterey County, California
 * Thunder Mountain Tub Thumpers
 * Uncirculating

Various performances on the back of a truck for Hugh Bagley's mayoral campaign. Took place throughout May 1962; photos survive of the boys on the truck. Robert Hunter was excluded for spacial reasons, though he was still in the group at the time.

Jerry Garcia – vocals, acoustic guitar, banjo Jim Edmiston – acoustic guitar, banjo Ken Frankel – acoustic guitar Joe Edmiston – bongos

June 11, 1962 (Sleepy Hollow Hog Stompers)

 * Boar's Head Coffee House
 * San Carlos, California
 * Sleepy Hollow Hog Stompers
 * Partially released on Before the Dead (Disc 2), rest unreleased

 Set I 
 * 1) Tuning – 0:24
 * 2) Run Mountain – 4:49
 * 3) Billy Grimes, the Rover – 2:57
 * 4) Banter – 0:57
 * 5) Cannonball Blues – 3:08
 * 6) Banter and Tuning – 0:58
 * 7) Devilish Mary – 3:23
 * 8) Banter – 0:40
 * 9) Buck Dancer's Choice – 2:25
 * 10) Little Birdie – 3:51
 * 11) Sally Goodin – 1:33
 * 12) Banter and Tuning – 1:00
 * 13) Hold the Woodpile Down – 3:48

 Set II 
 * 1) Tuning – 0:22
 * 2) Crow Black Chicken – 2:46
 * 3) Banter – 1:18
 * 4) Legend of the Johnson Boys – 2:53
 * 5) Banter and Tuning – 1:06
 * 6) Shady Grove – 3:45
 * 7) Banter – 3:02
 * 8) Hop-High Ladies – 2:06
 * 9) Tuning – 1:07
 * 10) The Sweet Sunny South – 3:18
 * 11) Banter and Tuning – 1:11
 * 12) Hungry Hash House – 3:06
 * 13) Man of Constant Sorrow – 2:33
 * 14) Banter and Tuning – 0:38
 * 15) Rabbit Chase – 2:51
 * 16) Three Men Went a-Hunting – 2:04

Jerry Garcia – vocals, acoustic guitar, banjo Marshall Leicaster – vocals, banjo, acoustic guitar Dick Arnold – fiddle

Jerry Garcia sings lead vocals on "Run Mountain", "Cannonball Blues", "Devilish Mary", "Little Birdie", "Sally Goodin", "Hold the Woodpile Down", "Legend of the Johnson Boys", "Shady Grove", "Hop-High Ladies", "The Sweet Sunny South", "Man of Constant Sorrow" (unaccompanied), and "Three Men Went a-Hunting". Marshall Leicaster sings lead vocals on "Billy Grimes, the Rover", "Crow Black Chicken", "Hungry Hash House", and "Yonder He Goes". Instrumentals include "Buck Dancer's Choice".

"Run Mountain" mislabeled as "Top of the Hill" "Devilish Mary" mislabeled as "Okim Dinkem Diary" "Hop-High Ladies" mislabeled as "Uncle Joe" "Hungry Hash House" mislabeled as "Boarding House Blues"

November 10, 1962 (Jerry Garcia)

 * Men's Gymnasium, Coyote Point Campus, College of San Mateo
 * San Mateo, California
 * CSM Folk Festival
 * Jerry Garcia
 * Uncirculating

Previously circulating show, not circulating anymore.
 * 1)  Little Birdie 
 * 2)  Walking Boss 

Jerry Garcia – vocals, banjo

November 10, 1962 (Jerry Garcia / David Nelson)

 * Men's Gymnasium, Coyote Point Campus, College of San Mateo
 * San Mateo, California
 * CSM Folk Festival
 * Jerry Garcia and David Nelson
 * Uncirculating

Previously circulating show, not circulating anymore. Setlist is known, but not listed.
 * 1)  The Miller's Will 
 * 2)  Deep Elem Blues 
 * 3)  Will the Circle Be Unbroken? 
 * 4)  I Truly Understand 
 * 5)  The Raging Sea (How It Roars) 
 * 6)  Cannonball Blues 
 * 7)  The Cuckoo 
 * 8)  Man of Constant Sorrow 

Jerry Garcia – vocals, banjo David Nelson – vocals, acoustic guitar

November 10, 1962 (Hart Valley Drifters)

 * Men's Gymnasium, Coyote Point Campus, College of San Mateo
 * San Mateo, California
 * CSM Folk Festival
 * Hart Valley Drifters
 * Uncirculating


 * 1)  Handsome Molly 
 * 2)  Pig in a Pen 
 * 3)  Banks of the Ohio 
 * 4)  Roving Gambler 
 * 5)  Nine Pound Hammer 
 * 6)  Salty Dog Blues 

Jerry Garcia – vocals, banjo, acoustic guitar Ken Frankel – vocals, banjo, fiddle, acoustic guitar David Nelson – acoustic guitar, vocals Norm Van Maastricht – dobro Robert Hunter – upright bass, vocals

December 1962 (Hart Valley Drifters)

 * KZSU Stanford Studio A, Stanford University
 * Palo Alto, California
 * Hart Valley Drifters
 * Released on Folk Time and Before the Dead (Disc 2)


 * 1) Handsome Molly – 2:19
 * 2) Pig in a Pen – 2:15
 * 3) Standing in Need of a Prayer – 2:09
 * 4) Roving Gambler – 3:46
 * 5) Cripple Creek – 1:24
 * 6) Flint Hill Special – 2:00
 * 7) Nine Pound Hammer – 2:42
 * 8) Think of What You've Done – 2:41
 * 9) Clinch Mountain Backstep – 1:18
 * 10) All the Good Times Have Past and Gone – 3:07
 * 11) Ground Speed – 1:29
 * 12) Banter – 1:12
 * 13)  Boys 
 * 14)  My Money's All Gone  ( Take 1 )
 * 15)  My Money's All Gone  ( Take 2 )
 * 16) Billy Grimes, the Rover – 2:42
 * 17) Run Mountain – 4:11
 * 18) Paddy On the Turnpike – 1:38
 * 19) Sugar Baby – 3:52
 * 20) Sitting On Top of the World – 3:37

Jerry Garcia – vocals, banjo, acoustic guitar Ken Frankel – vocals, banjo, fiddle, acoustic guitar David Nelson – acoustic guitar, vocals Norm Van Maastricht – dobro Robert Hunter – upright bass, vocals

= 1963 =

February 22, 1963 (Wildwood Boys)

 * Top of the Tangent
 * Palo Alto, California
 * Wildwood Boys
 * Uncirculating

Jerry Garcia – vocals, acoustic guitar, banjo Robert Hunter – upright bass, vocals David Nelson – acoustic guitar, vocals

February 23, 1963 (Wildwood Boys)

 * Top of the Tangent
 * Palo Alto, California
 * Wildwood Boys
 * Released on Before the Dead (Disc 3)


 * 1) Roll in My Sweet Baby's Arms – 3:25
 * 2) Jerry's Breakdown – 2:08
 * 3) Standing in Need of a Prayer – 2:38
 * 4) Mule Skinner Blues – 3:23
 * 5) Saturday Night Shuffle – 2:05
 * 6) Pike County Breakdown – 1:44
 * 7) The Little Sparrow – 3:25
 * 8) We Shall Not Be Moved – 2:42

Jerry Garcia – vocals, acoustic guitar, banjo David Nelson – acoustic guitar, vocals Robert Hunter – upright bass, vocals