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Their only Colorado Springs appearance was the second in the state in less than three months (and back then it took less time to get to Boulder as it was still chiefly a rural drive with little traffic). Reed's Ranch was the Reed family's rodeo arena barn, that briefly hosted events (today it's a subdivision on Centennial Blvd & Rendezvous Tr). At 6550' altitude, it was the highest Dead show until '85. There was a whole lineup ahead of them (Devin Mikles>Holden Caulfield Blues Band>Zephyr>Alice Cooper), so they played very early in the morning, one long set. Alice Cooper were then an obscure LA act in the Zappa stable who had just released their still-obscure first album; so it's funny they were after Zephyr, who had a live rep. The set ended after dawn, and at the Ramada Inn afterward they got booted when Pigpen kicked-in a cigarette machine - all of which makes it amazing that they made it to Chicago for the next night!Jer was new to pedal steel, having just got his during the Colorado stop several weeks earlier. But he was eager to design a set around it. Since then they had premiered the two songs at the top - so Jer could learn - as well as What's Become (though played but once), Dire Wolf, Casey Jones, & High Time. Since it was so late maybe little is missing (supposedly a Mama Tried, and/or perhaps one from the sit-down portion). It's hard to tell with the edited tunings, but it's over 90min, so probably pretty complete; the show before this is of similar length and setlist. The show isn't nearly as good as the Boulder show weeks earlier, but not bad for dawn. This was the brief period when they were trying to move away from Dark Star and psychedelic jamming, and they used this more obscure stop for experimentation - lots of strumming but with a couple Pig standards.doesn't much seem like a Dead song. Of the nine versions of, this is as good as it got.becomes a smoker halfway - in fact one of the best of '69. Check the frantic drummers.is average for the period.is the 5th one and still a bit of a farrago - though earnest. Bobby was doing the southern accent at the time, which makes a jest ofis the 4th one [we think - could be 3rd or 5th], still with the original intro and before the main riffs were written; but getting shorter already, and slowly improving.is well sloppy with missed cues and beats. There are better versions ofbut if you want the one that's jammed out, keep this. In fact they use this as their jam vehicle for the night. Pig stretches a vampyout to nearly half an hour before the tape runs out.Overall = C+ / 3 starsHighlights:Slewfoot - as good as it got, if yr interestedSitting on Top of the World - becomes a smokerSOURCES: The 132377_sbd_miller is the first version to be completed, patched, and correctly pitched (as best as can be - there is a slow waver). It adds the complete Casey Jones, Hard to Handle, and Lovelight, but the tunings are cut. Just a Hand to Hold (He Was a Friend of Mine) was released a long time ago on Dead.net