I think I made all five August shows at the Family Dog - I remember Albert Collins - my first Commander Cody show (changed my life - again)!
Do you guys remember which were the nights of the light show strike? They were picketing outside the F Dog - projecting the light show on the front of Playland. They had an extension cord coming from inside, and I noticed a handwritten sign in the window that said "Power supplied by the Family Dog," and as I was reading it, I noticed - thru the window - Chet Helms nodding and smiling.
Everybody was debating whether to honor the pickets, or ashamedly break solidarity just to see the Dead. I'm ashamed - I crossed - I'd hitched all the way from Minnesota just to see the boys - but the joke was on me, as the lightists had convinced Jerry not to cross - "I ain't goin' in!"
So there we were, watching Billy and Bob (scabs!) and maybe Mickey jamming. They said,"Anybody that can play can play." That wild guy that danced with everybody - remember him? - got up and played drums. I was too chicken, damn it.
One night when Jerry did show up, they had a couple of guys sitting in on flutes - very informal.