Before they got started, Jerry announced that “Phil, you know, the guy who plays the bass,” is running late, so “me and Bobby Ace here are going to regale you with some old favorites.” And with that, they delivered a short acoustic set, beginning with – anything but an old favorite – the very first Monkey And The Engineer. In fact, all four of the songs in the opening set were new tunes, at least for the Dead. Whether Phil was really late to the show or the band was just giving an opening acoustic set a try before delving into that format in earnest the following year, they continued with first reveals of Long Black Limosine, Little Sadie and I’ve Been All Around This World. The new tunes continue to roll out in the electric set with the introduction of Mason’s Children.
The New Old Fillmore was the name given to the venue by the Flaming Groovies who took over managing the ballroom in mid 1969. This was the original Fillmore where it all started but in 1968 Bill Graham obtained the lease on the Carousel Ballroom, renamed it the Fillmore West and proceeded to shut down the original Fillmore. They ran shows here until mid 1970 when the ballroom scene in general was being replaced by shows at arenas and other larger venues.