High Country w/Jerry Garcia & David Nelson
2-19-1969
The Matrix, San Francisco, CA


SBD : MSR>?>DAT>CD


Instrumental
On And On
Walls Of Time
High Country
Teardrops In My Eyes
Big River
Working On A Building
Breaking In A Brand New Pair Of Shoes
Soldier's Joy
Swing Low (Sweet Chariot)
Blue And Lonesome
Bluegrass Stomp
I Wonder (Where You Are Tonight)
Bluegrass Breakdown
Don't Say Goodbye If You Love Me
Foggy Mountain Breakdown



Corry Arnold: "This show is Jerry sitting in with Bay Area bluegrass band High Country: Butch Waller (mandolin, vocals), David Nelson (guitar, vocals) and Rich Wilbur (bass, vocals). The confusion surrounding this tape was cleared up by a Usenet posting from David Nelson, now buried in my wife's deceased hard drive. Nelson was a sometime member of High Country and Jerry sat in. Since all Matrix shows were taped (hallelujah) this artifact survives. The numbers are such standards that it was easy for naive listeners (including me in the past) to assume that Grisman, Wakefield, Peter Rowan or others were involved, since all bluegrass singers imitate Bill Monroe. According to another posting, the band listed at the Matrix that night was "Weird Herald". For various reasons I think that is a bluegrass joke (there is a well-known bluegrass singer named John Herald, and some other facts). High Country was unlisted, or they actually were Weird Herald. Butch Waller sings and plays a lot like Frank Wakefield so Wakefield is often mistakenly listed as appearing on the tape (I'm sure Waller would be complimented). Butch Waller and High Country still reform every New Years to play the Freight and Salvage in Berkeley. Jerry hasn't shown up yet, but you never know."