New To YouTube: Grateful Dead Plays ‘California Earthquake’ For 2nd & Final Time In 1989

On October 17, 1989 a massive earthquake struck Northern California. The 6.9 magnitude quake led to 63 deaths and 3,757 injuries. At the time the Grateful Dead were in the midst of a highly-regarded East Coast Tour that started with the famed Warlocks shows at Hampton Coliseum. Jerry Garcia & Co. paid tribute to those lost and injured in their home area by unveiling a fitting cover a few nights after the quake.

The Grateful Dead debuted their take on Rodney Crowell’s “California Earthquake” at The Spectrum on October 20, 1989 to close the first set. A few nights later, on October 23, the band played “California Earthquake” for the second and final time to open at the Charlotte Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina. Today, the first fan-shot footage from the Dead’s October 23, 1989 performance to surface on YouTube has appeared. While the quality leaves something to be desired, it is cool to see the band work through the rarity. All told, the 10/23/89 video that was uploaded to YouTube includes six songs from the first set, all sync’d with crispy soundboard audio.

Watch the fan-shot video from October 23, 1989 shared by VoodooNola:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0DQbq3nZm8

Tracks: California Earthquake, Feel Like A Stranger, Loser, Walkin’ Blues, Bertha, When I Paint My Masterpiece

As a bonus, check out footage shot in the lot: