Perhaps the definitive Bay Area venue in which to see the Grateful Dead during their early years, the Fillmore West continued to be called “the Carousel Ballroom” by the Dead and fans alike even after Bill Graham took over the lease from the consortium
of bands that had been running the place and renamed it. Recorded that year for Aoxomoxoa, “Doin’ That Rag” was perhaps the peak of the Dead’s early psychedelic prog-rock with its jeweled lyrics and mid-song modulation. Overflowing with images and chords, it’s a songwriting voice that Garcia and Hunter will soon put aside, but it’s at home at the Carousel/Fillmore, a cartoon song for cartoon times.