Jerry Garcia   

Welcome back for Vol. 2 of “Backstage Jams.”

In case you missed it, Vol. 1 featured Pete Townshend backstage doing a two song mini-set. Today we've got another guitar legend, Jerry Garcia.

It's an intimate video that offers a rare look at Jerry's unique fingerstyle on Crazy Fingers as he warms up in the dressing room before a show.

A beacon of life to those who would just stop by and dance to his music
— axilla9000

My only complaint about this one is that like Jerry's life, it's just a little too short and leaves you wanting a whole lot more.

Of course, if you do want more you can always find plenty of Jerry Garcia concert DVDs with the Jamtopia Concert DVD Finder.

Many thanks to lsailor for posting this on YouTube.

UPDATE: Sadly, the Going Down video is NO LONGER AVAILABLE on YouTube. I'm trying desperately to find an alternate copy. In the mean time, please enjoy this rendition of Lieber & Stoller's Riot in Cell Block #9 from the same night but with a slightly different lineup.

Here's a real gem of a jam session, featuring the unlikely pairing of Jerry Garcia with Sammy Hagar doing blues mainstay Going Down at Sweetwater Saloon during a Village Music Record Store party.

Jerry Garcia warms it up with the song's opening bars for a few repetitions. Just as things started, Elvis Costello grabs his drink and bolts off stage. Jerry apparently didn't bring a guitar as he's playing Elvis's custom Fender Jazzmaster. It's no problem though, as one reviewer notes, "Jerry makes it sing!"

Hagar, on lead vocals, is skinnier and of course younger looking than the Hagar of today but cheeses it up just the same.

Jeffery Burton, son of James Burton, is on guitar. He has some spectacular hockey hair and equally spectacular licks about two-thirds into the jam. Annie Sampson provides powerful backup vocals. Sean Hooper of Huey Lewis and the News is on keys. Pete Sears lays it down nicely on bass and Scott Matthews rounds out the rhythm section on drums.

Sadly, Village Music Record Store closed in September 2007. Sweetwater Saloon closed briefly but will re-open in a new location.

And don't miss this great video of Freddy King doing a ripping live version of Going Down as written by Don Nix. The song is also available on The Best of the Shelter Years, a compilation album of King's earlier work.