[1][2][3] At this concert, Jerry Garcia (electric guitar, vocals) and Merl Saunders (keyboards, vocals) were accompanied by their usual rhythm section of John Kahn (bass guitar) and Bill Vitt (drums).

[4][5] On AllMusic, Fred Thomas wrote, "On this date, Saunders and Garcia are more grounded in blues- and soul-rocking than the often-cosmic psychedelia of the Grateful Dead, but the creative chemistry of the band still explores the outer reaches of improvisation....

The relaxed energy and loose performances capture the magical connection Garcia and Saunders found in these low-pressure gigs.

"[6] In Glide Magazine, Doug Collette wrote, "Garcia Live Volume 12 offers some of, if not the most, spirited, edgy performances yet released in this archival series.

And while it’s not quite accurate to assign all the credit to vocalist Sarah Fulcher as the catalyst for this combustible content, it is no coincidence she is featured prominently in photos within the twelve-page booklet... As it was evolving here, roughly three years into their ongoing collaborations, Jerry Garcia's relationship with Merl Saunders was becoming one of the most fulfilling of his life and career.