Editing San Francisco Sound (section)

=== Musical characteristics ===

Each San Francisco band had its characteristic sound, but enough commonalities existed that there was a recognisable regional identity. By 1967, fresh and adventurous improvisation during live performance — widely held to be epitomised by the Grateful Dead and the "cross-talk" guitar work of Moby Grape — was one defining characteristic of the sound. 

The conventions of live performance were radically redefined: guitarists played solos lasting for several minutes, light shows provided visual accompaniment, and members of the audience dressed as spectacularly as the performers.  Psychedelic experiences encouraged the use of feedback and distortion, and in some cases more orchestration. Some bands were committed to the lifestyle as well as to playing while stoned. 

The ballrooms provided a backdrop for the San Francisco Sound, housing "dance concerts" headlined by bands like Jefferson Airplane, the Grateful Dead, and Big Brother and the Holding Company. The music, with its free-flowing guitar interludes and acid-infused lyrics, sounded best in a live setting, feeding off the energy from the audience.