Grateful Dead

[The Poojer]

47 minutes ago, Logic said:

I am an obsessive Deadhead. With each year that goes by, I just get more and more into the Dead. It never gets old to me. One key thing to know, by the way, is that listening to their live shows is absolutely, positively the way to understand and enjoy them best. The Dead themselves agree. They were just never really able to match the greatness of their live shows in a studio setting. More on that below.

First, in short: music is highly subjective. Each band puts off a certain "frequency" that either resonates with you or it doesn't. If the Dead don't resonate with you, that's perfectly fine. There are PLENTY of popular artists who I just don't "get". I'm not a big Bruce Springsteen, Rolling Stones, or Led Zeppelin guy. I can appreciate why people like their music, and I can admit that they're objectively "good", whatever that means. It's just not for me. As Ram Dass would say: "I just have no business with them".  

Now, let me tell you why I love the Grateful Dead. If you don't want to really find out what the Dead is all about, just click away now, because this is it:

1.) The musicians - Each musician in the Dead comes from a different background. Jerry Garcia was brought up on bluegrass and folk music. He is also highly influenced by Django Reinhart. His style is melodically unique and no one else sounds like him. The second you hear Jerry Garcia, you know it's Jerry Garcia. He's unique largely because the scales and themes that he predominantly uses are NOT based in blues and R&B. This alone sets him apart from just about every popular rock guitarist ever. His choice of notes...what can I say? His guitar SOUNDS like a sunny day in California. It SOUNDS like happiness. Then you have Phil Lesh, the bassist, who is a classical and avante garde musician who plays the bass in a highly irregular fashion. He is as much a "lead player" as Jerry Garcia. In order to provide back balance to these two "lead players" (Phil and Jerry), the rhythm guitarist, Bob Weir, plays in a highly unique, "percussive" sort of style that can best be likened to the way pianist McCoy Tyner played behind John Coltrane. He fills in the empty spaces and keeps things grounded. Along with him are the two drummers. Bill Kretuzman comes from a marching band background, whereas Mickey Hart is versed in world rhythms, poly-rhythms, and odd percussion instruments. The two of them together combine to create a one-of-a-kind, drummer-with-four-arms sound that offsets the wild musical adventurousness of Jerry Garcia and Phil Lesh. Lastly, the keyboardists. The first was Pigpen, who was a blues guy through and through. After him came Keith Godchaux, who was a classical pianist. After him came Brent Mydland, who played a B3 organ and had a raspy, soulful voice that added new color to the band. Going back over what I've just elucidated, you have players from bluegrass, folk, country, blues, classical, world music, and R&B backgrounds, which combine into a strange and completely unique amalgam of Americana. The band has songs in each of these styles, too. To listen to the Grateful Dead is to listen to the entire history of American music. Oh, and the singing? You're right, they don't have "good" singing voices. I'll defer to Sam Cooke here, who once said "the degree to which you should be considered a good singer ought to be based not on how 'beautiful' your voice is, but by how effectively you can convince us that you're telling  the truth". When Jerry Garcia or Bob Weir sang, I always believed them. 

2.) The Songbook - None of the above would matter much if the songs sucked. I'm not a fan of Phish, or Widespread Panic, or any other "jam music", for instance, because the songs are no good and the jams/solo sections are aimless, masturbatory silliness. In the Dead's case, the lyrics are provided by Robert Hunter, who is an EXTREMELY underrated lyricist. His writing is heavily steeped in literary history. He uses strange, Joycean word combinations. He writes about "the old, strange, weird America". About gamblers, thieves, cowboys, murderers, love, poker games, travelers, and death. He's such a strong lyricist that Bob Dylan actually asked Hunter to write some songs for him. How many people has Bob Dylan asked to write songs for HIM? Not many. Aside from the lyrics, the musical compositions themselves are often bizarre and/or brilliant. They often play in strange time signatures. They also often string songs together end-to-end during live shows, or begin with a song, move through a few others, then back to the original. They have some highly musically complex compositions that bely the "silly hippie band" stereotype that most apply to them. Many a "serious musician" has been talked into listening to the Grateful Dead, nearly against their will, only to be blown away by the musical dexterity and originality of the band. Their songs are catchy. They evoke true and honest feeling. They're often deeply sad. They seem to have an ethereal ability to change meaning over time and to mean completely different things to different people. They have an absolutely amazing, dense, beautiful songbook.

3.) The improvisation/the recorded history - The Grateful Dead had nearly every show they ever played over the course of a 30-year-career recorded. They usually toured 7-9 months out of the year. But what kind of nut would want to LISTEN to 30 years of the same band? Well, here's the thing: They never played the same show twice. Not just the setlist of songs they chose, but the WAY they played each song...was never the same twice. Each song and each show were completely unique, like snowflakes. So I can sit down with 30 versions of a song, and each one will be different. This provides for the listener what essentially amounts to a vast, nearly inexhaustible treasure hunt. The ability to find which shows were good and for what reasons. Which particular versions of songs were transcendent and why. The REASON the shows and songs were so different is that the band essentially used the songs as jumping off points for improvisation -- much like you find in jazz music. The muse might catch them in a certain way on a certain night and take them to new heights. Or it might not, and they might lay down a stinker. The fans came along for the ride and gave them permission to search for the muse each night. This meant that, when things WEREN'T going well, the show wasn't going to bowl anyone ever. If they DID catch that unspeakable SOMETHING, though, it meant vastly higher highs than bands who DIDN'T take the same type of risks were capable of achieving. This night-to-night search is what the Dead's musical journey was all about. In addition, as you might imagine, over the course of 30 years, the band changed a lot. The instruments they played, the effects they used, the songs that came and went from their repertoire. In short, they changed and evolved countless times over the course of their history. The one common thread that snaked through their entire career, though? That would be...

4.) Psychedelic group mind/the live show experience - From their first days as a band, the Grateful Dead were taking psychedelics together. Coming up in San Francisco in 1965, they would all drop acid and go to one of Ken Kesey's Acid Tests (all night, acid-fueled, multi-media drenched bacchanalias where anything goes), where they were the house band and could play anything they wanted. These constant psychedelic sessions and the frequency with which the Dead played together fused them together into a sort of group mind that is hard to understand or empathize with unless you've had psychedelic experience yourself. The players learned to listen to each other deeply, to leave space for each other, to anticipate where the others were going and beat them to the punch. When the Dead were "on", they were six men playing as one organism -- as the band would say, "the music played the band". Not only that, but the audience, too, became a part of the show. The wild, wooly, traveling circus of lunatics that followed the Grateful Dead and filed into the shows each night helped dictate the outcome of the music. A really hot and involved crowd often meant a great set from the band. There weren't big light shows or pyrotechnics, just a pure exchange between audience and band, such that the boundaries between the two dissolved. The old saying "there is NOTHING like a Grateful Dead show" is absolutely true. It was like an ancient, tribal ritual brought back from from..well...from the dead, I guess. Human beings have been getting together for centuries, taking different mind-altering substances, and dancing around fires to music in order to transcend common reality and reach the Heavens. Dead shows called to mind exactly that type of ritual. There was no judgement at these shows, no cynical laughter at someone for dancing too funny. To be at a Grateful Dead show was to be  completely free. No matter how weird you were, you were never the weirdest guy there. There was a palpable feeling of love, community, comraderie, compassion, and shared joy at these shows. Everyone took care of each other. Everyone was there for the same thing -- transcendence. Again, this is hard to describe in words and I'm sure sounds trite and silly to someone who never experienced it. What can I say? Some things are beyond words, and Grateful Dead shows are definitely one of those things.


So...if you're with me this far....the combination of the musicians, the lyrics, the musical compositions, the vast array of musical styles which ultimately comprise the entire history of American music, the improvisation, the impact of psychedelics, the atmosphere at live shows, the community of fans...it all combined to make a completely unique, unmatched, unrivaled, and absolutely magical experience. In all likelihood, the Deadheads probably detract from the band, because people see all the hippie-dippie fans and just assume it must all be hippie-dippie throwaway music. But it's not. It's deep, dense, rich, beautiful stuff, and there is nothing on earth quite like it. If you don't like it, if you "have no business with it", if it doesn't resonate with you, that's fine. But to those for whom it DOES resonate...it is a great blessing. It is grace. It is magic. Click any one of the links below and pull it up on your phone and go for a drive on a sunny day with the windows down and blast it. If that doesn't "do it" for you, nothing of theirs likely ever will. And that's okay.

The following three shows are from three of the best years of their touring career. The first is the most popularly traded Dead show of all time, which some consider to be their best, from 5-8-77 at Cornell University. The second is from 11-11-73 at Winterland Arena, and the third is from their famed Europe '72 tour, taking place on 04-17-72.


https://archive.org/details/gd77-05-08.sbd.hicks.4982.sbeok.shnf.

https://archive.org/details/gd73-11-11.sbd.schlissel.14105.sbeok.shnf

https://archive.org/details/gd1972-04-17.sbd.sirmick.34038.sbeok.flacf


Hope this helps.

I think I love you!!!!  ♥️?

[WhoTom]

47 minutes ago, Logic said:

Now, let me tell you why I love the Grateful Dead. If you don't want to really find out what the Dead is all about, just click away now, because this is it:

 

I won't copy the whole thing, but man, you nailed it.

[Logic]

6 hours ago, Pete said:

I'm sorry

 

Fellow Deadheads enjoy-

https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead

 

side topic- what is your favorite dead show?  Buffalo?  Cornell?

 

One more- what shows have new speedway boogie?  It seems they play it rarely

 

 

http://setlist.com/

On the lefthand side of the above website is a "song search" function. Make sure "Grateful Dead" is chosen in the band field. Should be set to that by default. Anyway, punch in "New Speedway Boogie", or whatever song you want to find out about, and it will list every show they ever played that song in.




http://headyversion.com/song/193/grateful-dead/new-speedway-boogie/

This is a website I like a lot where fans vote for their favorite live versions of songs.



As to my favorite live show ever? Boy, I don't think I could choose such a thing. My favorite current live ERA is winter '73. Liquid electric jazz bliss.

6 minutes ago, WhoTom said:

 

I won't copy the whole thing, but man, you nailed it.

Thanks!

I get asked this question a lot. The "why do you like the Dead?" question. I could write a doctoral dissertation on the subject. What I typed up was the most shortened and succinct version I could reasonably post to a football message board. ?

Edited April 10, 2020 by Logic

[Chef Jim]

52 minutes ago, Augie said:

 

Yes, when I think of the Dead, the next think that comes to mind is..............the Beach Boys? 

When I said “America’s Band” absolutely. Their music is almost uniquely American. 

[Chef Jim]

1 hour ago, Logic said:

I disagree with all of this. Entirely.

Jerry Garcia an average guitarist? I don't even know what to say to that. I'll just not bother.

Bob Weir was a completely unique rhythm guitarist. As I mentioned in my post above, he had the unenviable task of trying to fit into a musical soundscape that featured two dominant lead players -- Jerry and Phil -- and left little room for assertive rhythm guitar. So instead of even trying that, he affected a style that is best compared to a jazz pianist like McCoy Tyner. Odd, unique, percussive, rhyhtmic jabs that no other rhythm guitarist really ever even tried. 

Phil Lesh only a DECENT bass player? Again, I couldn't disagree more. A completely unique player. No bassist in rock music sounds like Phil Lesh. He is also a highly trained classical musician with a deep knowledge of the form. The way he completely eschews traditional bass playing and instead basically plays it like a lead instrument is awe-inspiring. The degree to which he uses the high register of an instrument whose high register is rarely so well used, again...hard to put words to. Just amazing, really.

To each their own. As I stated above, music is highly subjective. Neither of us is "right". I do, however, COMPLETELY disagree with everything you said. I also completely disagree that Umphrey's friggin McGee has more musical prowess than the Grateful Dead. But again, to each their own.  

 

 

I will never say I disagree 100% with anything you say about music.  All I will say about music is I agree 1000% about everything I say about music because at the end of the day what I think is all that matters. 
 

 

[Simon]

21 minutes ago, Chef Jim said:

When I said “America’s Band” absolutely. Their music is almost uniquely American. 

 

When I've been asked what kind of music the Dead plays, my answer has always been "Americana"

 

 

[Chef Jim]

Just now, Simon said:

 

When I've been asked what kind of music the Dead plays, my answer has always been "Americana"

 

 

And that applies absolutely with The Beach Boys too. More so with the Beach Boy. 

[GETTOTHE50]

saw people talking about jerry's guitar playing- obviously iconic and one-of-a-kind style, all the way from technique-to-tone.

 

there are only a couple guitar players you can point out right away just from their tone/style alone and they are: jerry, gilmore, mick taylor, clapton's cream days, and duane.

 

i know im leaving out the all-time greats like page, hendrix, and keith, who are my all-time favorites when it comes to grooving.

 

its just that jerry's playing is 100% unique.

[Chef Jim]

17 minutes ago, Chef Jim said:

I will never say I disagree 100% with anything you say about music.  All I will say about music is I agree 1000% about everything I say about music because at the end of the day what I think is all that matters. 
 

 

And I will add this. Why earbuds are gods gift to music. That way I will not subject your ears to the best ***** jamband ever.  ?

[Augie]

6 minutes ago, Chef Jim said:

And I will add this. Why earbuds are gods gift to music. That way I will not subject your ears to the best ***** jamband ever.  ?

 

Retiring your boom box may have saved your life! 

[Turk71]

4 hours ago, KD in CA said:

Bob Weir lives just up the hill from me and owns the local music hall that's around the corner.  I saw him there two months ago at the launch of his current (now suspended) tour.  First time I ever saw any member of the Dead perform live, and while I always thought they were pretty good, I've never been a huge fan.  Perhaps it was just the hippie vibe in the crowd and the faint scent of herb in the air, but I was blown away.  He was fantastic, one of the best performers I've ever seen live.  It actually made me regret never going to see the Dead as a youngster when they were together.  Maybe I wouldn't have liked them as much then, but I'm sure glad I got to see one of them now.

Is he in Mill Valley? I saw some amazing shows at the old Sweetwater that closed. Does he own the Sweetwater Music Hall now? I used to spend a lot of time in that area. Lived in San Anselmo for a brief time and lived in Bolinas, this was early 90s. 

8 hours ago, The Real Buffalo Joe said:

I know I'm stepping on some toes here, but I'm honestly asking, not just trying to cause trouble. I can’t be the only person that’s tried, multiple times, to get into the Grateful Dead and just can’t. From what I've listened to, they’re just not that great. They come off as a poor man’s Allman Brothers. If there’s something I’m missing, let me know. Their guitar playing is average at best, their singing is atrocious. I consider myself fairly knowledgeable about rock music, especially from that era. I just don’t hear it.

Saw my first Dead concert at the Aud in 77, amazing show. The live experience was the best way to understand their appeal. Workingmans Dead and American Beauty are their best studio work imo.

Edited April 10, 2020 by Turk71

[Turk71]

Archive.org is the world's largest digital library and has a huge live music section with pretty much every live GD show for listening or download. They also have hundreds of other bands' live shows

  The archive was started by a Dead fan from San Fran who also started Alexa Inc.

   I recommend listening to Cornell and Buffalo from 77 to get an idea of their live sound and energy.

Edited April 10, 2020 by Turk71

[KD in CA]

45 minutes ago, Turk71 said:

Is he in Mill Valley? I saw some amazing shows at the old Sweetwater that closed. Does he own the Sweetwater Music Hall now? I used to spend a lot of time in that area. Lived in San Anselmo for a brief time and lived in Bolinas, this was early 90s. 

 

Yup.  The original site is now a restaurant.  The new (not so new anymore) Sweetwater is across the street from City Hall/fire station.

[ExiledInIllinois]

The skill is in the improvisational play... How they work together.  That's not easy to do.

 

 

[Bad Things]

There is nothing like a Grateful Dead concert.

 

 

One of the best days I've ever had.

[Aireskoi]

I got into the music in '98 after my early life fell apart... I was at a real low point and the Dead Europe '72 - 2 disc set pulled me through.

 

I was never exposed to the music except Touch Of Grey, so I was clueless.  I only had the Europe '72 CD's in my music collection because my girlfriends mom had a garage sale and a bunch of CD's didn't sell.  I pulled it from being thrown away because I was born in '72 and the cover was too cool for the can, but never touched it for a couple years.

 

One bored and lonely day I picked it up and looked at the song titles.  'It hurts me too' was familiar from Eric Clapton's version on his blues album.  That song was my intro, and I was impressed enough to check the album out.   The rest of the songs changed me forever.  My path into the Dead went through the Europe '72 songs, and something about the bass lines just tickled my brain.  There was blues at the heart of the band, and I was all about the blues.

 

I would recommend to any new listener to start with Dead '72 and work backwards and then forwards from there.  There's stuff from the 60's that I like better than the 80's and 90's...I may have never been a fan if I would have started with the 80's or 90's version of the band.

 

 

 

[Pete]

I worked with a friend, a huge deadhead in the 90s.  He is an artistic deadhead neatnik, who had every dead show on cassette, ordered chronologically.  It was a massive undertaking.  If he really liked you, one day he would come up to you, and hand you a cassette of the Dead show the day you were born.

this is the show he gave me, the day I was born

 

https://archive.org/details/gd69-05-10.sbd.tzuriel.1336.sbeok.shnf

 

And old girlfriend gave me 5/6/77 Winterland on cassette freshman year.  That's the show that turned me on to the Dead

Edited April 10, 2020 by Pete

[Rico]

Here's how I would recommend getting into them:

1. Avoid the studio albums. They are OK for what they are, but live is where it's at.

2. If you don't already have it, sign up for premium Spotify.

3. Plenty to choose from there, but make a playlist of all Dick's Picks shows that took place in the 1960's and 1970's. There is some good stuff later to be sure, but a lot of the material just isn't as good.

4. Just play it. You don't have to concentrate on it, it can be in the background. There will be a lot of hours of music there, I think before it is over,  things will kick in.

 

[Prickly Pete]

16 hours ago, The Real Buffalo Joe said:

I know I'm stepping on some toes here, but I'm honestly asking, not just trying to cause trouble. I can’t be the only person that’s tried, multiple times, to get into the Grateful Dead and just can’t. From what I've listened to, they’re just not that great. They come off as a poor man’s Allman Brothers. If there’s something I’m missing, let me know. Their guitar playing is average at best, their singing is atrocious. I consider myself fairly knowledgeable about rock music, especially from that era. I just don’t hear it.

 

They are basically the original Hoola Bandoola Band...willfully plain, sexless music. 

 

If you must know, go to 14:04

 

 

 

Garcia has his own thing, and plays some good stuff, but nothing that warrants hours of sifting through a swimming pool full of noodles, while trying to tune out Weir struggling with "microtonal' vocalizing.

 

They blow.

 

 

 

Edited April 10, 2020 by 32ABBA

[Rico]

35 minutes ago, 32ABBA said:

 

They are basically the original Hoola Bandoola Band...willfully plain, sexless music.

 

If you must know, go to 14:04

 

 

 

 

They blow.

 

 

 

I'm interested in who is going is take the time to play this. If you do, please like his post.