The Grateful Dead

[GratefulDeadhead]

I just don't get the Grateful Dead. Never did. And I'm a long-time stoner.

But please don't judge me.

Its all good man, everybody has their own preferences when it comes to music, alot of people loved the dead back in the day in my opinion because they perfectly captured the image of the time, they spread all these good vibes through the music.

 

[TBoneJack]

Its all good man, everybody has their own preferences when it comes to music, alot of people loved the dead back in the day in my opinion because they perfectly captured the image of the time, they spread all these good vibes through the music.

So true.

All my friends in college were big fans of the Grateful Dead. I was just different.

I loved Creedance, Joplin, Eagles, Skynyrd.

But I realize the Grateful Dead is an iconic band, and deservedly so.

 

[MidnightWolf]

I just don't get the Grateful Dead. Never did. And I'm a long-time stoner.

But please don't judge me.

It was an atmosphere. The music created an atmosphere all it's own.

 

[MidnightWolf]

I didn't really get into the Dead until I saw them live. Whole different band live. Way better than any of their albums. Bootlegs are the way to go to get a real feel for them. If you can get your hands on a good bootleg (some are better than others) you might get a taste of the real Dead. Billions of bootlegs out there hell, they promoted making bootlegs at their shows. Of course if you can find the paperboy and the balloon vender before listening, altitude adjustment was always helpful

 

[Korova24]

No judging man, and It's the same for me and rap I simply just don't understand

 

[MidnightWolf]

No judging man, and It's the same for me and rap I simply just don't understand

Yeah, Rap eludes me too. I find that if I don't particularly like a type of music, if I listen to it for " what are they trying to do and how well are the doing it" I can get by some of the music I don't understand or like. I don't like heavy Italian Opera, but you have to admit Pavoratti was pretty good at it.

 

[GratefulDeadhead]

I didn't really get into the Dead until I saw them live. Whole different band live. Way better than any of their albums. Bootlegs are the way to go to get a real feel for them. If you can get your hands on a good bootleg (some are better than others) you might get a taste of the real Dead. Billions of bootlegs out there hell, they promoted making bootlegs at their shows. Of course if you can find the paperboy and the balloon vender before listening, altitude adjustment was always helpful

You gotta listen to the San Bernardino show I posted on page 2, its a hell of a show!

 

[MidnightWolf]

I know this might be blasphemy to some heads but I've been getting into phish a bit lately and they do have some really cool jams and transitions. I have "slip stitch and pass" on cd and that really got me into them. Very funky! Okay I digress lol

Phish is excellant. Trey is awesome on guitar. seen them a couple of times

 

[texasjack]

I went to the last Chicago show. It was amazing.

 

[MidnightWolf]

You gotta listen to the San Bernardino show I posted on page 2, its a hell of a show!

Thanks for the post. I only saw them on the east coast. I know what I'm doin' tonight, smoke a little weed (okay smoke alot of weed) and watch that show. Odd thing, the song that started me down the Dead road was "West L.A. Fade Away" not a classic I know but got me started.

 

[Korova24]

I've listened to rap and all the "classics" but it just doesn't get me grooving like how I want, and I have to agree with you on the Italian opera thing haha

 

[playallnite]

I've listened to rap and all the "classics" but it just doesn't get me grooving like how I want, and I have to agree with you on the Italian opera thing haha

 

[playallnite]

Dead for Life!!! My first show was 2/68 Electric Factory, Philly. RIP Jerry, Keith and Pig.

 

[MidnightWolf]

Definitely miss the Dead. Great music, great shows, great memories. The shows I remember anyway.

 

[Johnny Vapor]

Nice thread..I still listen to their music almost every day, but nothing is like a Grateful Dead show. I always laugh at these people that say "I've been to 284 shows" How the hell does anyone remember?? I'm guessing I've been to 200, but who knows, could be 150 could be 250. Your Berdoo show of 2/26/77 is generally considered one of the all time best dead shows ever, as are most of the 1977 shows. First Terrapin, first Estimated Prophet. FWIW, I thought Furthur was the best post Garcia lineup. John Kandlezik was a far better fit than Warren Haynes or Trey Anastasio, 14 years in Dark Star Orchestra is certainly paying dues. Too bad Weir is such an asshole in real life.

Here's a link. You can listen to almost all of their shows for free. (If you're smart and have real player, you can download these shows to your hard drive as well. Look for any show that's been mixed by Charlie Miller. The quality is very good. The guy works miracles.)

https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead

Here's some other good shows: 1/31/70 (1st show after the bust in New Orleans, which was the inspiration for Truckin'), 2/18/71 (1st Bertha), 8/6/71 (Killer Hard to Handle. The crowd goes ape shit when Garcia drops to his knees playing the H2H solo & my first Dead show), 11/25/73 (weirdest China/Rider ever & a pretty good WRS), 10/1/76 (awesome Help/Slip/Franklin & a pretty good preview of what was to come in 1977), 5/8/77 (a lot of people call this the best Dead show ever) 7/8/78 & 7/9/78 (the Dead always played good shows at Red Rocks), 12/7/79 (not a big Brent fan. I didn't think he was a good fit in the band, but a new player in the band always inspired Garcia, at least at first. At any rate, this show has the best China/Rider I've ever heard), 12/31/84 (gotta have a New Years Eve show and this one is as good at they get), 5/10/91-5/12/91 (These 3 shows at Shoreline are epic. Bruce Hornsby is in the band & Garcia really gets off playing with Bruce), 6/17/94 (last time I saw the band with Garcia still alive. Notable for being the day of the OJ Simpson slow speed white Bronco chase.)

 

[GratefulDeadhead]

Nice thread..I still listen to their music almost every day, but nothing is like a Grateful Dead show. I always laugh at these people that say "I've been to 284 shows" How the hell does anyone remember?? I'm guessing I've been to 200, but who knows, could be 150 could be 250. Your Berdoo show of 2/26/77 is generally considered one of the all time best dead shows ever, as are most of the 1977 shows. First Terrapin, first Estimated Prophet. FWIW, I thought Furthur was the best post Garcia lineup. John Kandlezik was a far better fit than Warren Haynes or Trey Anastasio, 14 years in Dark Star Orchestra is certainly paying dues. Too bad Weir is such an asshole in real life.

Here's a link. You can listen to almost all of their shows for free. (If you're smart and have real player, you can download these shows to your hard drive as well. Look for any show that's been mixed by Charlie Miller. The quality is very good. The guy works miracles.)

https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead

Here's some other good shows: 1/31/70 (1st show after the bust in New Orleans, which was the inspiration for Truckin'), 2/18/71 (1st Bertha), 8/6/71 (Killer Hard to Handle. The crowd goes ape shit when Garcia drops to his knees playing the H2H solo & my first Dead show), 11/25/73 (weirdest China/Rider ever & a pretty good WRS), 10/1/76 (awesome Help/Slip/Franklin & a pretty good preview of what was to come in 1977), 5/8/77 (a lot of people call this the best Dead show ever) 7/8/78 & 7/9/78 (the Dead always played good shows at Red Rocks), 12/7/79 (not a big Brent fan. I didn't think he was a good fit in the band, but a new player in the band always inspired Garcia, at least at first. At any rate, this show has the best China/Rider I've ever heard), 12/31/84 (gotta have a New Years Eve show and this one is as good at they get), 5/10/91-5/12/91 (These 3 shows at Shoreline are epic. Bruce Hornsby is in the band & Garcia really gets off playing with Bruce), 6/17/94 (last time I saw the band with Garcia still alive. Notable for being the day of the OJ Simpson slow speed white Bronco chase.)

I have much more to check out now!! Thanks man!

 

[GratefulDeadhead]

Nice thread..I still listen to their music almost every day, but nothing is like a Grateful Dead show. I always laugh at these people that say "I've been to 284 shows" How the hell does anyone remember?? I'm guessing I've been to 200, but who knows, could be 150 could be 250. Your Berdoo show of 2/26/77 is generally considered one of the all time best dead shows ever, as are most of the 1977 shows. First Terrapin, first Estimated Prophet. FWIW, I thought Furthur was the best post Garcia lineup. John Kandlezik was a far better fit than Warren Haynes or Trey Anastasio, 14 years in Dark Star Orchestra is certainly paying dues. Too bad Weir is such an asshole in real life.

Here's a link. You can listen to almost all of their shows for free. (If you're smart and have real player, you can download these shows to your hard drive as well. Look for any show that's been mixed by Charlie Miller. The quality is very good. The guy works miracles.)

https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead

Here's some other good shows: 1/31/70 (1st show after the bust in New Orleans, which was the inspiration for Truckin'), 2/18/71 (1st Bertha), 8/6/71 (Killer Hard to Handle. The crowd goes ape shit when Garcia drops to his knees playing the H2H solo & my first Dead show), 11/25/73 (weirdest China/Rider ever & a pretty good WRS), 10/1/76 (awesome Help/Slip/Franklin & a pretty good preview of what was to come in 1977), 5/8/77 (a lot of people call this the best Dead show ever) 7/8/78 & 7/9/78 (the Dead always played good shows at Red Rocks), 12/7/79 (not a big Brent fan. I didn't think he was a good fit in the band, but a new player in the band always inspired Garcia, at least at first. At any rate, this show has the best China/Rider I've ever heard), 12/31/84 (gotta have a New Years Eve show and this one is as good at they get), 5/10/91-5/12/91 (These 3 shows at Shoreline are epic. Bruce Hornsby is in the band & Garcia really gets off playing with Bruce), 6/17/94 (last time I saw the band with Garcia still alive. Notable for being the day of the OJ Simpson slow speed white Bronco chase.)

Did you know if you have Dish Network you get access to a bunch of Sirius XM Satellite Radio Channels including Channel 6023 AKA The Grateful Dead Channel where they play non-stop anything Dead? Its so awesome cause ive heard so many different variations of the songs I like and jams that just take you places I fucking love it man, Im only 19 and ive never seen a show nor will I ever get to but I dont let that get me down, I just make sure the music never stops playing...grateful growers, Deadheads for life!

 

[Johnny Vapor]

Did you know if you have Dish Network you get access to a bunch of Sirius XM Satellite Radio Channels including Channel 6023 AKA The Grateful Dead Channel where they play non-stop anything Dead? Its so awesome cause ive heard so many different variations of the songs I like and jams that just take you places I fucking love it man, Im only 19 and ive never seen a show nor will I ever get to but I dont let that get me down, I just make sure the music never stops playing...grateful growers, Deadheads for life!

Thanks for the tip. My satellite radio is tuned to channel 23. The Dead's music is timeless, and as such, never goes out of style. It's cool to see a young person such as yourself diggin' the music. Weir's still going to tour with his Ratdog band. I'm pretty sure Phi & his solo persona "Phil & friends" are only playing shows at his Terrapin Studio venue in the Bay area. He's 75, I believe. If you're in the US, make some attempt to see him or Weir. I'm not a big Weir fan, but his solo shows are mostly Dead music, as are Phil's shows. Dark Star Orchestra plays 250 dates a year in the US, two tours each year and cover almost all of the US. They're the best of the Dead cover bands now that Furthur has disbanded.

 

[Sonnshine]

I only saw the Dead once, but it was a pretty good show to see, in the Melkweg, Amsterdam Nov 16, 81. My dad was USAF and we lived in Soesterberg. Was on the way home from work when my two friends told me they had played the night before and were playing again that night. I almost didn't believe them, but locked the motorcycle up and went along. Glad I did. First time they played Lovelight since Pigpen died. Gloria. Hurdy Gurdy Man, a lot of unusual stuff, acoustic set, then electric on house equipment. Maybe 300-500 people total? Was phenominal show.

To complete the circle, I later lived in Veneta Oregon for 25+ years, where they played a great show on 8-27-72 (before my time I was like 11) to benefit the Kesey yogurt business. That show still has one of my favorite China Cat/Rider versions.

I like all music, it just goes so well with weed. But the Dead have a special place.

 

[innerG]

Never saw them live but I'm a big fan.

Their catalog of songs covers such a wide swath of music, there's really a lot there. Everything from blues, to pure experimental psychedelia to rock, roots, bluegrass... they are really a slice of Americana.

My fav albums of theirs are their early 70's stuff, Workingman's Dead/American Beauty of course, but the live stuff from around then is even better - Europe '72, Hundred Year Hall, etc.