Weekly Playlist: Grateful Dead Edition (11/14/2024)
Photo Courtesy of Grateful Dead Official Instagram
Bryce Russell | Arts & Entertainment Editor
Last night, I got the chance to see Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead perform with his band and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra at the Cincinnati Music Hall. Because of that, this week’s weekly playlist will be focussed on my love for the music of the Grateful Dead, Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, and other closely tied bands. Hopefully, it will make the music a few more fans. The Grateful Dead are, in my opinion, the greatest band in American music history, by merging the American musical traditions of jazz, bluegrass, country, blues, and rock into one fantastic sound.
“Friend of the Devil” – The Grateful Dead
In 1970, the Dead took a left turn into Americana, releasing two of their most classic studio albums Working Man’s Dead and American Beauty. Though the band was still steeped in the psychedelia of the 60’s counterculture, these two albums paired that vibe with the feel of American roots music, with the added effect of the band’s friend David Grisman on the mandolin. These two albums created songs that branched outside of their sometimes harsh psychedelic and tripped-out music of the late 60s.
“Terrapin Station – 5/28/77” – The Grateful Dead
“Terrapin Station” is one of what I would call the Dead’s “epic” songs, a 10+ minute excursion into bliss from the moment the first chord is strummed. On this version from Hartford, Connecticut on the Dead’s legendary 1977 tour, lead singer and guitarist Jerry Garcia’s voice is soft and gentle, having the perfect touch to bring the lyrics of Robert Hunter (the band’s non-performing lyricist). “Terrapin Station” is the perfect song to throw on and just listen to with your eyes closed.
“Born Cross-Eyed” – The Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead are known as one of the great pioneers of psychedelic rock, coming from the hippie movement of mid-1960s San Francisco. “Born Cross-Eyed” shows exactly why in a condensed two and a half minute song, with its frantic energy, vocals, and dissonant guitar chords. This is one of the first songs in which the youngest member of the band, Bob Weir, took lead vocals. Along with the sound of Ron “Pigpen” McKernan’s swirling organ, this song sounds like the chaotic energy of 1960s hippie California.
“Brown-Eyed Women” – The Grateful Dead
The bands legendary 1972 live album Europe 72 covered their tour of Europe that ran through April and May of the same year, and is the perfect distillation of the mixture of psychedelic rock, country, blues, and folk music they had created. “Brown-Eyed Women” is one of the band’s simplest songs, but also one of their most fun. It just makes you want to dance.
“Sugaree” – Jerry Garcia
Released on Jerry Garcia’s classic solo 1972 debut Garcia, “Sugaree,” along with other songs off of the album like “Bird Song” and “Loser,” became Dead concert staples. “Sugaree” was one of my favorites as I began to dive into the Dead, with its bluesy, soulful feel. Hopefully you all will like it too.
“Fire on the Mountain” – The Grateful Dead
Off of their disco-inspired 1978 album Shakedown Street, “Fire on the Mountain” quickly became a fan favorite. With groovy bass lines and guitar solos, the song shows the Dead’s melodic versatility and the different influences on the band. If you really want to listen to it the correct way (and you’re up for it), I suggest listening to the band’s version from their performance at Cornell University in 1977, played seamlessly out of “Scarlet Begonias.”
“Althea – 7/3/2023” – Dead & Company
In 2016, after 51 years since the founding of the Grateful Dead and 21 years after the death of frontman Jerry Garcia, original members Bob Weir, Mickey Hart, and Bill Kreutzmann joined together with John Mayer to create Dead & Company, along with past band affiliates Jeff Chimenti and Oteil Burbridge. Arguably the most successful post-Jerry incarnation of the Dead, Dead & Company toured relentlessly every summer from 2016 to 2023, and played a months long residence at the Las Vegas Sphere earlier this year. Since I wasn’t even born when Jerry Garcia died, I was happy to get this band continuing the music (despite what some haters say, they are still very good). John Mayer is a fantastic guitar player and brings a different feel than Jerry Garcia, which is good. The music of the Dead should be ever changing, with no song ever played the exact same way twice and no concert ever being the same. Also, this was the last Dead & Company show I got to see in person, so it holds a special place for me.