Keller Williams covers "Birdsong"

Keller Williams performs an acoustic cover of the Grateful Dead classic, "Birdsong" written by Robert Hunter as a tribute to Janis Joplin. The performance was recorded during an interview for the documentary film/book project JAMerica before a show in Rochester, NY on 10/06/2011. Directed by Denver Miller and Peter Conners. Director of Photography: JR Kraus. Sound Recordist: Bill Shackelton. Edited by Denver Miller.

[@layersofmeta]

That is what I call knowing a song inside and out.

[@BW-pr8qr]

My lord. He is asked to do a Grateful Dead cover, ponders which one, the guy requests Birdsong, he goes on to play eight minutes of the most incredible guitar work I’ve heard. Now we all know Keller knows every Grateful Dead song there is, but this was incredible.

[@elakefever214]

I love Jerry. I also love keller.

[@bjaminphoto]

I love it, the guy says "Birdsong" and you can see Keller pull it up in his dome. Like a word that activates this amazingness.

[@jasonnielsen8923]

I have never seen a human being so amazingly awesome on there own as keller. He could be looping bass, beatboxing or whistling. Then there is just jamming the shit out of an acoustic guitar. Keller is THE effin Man

[@jimiamfirshur4778]

Creative! That’s the word. I’ve seen him several times and every show was unique. He has a head start with me because he plays a lot of my favorite old Dead tunes, with his own spin. Anytime he’s within an hour drive, I’m there, with my kid (he grew up with this music [thanks Dad])!

[@NotMissingLink]

Never in my life have I introduced someone to Keller’s music and received a negative reaction. Pure Genius.

[@PancakesMcFunk]

Everytime I hear Keller's version of another of my favorite bands songs it is not only better but its like hearing them the first time again with more feeling and emotion. I love these songs and you can hear how much he loves them too. Such an amazing gift he gets to share with the world.

[@charlesholbrookiv3053]

Some dead heads will try to burn me at the stake but this is my favorite birdsong. I was there for "doin that rag" awesome in Houlton, thank you sir.

[@blossomrusso6457]

what a beast! wish we couldve gotten a pizza tapes style session with keller and jerry.

[@Jamchick16]

This song both breaks and makes my heart whole... I come back year after year to hear this particular cover. One of my all time favorites.

[@andyelliott22]

i watch this once a week

[@dinahthomason1704]

me too at least

[@aaronthompson4802]

Its pretty great. I wanna play guitar like this

[@dkdowntown]

Yerp. Me too, and he reminds us to whistle.

[@overtonesnteatime198]

Yep for the last few years

[@stevenpyron5826]

Right there with you. Starting to feel guilty as hell because I'm a huge Dead Head and this is becoming my favorite version

[@rangeofmotion5993]

Watching this again and still can’t comprehend how versatile and smooth this performance is. Geeze!

[@SteamDougy]

Did anyone else notice how fast he went to the song ??? About a millisecond after the words bird song hit his ears!

[@dannydine5263]

I never heard of this guy before but Oh My Lord can he ever play. Nice voice too. HES GOOD.

[@toddsitorius8555]

I remember when I was first Kellered, many years ago, my sister in law gave me a burnt CD of a live show, I was blown away, probably listened to it 100 times before I took it out of the player in the truck lol, almost as monumental as first discovering the Dead.

[@kevinreed95]

That's one of the best acoustic guitar sounds I've ever heard...love Martins! Amazing cover by Keller!

[@philipshirk2228]

I've listened to hard rock for so long that I've almost forgotten how beautiful an acoustic guitar can be

[@MrManicke]

This blew my mind. I can't wait to see Keller live!

[@haikat4]

6:15 I got up out of my chair and cheered! Holy crap!! The master, folks!

[@mversgrove]

Unbelievable... not only how fast he goes into it but the improvisation after he loses his pick @ 5:37... killer

[@dkdowntown]

melt17 Nice! I’ve watched this dozens of times and never noticed. Thanks!

[@coreylanier4016]

Wonder if he planned to drop it and do the last part in his tapping style or if it was by accident. Either way, it’s amazing! (I’m leaning toward it being accidental and then improvised)

[@notme1453]

Don’t think accidental?

[@notme1453]

Although he does say it was forced at the end. Simply amazing

[@youtubelicksmytaint7482]

Good eye. 🧐❤

[@lyssums]

This is the jam that first made me love Keller. He covers it so beautifully. And this recording is fantastic. Thank you!

[@mikehendrix2202]

Yes! The man doing what he does. I will never forget the personal little concerts at the handlebar. Wore my shirt this morning, holes and all.

[@multiplescrotums774]

I met this guy at a park. I had my ovation steal string at which i was remedial. He rides up on a bike starts talking to us. He was just like you might imagine. He Asked if he check out my guitar. Started playing any song i could think of beautifully telling me to sing. I cant sing to great either. Really nice guy.

[@gbmike99]

this man is a true musician

[@75bokonon]

This man has something very, very special.

[@clydew.phillipsjr.]

I just told an expat friend that saw me take him to a John Martyn concert in 85. Nobody compared. Met Keller in the Tennessee mud in 2016. Allelujah~!

[@royroberts687]

That is easily the most sickest coolest acoustic bird song

[@timsamuels1971]

It's Mind blowing how he plays

[@puddles33328]

birdsong. Keller. first saw you with Matthew szechenyi back at lambda chi alpha in spring of 87. wow what a long strange trip

[@DavidCorway]

Scarcely ever heard a more spectacular and inspiring acoustic performance.

[@helpfoolsouls]

So profoundly great. Thanks Keller!

[@StealYourFace7731]

great version, love his style.

[@georgestevens1502]

Dizzyingly beautiful. Amazing what he can do with full chords so far up the neck on an acoustic.

[@douglassimmons3]

i forgot to breath while watching this

[@captcleveland3728]

Awesome! Miss Jerry.

[@mtort40]

Can't stop watching! Unreal!

[@seanlaney5032]

Agreed with a previous comment, 57 people disliked this? WOW. How is that possible? A lack of respect. When you see something special, embrace and enjoy it. This fits.

[@tessoshea8209]

Never been a fan of covers but Keller can do no wrong. 🎶💜

[@whjs7724]

This guy inspired me to learn to hammer on and off. Also slapping my guitar as percussion. Obviously he could play circles around me. But amazing. Guy just plays any instrument flawlessly. He'll loop stuff live. Which is in edicredibe hard. Also played a theramin.

[@mommaswatchinUagain]

I love this, thank you

[@blizzy402]

i love it how he is smiling while slamming on the neck of the guitar

[@capaneus184]

His skills at the guitar are simply too good for mortal men to possess. I get the feeling you could have asked him to play any GD cover and he would've been able to compose it right then and there.

[@jacobkeller29]

10,000 hours to become a master, Keller travels at light speed

[@reidkingsbury]

Just plain WOW!

[@luistraversoteullet727]

It can be improvised, is way too good, this dude is just amazing

[@SpaceCampOfficial]

i agree @andyelliot22 .... i stumbled on this once and always watch it whenever Birdsong happens to be in my head...

[@mevans6914]

Great!!!!! Love it ! Jammin

[@raquielcross5757]

Awesome execution!:)

[@davecacela7473]

Sweet! KW makes it seem so effortless. Btw, the actual writing credit is Hunter and Garcia.

[@SteveRain]

so freakin sweet!

[@nadinesnoopy]

love him

[@Kevtron257]

Masterful

[@marcosluna7792]

Goodness gracious!

[@lettersfromhelen]

Did he follow this up with The Wheel, Loser & Deal? If so, links please...

[@AllenDavisWV]

1,000 of these views are me alone.

[@donnapate4616]

Ditto

[@elizabethspence7629]

Lovely

[@jasonshaeffer]

It is without a doubt: DGCFAD. I've been sitting here for hours learning it. Standard tuning was a total failure.

[@peanutduber2793]

Transposed to E?

[@overtonesnteatime198]

Dont think so

[@biffjohnson7891]

“I recall his darkness “ Jerry Garcia Forever {🥕🐇}:=}

[@stevemiller9837]

The birds seem to enjoy this beautiful cover in the morning. I wonder why🤫

[@troyilderton6355]

Bravo....

[@tschreckengost55]

Love Keller w/ other artists Keller and keels with Bob weir all good 2006 dupress diamond blues into loser probably one of my best tour memories... Keller alone w/ the humming and space I can do without... still very talented musician just too spacey alone

[@seanhennessey9869]

great, really good flow...does it affect the Martin´s neck to have it tuned down a step ?

[@StopMoColorado]

Sean Hennessey - Less tension = flatter neck. Not bad for it, but you may need to adjust the truss rod to avoid string buzzing (even then, lower string(s) may still buzz).

[@rummstien1]

Make jamerica great again

[@tstass1321]

wow.......................

[@josephhoboness5452]

i feel the same way

[@firstube]

so sick

[@cburkett7]

he was already on E, dude is out of this world. K-DUB

[@stephenmathes1]

just bad ass!

[@lancecorwin7237]

Wow

[@adamdeckard]

wow

[@spartanxmonster]

shh.. a master is playing

[@cyndeelancaster455]

Kenner Williams😎‼️ Great picker and just the shit man! Sorry I missed out for too long...very entertaining musician 🎸✌️💛

[@blakegboi1347]

it amazes me how he can jam by himself

[@jgm9991]

Holy shit

[@QuaaludeCharlie]

Good work :) QC

[@jaredthayer4744]

i know im one of the few football fans here watching this but to me it like keller williams equals brady. the conversation being is he one of the greatest of all time.

[@cindy91365]

sweet

[@ericbutcher3887]

What is the guitar tuning on this song I can’t figure it out it’s driving me nuts

[@Berserker_bill]

Slap acoustic

[@bokb30]

"That finger-picking recovery was bad-ass man!"

[@shakagenghis]

Keller just slays it. What a champion. Check out my mildly Keller influenced jam, Up My Sleeve by Jim Gibson if you like.

[@dkdowntown]

Yeah1342 thanks! I dig that sound! You should post some live video too. I’m off to listen to more of Ghengis!

[@stabdeath13]

5:36 pick you are no more!

[@GeminiScribe68]

He's the Randy Newman of guitar!

[@deadheadkev3648]

10 dislikes? lol So many inept unmusically talented people have to put their 2 cents in because they are so intimidated by an awesome guitar player and realize they could never play like that ...this was smokin morons ... maybe if you practiced and kept your hand out of the Vaseline jar you could play like that too someday ...

[@lancecorwin7237]

Don’t you know so much. Must be nice knowing so much. Man, I wish I was you MAN!

[@melonhead49]

shucks... maybe i will be able to play the axe like this in my next life time!

[@marksutherlandjr.2121]

is that a 28? that Martin sounds AMAZING

[@clifftanner8266]

Jerry would be proud.

[@elmoblatch9787]

Holy mother of god

[@1keithk1]

killah!!!!!

[@davidmarshall7887]

TEACHER!!! Show me the way Oh Learned One!!

[@MegaSwog]

[@kennyguy2986]

people thumbs downed this...smh....lmao

[@resetbuttondotcom1512]

Never acknowledge that in the comments. Thank you.

[@kennyguy2986]

I'll do as I wish. I think people would be crazy to do such a thing. You're not welcome;)

[@pb199]

i think KW is tuned to d D tuning (DGCFAD) low to high. His guitar isn't in standard tuning, the tone is all wrong (in Christopher walken voice). Just put my guitar in D tuning and i started getting some keller sounds out of it with bird song. A lot of the chord shapes are similar in other tunings but sound different. What tuning is he in for Above the Thunder? or any others?

[@777Yoni]

I don't know if it's tuned to pitch, but this is in standard tuning.

[@cainmccall2140]

+Bruce Johnson D tuning is standard. Just in the key of D instead of E.

[@scapegoatiscariot2767]

What an amazing piece of music. Something about guitar in this reminds me of Jimmy Page the song overall is not led Zeppelinesk'. Captivating.

[@josephhertzberg2734]

I can hear that

[@adamdeckard]

Please tag this video "dead covers project" watch it come up on dead.net.

[@Senerian]

By far, the best version of this song to ever be played.

[@aaronthompson4802]

3:21

[@joshuarayborn]

I should have been playing the guitar when I was young instead of baseball

[@TheGravygun]

Hammerheads Va beach95

[@recreationalChem2]

bad.ass.

[@elizabethspence7629]

I love you keller fuck shady comments.

[@ChefTareck]

🪻🦉🪻