My First Reaction to Grateful Dead - Bird Song | So all you grateful dead fans are....

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[@poloreacts27]

Thanks for watching this was amazing please be sure to like the video on your way out. Support the show here www.patreon.com/poloreacts or show your love for the channel by buying me a coffee www.buymeacoffee.com/poloreacts 🤞🏾

[@88pjtink]

They are a folk band at heart, and you can hear that in everything they did. THROWING STONES, RIPPLE, UNCLE JOHN'S BAND, AND A TOUCH OF GREY are all must-listens to me. Keep up the great exploring and reacting.

[@deborahbaye6079]

Polo this is a great artist. Now are you claiming that the free gift and us talking on telegram wasn't you? 😢 I hope no one else gets hosed and lied to claiming to be you 😢 WOW 💔

[@UranusHz420]

The Grateful Dead are the “quintessential” American band. The took all the truly American genres of music (folk, blues, bluegrass, country, western, Motown, funk, rock n roll, and even a little disco) and mixed them all together and performed them like rock with the improvisational traditions of jazz and Dixieland. As Jerry Garcia once said: “It’s *like* rock and roll - it’s got the same instruments: electric guitars, bass, drums and keyboards - but it’s Grateful Dead music. Whatever that is.”

[@deborahbaye6079]

Hey Polo hope this finds you well. You're friend the biggest sucker in the world 🌍 💔✌️🤘

[@TheDukestriker]

Next Dead go for a two fer. A version of them doing “You win again”.

[@driddels]

Don't make the mistake of pigeonholing the Dead as a "chill" band. They had an incredible dynamic range. They could hold 10,000 fans in rapt silence as they squeezed every ounce of emotion out of a single note, then 10 minutes later take those same fans on an improvisational, acid-drenched trip to Mars, and then 20 minutes later tear into a raging rocker. They were first and foremost a dance band, after all. And I can attest: more than once in the '70s, I found myself in the middle of a tightly packed mob a few feet from the stage, dancing so furiously that I realized that my feet were no longer on the floor; I'd just sort of danced my way upward through that gyrating mass of writhing bodies until I was literally floating on a fiery torrent of musical bliss. Nothing like it anywhere else.

[@Deadheadchef89]

The only ones to ever do it 👌

[@davidbreitkopf3603]

Yes, here listen to this little "chill" tune called "The Eleven" from 1969.

[@JoseMabok]

✌️what he said (~);}

[@jeffhobbs1729]

ya their dynamic range as well as the different styles they could pull fom

[@ottis1guy]

Same

[@cryptogentic]

This song was written for Janus Joplin after she died. A close friend of the band. What a wonderful and tragic short life. She flew off too soon.

[@cartercarter645]

Great info - I never knew that. Thank you for the insight!! Fare Thee Well

[@AbeBSea]

Janus?

[@hakanandreasson3997]

Janis❤!!

[@craiger991gm]

That definitely adds some context I never had before. Thanks! 🌹💀

[@BrianTheDeadhead]

Janis was more than a friend of the band. She loved Jerry and she and Pigpen were kindred spirits. Such a beautiful, lament (yet uplifting) for such a beautiful soul.

[@SusanLind-Kanne-dc1rx]

What makes Grateful Dead special is that they’re musicians, not rock stars.

[@angiek6799]

Regarding your comment about some people saying there’s nothing good about the Grateful Dead, while others sing you their praises, Jerry Garcia summed it up best when he said “We’re like licorice. Not everybody likes licorice, but the people who like licorice REALLY like licorice” ✌️

[@musicdunc]

‘Chill’ is only one side of the Grateful Dead spectrum of moods and colors. There’s also apocalyptic red, tie dye ecstasy, etc. so forth. They can be mellow and intense as music can get. There’s so much diversity with such a large body of work over so many decades. A lot to unpack.

[@jackstraw4129]

Polo needs his face melted. A 30 minute PITB or Other One early 70's. 💨💨✌

[@justkiddin84]

Trance, definitely!

[@musicdunc]

@@jackstraw4129 Honestly, based on his reactions thus far, I don’t think your going to win him over or get him to really appreciate the Dead with a 30 minute “face melting” Playing in the Band. The condensed but intense version on Weir’s album Ace would convey the feel perfectly and be better received. I feel like I do have a sense of what he’d be into; but 30 minutes of PITB ain’t it. I suspect Polo’d really enjoy the Festival Express video version or one of the smoking Fillmore versions of a Pigpen led 1970 or 71 ‘Hard to Handle’ imo. If a patreon member were to recommend ‘the Other One’ it ought to be the Anthem of the Sun live studio produced version with the Garcia intro. I think some of the recommendations or versions of songs thus far have been a little suspect. There are effective ways to turn newbs onto the diverse musical stylings of the Grateful Dead but sadly the art of doing of doing so is, in and of itself, a dying or lost art form. Now get off my lawn!

[@jackstraw4129]

@@musicdunc 😳😂Come on man. We just need a place to camp and access to a hose. First, my love of The Other One, especially the Cryptical free ones but going from 68-74 just momentous stuff. Worth of the monicker Rolling Thunder. The idea of the face melting comes from Polo's use of the word chill over and over. Come's A Time from 5/9/77 and others. A beautiful Stella Blue crying all over the skies. No one will react to the OO. No one seems to react to Katie Mae or an early Good Lovin. So, not for you and I, but for the uninitiated my requests fit in line with how he's being introduced to the Dead. First set is over and the 💦is kicking in. This cat hasn't even tasted a Morning Dew, Scarlett>Fire etc. That's ok. He's on the journey. Pleasure to chat with you. For a real good time Nognuisagoodgnu on YT. JerryCentric. All khind people are welcome. 💨💨✌

[@jackstraw4129]

@@musicdunc And as far as studio albums go I never listen to them anymore. But as it's the 50th anniversary for WOTF hats off to the band. The almost made a decent album. JK. Top three studio album for me. Maybe their best. I just found the discs to the June 77 Winterland shows in my collection. Totally forgotten. Of course it's all on YT if you know where to find them. Just type in the date lol. 🙃🙃

[@bobschenkel7921]

This is an acoustic version, which i witnessed live, from Radio City Music Hall on Halloween Night 1980. The Dead did an acoustic set, then two electric sets, quite a night. I also caught a couple of electric versions of this song, especially the night of 9/3/88 at the Capital Center in Landover, Md, "The Ripple Show". They ended the the first set with a "Bird Song" that I thought they were lost in, until they brought it back together just before the end. It was INTENSE. And then the show ended with the first electric version of "Ripple" in 17 years. That's why we spent all our time and money on the road, you just never knew what was going to happen. Thank You Janis and Jerry.

[@mattcalifornia7318]

Yes - the Reckoning album is taken from live recordings of their mostly acoustic tour in '80-'81. It sounds markedly different from pretty much all of their other studio albums and live recordings (other than the live albums from that tour). The selection of songs on Reckoning also leans more toward the folk and traditional end of the Dead's sound. Although they are hard to categorize, their music is heavily influenced by folk, bluegrass, rock and jazz. Anyway, I happen to love the Reckoning album. It might even be my favorite. However, you should listen to a bunch more Dead to get a good feel for their different sounds. Also, they never play any songs the same way twice live.

[@mattcalifornia7318]

BTW, when I saw that you were reacting to Bird Song, I was sure it was going to be one of the versions from the 1990 tour featuring Branford Marsallis on saxophone. Very different sound. I actually like the acoustic Reckoning version better. You have to hear a ton of Dead songs to even appreciate the band's range and variety. Also, because they are a jam band (and due to other influences), some performances are just way better than others. yeah - they sing out of key sometimes and miss on the harmonies, and they ad libbing doesn't always work out perfectly -- but that becomes part of the charm of the band and the reason people followed them on tour. You never knew when you were going to catch a moment of magic.

[@bobschenkel7921]

Hey mattcalifornia, to quote Travis Bickle aka Robert DeNiro in "Taxi Driver", "Are you talking to me?" I attended about 50 Grateful Dead concerts, including the 10/31/80 show, and I know what they are all about. It really sounds like you were talking to POLO, through my comment, which is okay, but just be careful about it in the future. Smiles all around Matt.@@mattcalifornia7318

[@lesblatnyak5947]

I think once you see the Dead live you understand what the Dead is.

[@JayLandon64]

This version is also on the Reckoning album.

[@brianteichert1959]

It's got that bounce, man. "EYES OF THE WORLD" should be played on loop in elevators across the world!

[@justkiddin84]

We would all be happier, a bit, you are right.

[@Deadheadchef89]

8/6/74 from NJ my absolute favorite version of Eyes

[@owconundrum9928]

​@@Deadheadchef89 YES!!!!

[@redwaveofketchup7457]

The BASS?!?...Thats just Phil...........One of the greatest ever.......

[@JB-Deadskins]

The singer was Jerry Garcia, and he DID write the song, just not the lyrics. That was Robert Hunter.

[@TheNorcalmonkey67]

You've done all "Jerry Tunes" so far (Jerry Garcia singing)...might I suggest "Cassidy" Live from the same show Acoustic with Bob Weir singing....great lyrics...possibly One More Saturday Night, The Music Never Stopped or Let it Grow....you want to go old school Dead - bust out Hard to Handle from the Festival Express in 1970 w/Pigpen on vocals....**edit** THANK YOU for doing this one, it's one of my favorite versions...after a shit day at work...brought a smile to my face - glad you liked it....

[@MrYatesj1]

Bobby songs and just a beautiful thats fer sure

[@jayredz7807]

I never thought of Birdsong being a "Jerry Tune" I think of China Doll or Black Middy River or Morning Dew or Wharf Rat when I think of Jerry. But it makes sense

[@tommathews3964]

You’ve just got so damn much to look forward to! Straight hot rock cuts, like “One More Saturday Night”, “Bertha”, and “Jack Straw”, deep blues like “It Hurts Me Too”, “Black Peter”, and “Little Red Rooster”, blue grassy greats like “Friend of the Devil”, “Cumberland Blues”, and “Uncle John’s Band”, space trippy jams like “Dark Star”, “Morning Dew”, “The Other One”, to songs that defy description like “Eyes of the World” “China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider” and “Wharf Rat”, hell, there’s even Bobby’s cowboy songs like “El Paso”, “Mexicali Blues”, and “Me and My Uncle”. Simply said: THERE IS NOTHING LIKE THE GRATEFUL DEAD!

[@nightfighterfour4468]

Going down the road feeln bad

[@wendycardamone5837]

OMG all this is making me miss the Dead. It’s been hard being a Head, Jerry passing, Fare The Well, and Final Dead & Co show SF July 2023. Got to see Bobby Wolf Bros. w/Stanford Symphony Orchestra near Halloween. Wasn’t sure how it go down. Was amazing how many musicians were on stage and how it took a good 10 Years to write the music for each instrument. It did not disappoint. The music never stopped

[@Rob_OT42]

If you liked Franklin’s Tower, then you need to listen to the full 3 song medley that Franklin’s Tower is usually a part of. 99% of the time when they played that song live, it was at the end of a medley that consisted of the songs Help On The Way, Slipknot, and Franklin’s Tower. There’s a great version from the live album “Without a Net”.

[@ramsayyoung881]

To say that that you really liked Franklin’s Tower sort of misses the point of the GD. How many versions of that song are there? Literally every time they played it, it was different. That’s why I can’t name a “favorite” song, or favorite album. Hell, not even a favorite year!

[@michaeldemeglio1910]

Without a Net. His face will melt when he listens to Help>slip>Frank. Then again, Bird song😮

[@edm781]

Not 99%. Actually they played it w/out Help>Slip more like 50% of the time. '78-'82 w/out. Revived in '83. Then dropped again in '85. Revived again at the end of '89. Many Franklin's in between.

[@louiscassis3426]

The Help>Slip from the Buffalo’77 show he reviewed is still my favorite.

[@valedslinger6290]

My vacations were in sync with the East coast summer tours. From Greensboro to D.C. to Philly to NY. What a time. Youth.

[@RobertJWaco]

Did that 1 summer too

[@marymargaretmoore9034]

Elevator Music? LOL The Grateful Dead are worldwide, believe it! You're right, they are definitely not your traditional "pop" or top 40 band. They have their own sound and feeling. Their fans are rabidly devoted. Their ultra talented lead guitarist/vocalist, Jerry Garcia, passed in 1995. We're sad that they played their last show as "Dead and Company" last year in S.F. but their music will always stay alive. There are so many songs I could suggest, but here's some: "Brokedown Palace." , "Box of Rain", "Ripple", "Scarlet Begonias", "Dire Wolf." Two of my favorite albums of theirs: American Beauty and Workingman's Dead.

[@jtrush]

"I'm getting the theme of the Gratefuld Dead's music, and I like it."

[@cwhumble3]

This was a rare acoustic live version, 99% of their shows were not acoustic but fully electric. However this is a tremendous version. And yes, most of us smoked reefer before their shows, during their shows and after their shows. And took some LSD too. 😊

[@dianegardner7210]

Yes the chemically enhanced experience-it was great fun for me

[@J0hnGalt73]

Some? 😆😆😆

[@davidmcdaniel2615]

"The Wheel" is my favorite groove, LOL ...or at least one of them. There are soooo many.

[@11BlackLamb]

Tell me all that you know and I'll show you snow and rain, these Robert Hunter lyrics are deep & profound and Jerry, what a lot of people think are mistakes are not

[@glennstapler7421]

Here's a brother metamorphing into a brother of another color. From black into the rainbow. Welcome, my brother.

[@PHDWhom]

Nah, they were far bigger than any of those bands you mentioned. Highest grossing concert tours in history.

[@morningglory555]

This is one of my faves and I love it. Jerry wrote this for the great Janis Joplin. And when Jerry died, Phil would use 'he' pronouns to sing it to Jerry, who also left us too young.

[@maryschroeder2539]

Very Grateful and Thankful. I got thr honor to enjoy over 90 shows . My brother took me to my first show in Omaha on July 5 th 1978. Music really adds Love and makes my Heart sing. I work in a Retirement Village and they created a position for me Happiness Coordinator. I go to work very Grateful.

[@cheesedude1733]

This song was recorded during their 15th anniversary shows in SF in 1980. They played 15 nights between Sept 25 - Oct 14. I was there for eight shows 9-25, 9-26, 9-27, 9-29, 9-30, 10-2, 10-3, 10-4. They played an entire first set (over 90 min each night) completely acoustically way before MTV ever thought of "Unplugged", that's why you could hear Micky Hart, one of their percussionists, playing bongo and marimba and Phil Lesh playing upright bass, with Jerry Garcia on wandering acoustic guitar solos. Hotter than hell in SF that week, Santa Ana winds. Got out one night after 1am and it was still almost 80 degrees in Downtown! And one night (I think the first, but we did a lot of mushrooms, so I could be wrong) Bob Weir's dog came on stage and was introduced to great applause "That's Otis". Great memories. (And then we saw Yes in the round at the Cow Palace the next Monday, 10-6! Great show, with a cover of Video Killed the Radio Star, as T. Horn and G. Downes of the Buggles were in the band at the time).

[@curtismoore9433]

Yo can I get your number I wanna talk with you, strangers stopping strangers. For real though

[@michaelwebster8389]

They credit the availability of takamine guitars with their much improved pickups for once again being able to play acoustically in fairly loud and big concerts. They'd stopped doing it for a long time because of the difficulties of amplifying acoustics and all the feedback isssues. I didn't think Lesh played the upright, but if he was, that's really cool - hadn't heard of him doing that.

[@jackstraw4129]

@@michaelwebster8389 Phil never played upright bass with the Dead to my knowledge. I'm fine with that. Lot's of John Kahn out there playing stand up with Jerry. ;)

[@cheesedude1733]

That is a cool thing I had never heard, about Takamine's p/u's. You know, my memory is not as clear on Lesh as it is for Garcia, I vaguely remember an acoustic bass, but it may have been a strap-on.@@michaelwebster8389

[@JayLandon64]

Otis came on stage during 'Ripple' I am pretty sure.

[@mikepiccione886]

I loved and followed The Dead since I was 14, At 46 they are still my soul❤😊

[@andrealarocco4941]

Me too! I saw my first Phil and friends at 14 with my older brother at Alpine Valley.

[@dingerseldera5776]

Thank you for having such an open mind about music in general. I think if more people approached music in this way the world would be "more better". The Grateful Dead is a huge influence to me. The lyrics are just as profound as their ability to cohesively put it to music that can make you Feel the emotion behind it.

[@ecnoto]

So excited when I saw the title!!! Thank you for doing the Dead yayyyyy!!!

[@Meganis333]

Jerry Garcia once said,”the Grateful Dead is like black licorice, you either love it or hate it with no in between”

[@johnkemp9835]

Bob ( I think) said something like We're not the best at what we do, but we're the only ones who do what we do.

[@BrianTheDeadhead]

​@@johnkemp9835That quote is credited to Bill Graham, aka Uncle Bobo.

[@BrianTheDeadhead]

The actual Jerry quote is, "We're like licorice. Not everybody likes licorice, but the people who like licorice REALLY like licorice."

[@morningglory555]

I hate black licorice. Love love love the Grateful Dead!!

[@BrianTheDeadhead]

@@morningglory555 Me too

[@ericr385]

As someone who went to many Dead shows and also many George Clinton PFunk shows, gettin’ high and having fun with your brothers and sisters never goes out of style.

[@viciann]

There are so many sides to the Grateful Dead. So many great songs. We'll make a deadhead out of you yet! ✌️

[@AaronStein-l3v]

Just love watching you discover this. Takes me back to the beginning of my GD journey

[@jasonlane953]

I'm a Deadhead & have been blessed to see the band many times since the mid 80s. The Grateful Dead are highly overlooked for decades..... there's a reason they're still out there performing to this day ✌ from KY

[@michaelmohrle1773]

Dead &Co is Not the Grateful Dead !! Sadly they ended in 1995.

[@Mrbeahz1]

I'm a Deadhead and I've been blessed to see the band many times since 1967 😀

[@CJMAC163]

​@michaelmohrle1773 there's no more Dead & Co. anymore either.

[@michaelmohrle1773]

@@CJMAC163 There will be more Dead and Co offshoots. But Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia are synonymous.

[@juliebarrett474]

As Jerry Garcia said: The Dead are like licorice. Not everyone likes licorice, but those who do, REALLY like licorice.

[@timothyfoley3000]

Eyes of the World. Live Winterland 1974. You need to listen to this.

[@nathanielvalla6142]

So yes, Jerry did not write the lyrics, but he wrote the music. Robert Hunter had a way of writing song in the voice of Jerry

[@JB-Deadskins]

The singer was Jerry Garcia, and he DID write the song. The lyrics, like all of Jerry's songs, were written by Robert Hunter. Check out anything from the Cornell 5/8/77 album. Not all GD songs are this mellow, but be sure to listen to live tracks for the best performance

[@redwaveofketchup7457]

Polo...I love you bro, Thanks for doing the acoustic version of Bird Song, it was written for Janis Joplin, the Dead could occupy the next several months of videos for you, check out Terrapin Station, Eyes of the World, Help on the Way, and on and on, PEACE, namaste!!

[@SantamanitaClauscaria]

Janis wasn't just a friend of the band. She was in an intimate relationship with their first keyboard player, Ron "Pigpen" McKernen, right up until she died of a heroin overdose. Pigpen was never the same, sank even deeper into alcoholism than he already was and perished just three years later.

[@davidcraft8524]

My favorite version of this song is the live 1972 Old Renaissance Faire Grounds..Veneta, OR

[@augustwest5273]

Damn straight with the naked guy on the telephone pole grooving behind Jerry.

[@kellicarolan6821]

There's a very cool version of this song that Bob Weir did in his Tiny Desk session, featuring Mikaela Davis on harp. It's really beautiful!

[@craiglee6007]

That Dead Set/Reckoning version is one of my favs. It's a great song-tribute to Janice Joplin. Best thing is, they playing improv, there's a new slight variation in every concert. Nicely done. Jerry Garcia and Joplin were good friends.

[@MotorMcMatt]

Phil plays the bass like no other. He adds so much to their sound.

[@patrickbrumm4120]

you have entered The Phil Zone

[@stephentmarksberry4484]

Most didn’t realize how much talent my brothers and sisters had. This an all acoustic run of shows. It was for her and Pigpen and her had a relationship. Try her and him singing turn on your love light together.

[@jeffmartin1026]

Believe me, there was nothing like a Grateful Dead concert.

[@pango-y8j]

Love your show. It's not easy to listen to New music with an open ear and open heart ❤️. Love your takes. Keep on keeping on 🍄🌍🍄

[@captainkangaroo4301]

I had the privilege of seeing them perform over 300 times from 1971-95 all over the world. It was the time of my life.

[@jesrush]

Hell yeah. Pot, a little mushrooms, a few balloons. Good vibes, great memories!✌️😊🦋🌼

[@joshp2542]

This song makes me cry lol. One of my sisters friends passed away a few days before her first day of college and it makes me think of her. Died before her time... all I know she sang a little while and then flew off.

[@sigalfamily4771]

There's a great version of Bird Song from Veneta, Oregon, in August 72. (maybe of the first times they played it live) In fact if you can find the whole concert video it's mind blowing...

[@scubasteev]

One more Saturday night....any live version or studio...never disappoints

[@jackstraw4129]

The bassist is Phil Lesh and he is omnipresent amongst the Dead's sound. Like all the band of course. Phil always played an electric bass. And for those in the know during a show you could move about any venue and find "The Phil Zone" which was bass heavy. Jerry did a lot of things with John Kahn as his bassist and John did play an upright acoustic bass. 🖖✌

[@grayhairedgear5992]

Bird Song! Great reaction and awesome version; I've got no idea how I missed this one. One of the best written tributes to a friend who's flown on that's ever been recorded. Sleep in the stars, Janis - and all those who've flown on too soon.

[@cartercarter645]

Thank you Polo - so glad you get it! It is a superb grove - they never played the same set - it was always made up on the spot depending on the moment. They also allowed fans to record the shows! Then everyone traded tapes and with each performance being different it was a new vibe Avery tape. Another song which is in the same vein is Eyes of the world- look up the live album “without a net” fantastic and as a bonus you get jazz master Branford Marsalis on his shiny horn! It is a pinnacle song IMO - love the reactions!!!!!!!

[@marcreyes8399]

Great song… great reaction! Loving this channel

[@mikecausey7778]

I was lucky enough to see the grateful dead with Jerry a good number of times. Went to Further threw Dead and Company and this music still brings a tear to my eye. Glad to see people still experiencing and learning more about their music. The music never stopped!!! ❤

[@georgelynch6139]

“sleep in the stars, don’t you cry no more” touching👍

[@ecnoto]

Oh my GOSH!!! You haven’t yet reacted to JANIS???? Oh no, well this must change ASAP!!! Wow, I CANNOT wait for this!!! “Me and Bobby McGee” can start you off easy….😊😊😊

[@bookhouseboy280]

The Dead played some great three-set shows in the fall of 1980. Reckoning is a wonderful acoustic blend of ”soft Dead” classics (”Bird Song,” ”Ripple,” ”Dire Wolf”) and choice country-blues chestnuts (”Rosa Lee McFall,” ”Dark Hollow,” ”Monkey & Engineer”). - Entertainment Weekly "The remarkable thing about the record is that the Dead are able to pull off the same kind of dynamic shifts and intricate jams as an acoustic group as they do as an electric powerhouse." - Blair Jackson, The Music Never Stopped

[@valedslinger6290]

I never felt like I could hang out with rock band guys. But I always felt the Dead were friends I could relate too somehow.

[@musiquefantastique7127]

the most important thing about the Dead, is they are for everyone. Not everyone LIKES them...... but if you DO.... they are your's, man.

[@Lalmadar]

Great choice - that’s an amazing Bird Song. That whole album, Reckoning, is out of this world and they do a rocking Dire Wolf. Other great shows are “One from the Vault” live 1975 (all songs rock, start with Eyes of the World, The Music Never Stopped) and Cornell ‘77 (again, all songs jam, start with Scarlett Begonias/Fire on the Mountain, Deal, Estimated Prophet). Love your reactions.

[@meltay1722]

Polo, may I suggest you check out “Summertime “ as sung by Janis Joplin with Big Brother and the Holding Company?

[@riverlove6820]

Yes. You will not be disappointed. Album version.

[@MrGmonkeywillruleyou]

I think I’m going to start reacting to the dead on my channel. I haven’t done it in 4 years

[@joycemiller7908]

If you do, I'll subscribe.

[@MrGmonkeywillruleyou]

@@joycemiller7908 november and December I plan on doing reactions again so, yeah buddy

[@janeschmalfeld4307]

Bass player is Phil Lesh. He's an extraordinary bass player. Not a standing bass. We are a bunch of hippies and proud of it. Rock on.....

[@LSD19966]

I must be living in an elevator, on constant hold, because I listen to the boys all the time!

[@MichealKearns-s5e]

Jerry was the star in the band. People came to see him play lead guitar. His style was different than any body in the world.

[@DrVonChilla]

The "elevator music/on-hold music" analogy was brilliant....!! 😄

[@starhawk7592]

This was acoustic, what a journey it brought us on ..

[@moptop7944]

Dead are like a melding of rock, jazz, reggae and bluegrass ...

[@FreespiritOu812]

This was a band you had to see live to REALLY get it. We followed them around in the 80s. They never played a song twice the same way, so every show was a little different. Check out Sugar Magnolia or Shakedown Street.

[@lunadyana3330]

The Dead used to handle all their own ticket sales in house. I heard a story about how sometimes they would prank their fans by filling up one entire row of seats with guys all named Bob.and the next row was all Dave's etc

[@michaelwebster8389]

They were a much noisier band in the 60s, and through the 70s they sure played some wild music, but I think deadheads like me just love them because they mostly make us calm, and happy, or when they're playing really sad songs, calm and emotional. There's a real connection to the way they tell stories and create atmospheres musically from their audience, and once you're a dead head, their music is like an anti-depressant, or some other kind of medication to make people feel good when times are good, or when they're not so good.

[@brentabbott3954]

The Dead had the biggest fan following in the word then and bow they hold the record for most people played to.

[@kflangan]

You owe it to yourself to find live cuts, don't rely on the released albums. Look for the early version of Hard To Handle where Pigpen and Janis went on for about 10 min on the blues. Look for the amazing blends from one song to another, the symphonic sound that was in Terrapin Station, the covers of old cowboy songs like El Paso. There's so much to explore.

[@DougalBayer]

I’m hearing late late Cezanne, fat strokes of blue and red paint on white canvas, each square swipe a hologram of the rising Mountain

[@jasonbarton4521]

Polo, like all my favorite content creators, your persona, subj. matter and thoughtful reactions really resonate w/ me! During adolescence, I LOATHED the Dead if only bc a fair share of my wealthy BMW-driving classmates worshipped the ground they walked on, signifying to me their fanbase's (if not, also, the band's) utter fraudulence. "Hey Man, let's all get high, then drive home to our gated communities in our $60,000 BMWs!" I was a metalhead, scholarship kid ;) Yet, that attitude prevented me from fully recognizing their genius. As you undoubtedly grasp, to see them live was to experience them in full flower; their recordings were merely templates for the band to explore in concert. I only grasped their genius recently, in their latest and last incarnation w/ John Mayer on guitar. Thankfully, I saw them several times this year, each concert more profoundly life-altering than the last! For true believers, it's sacrilegious to compare John Mayer to Jerry Garcia - after all, Jerry was the beating heart of the band; the band's songbook is mostly Jerry's (& lyricist Robert Hunter's and Bob Weir's). Yet, bc I "discovered" them late in life, long after Garcia's death, I developed an affinity w/ their last incarnation as "Dead & Co." Watch any of this year's concert previews on YT (e.g., "Dead & Company Live 7/1/23 Boulder, CO Set II Preview) to witness their glory. (FF to 38:00, when the promotion ends and the concert actually starts!) Branford Marsalis, who sat in w/ them in a now-legendary 1990 concert (all their concerts were legendary in their own way) from Long Island released on CD as "Woke Up to Find Out", said of the band: "They were all listeners. There is a point where musicians who establish themselves stop listening to music and start listening to their own rhetoric. The Dead didn't do that." Fortunately, like everything that transpires in life, someone filmed it and that audience recording exists here on YT. Search for "Grateful Dead w. Branford Marsalis Nassau Coliseum" & FF to 36:00 to witness "Bird Song"! Everyone has a favorite GD era - each one is distinctively its own. Lately, I've doubled down on 1989-1990, the years that incl. the Branford concert. "Grateful Dead Philly 'Loser'," here on YT, is a great take w/ a volcanic solo by Jerry. "Long Strange Trip" is a four-hour (!) multi-part documentary (on Amazon Prime) of the band that is as compelling a film about any band or musician that ever existed. It's an amazing, amazing document! Lastly, the New York Times published one of my favorite articles about the band years ago entitled "Bring Out Your Dead," (April 10, 2009) by Ben Ratliff which captures the utter absurdity and sublimity of Grateful Dead fandom! Also, "Saying Goodbye to the Dead (Again.)" from July 14, 2023, also in the NYTimes, brilliantly encapsulates the overwhelming power of Dead fandom and the band's meaning to its followers. Whew... that's a lot of information! Hopefully, it's all worthwhile ; p.s. Never mind the haters! Once upon a time, I was fully in that camp. Then, I saw the light ;

[@joshb23]

Hey there, for someone "late to the game" you have a wise take! I've never seen any of the post-Jerry incarnations, but it makes me truly happy to know that this wonderful music and ecosystem has continued to attract and inspire new people. Long Live The Dead!!

[@jasonbarton4521]

@@joshb23 Thx, Josh! I do some of my best work here (in the YT comment section) ; Clearly, each of us has an affinity to the Dead depending on what incarnation we first cultivated our relationship. In my case, the Dead always existed as a background, cultural phenomenon - but one that never had a resonance for me, whatsoever. They were just always there, like wallpaper! Several years ago, I figured I oughta see W. Nelson at least once in my life (and his!). Phil Lesh opened for him and he BLEW ME AWAY: infinitely more dynamic & spiritual than Nelson. That's when I thought, "What the fuck have I been missing?" So, I tapped into the only vestige of the band available to me: Dead & Co., 2 years ago when they played St. Louis. I was equally mesmerized. I tried to go back the following year but couldn't get in! So, I made a point of returning this year and was, equally, enthralled. I love ALL vestiges of the band, but bc I experienced this particular configuration live, their particular dynamic was imprinted on my brain - clearly, why they speak to so many generations of followers. I hate to tabulate regrets, but my latest one is that I waited SO long to see Dead & Co. when I had each of the past 7 years to do so! I tried to get to Boulder and SF, but doing so was completely untenable! Thanks for the comment! Dead & Co. attempted to sell each concert (video & audio) to buyers. Thankfully, each date from their farewell tour is on KZbin as a preview. You have to FF past all the promo to get to the few songs they release for each set here on YT, but check out any "Dead & Co Set II previews" from this tour, esp. Folsom Field in Boulder, or any night in SF. I'd be curious to see what impact John Mayer's incarnation has on D-Heads that don't have an affinity for post-Jerry configurations. To my mind, Oteil Burbridge on bass and Jeff Chimenti on keys are mind-blowing! Cheers!

[@pango-y8j]

It should be noted that pigpen, rod mckiernan, the keyboardist for the grateful dead. Dated Janis Joplin. They were both whiskey drinkers and both died at 27🍄🌁🍄

[@FloridaRocks]

Hahahaha!! That's them and the Hippee reference -- GUILTY!! I've had friends that tossed all to the wind to follow them for however long they lasted. "Mississippi Uptown Todaloo"

[@bryangregory6447]

Wharf Rat, Eyes of the World, Throwing Stones, Box of Rain. Live, of course.

[@BrianLevine-vd6bn]

I graduated from the same highschool as most of Aerosmith. My phycology teacher's grandmother was Joe Perry's next door neighbor. I own none of their records. Never saw them live. Saw the Grateful Dead 300+ shows. Did the European tour of 1990. Dont regret a cent I spent. Met some interesting people. I rode from Copenhagen to Amersfoort, the Netherlands in the same compartment as the Dead's original sound man Owlesley. He had some stories. I got introduced to the Dead by my Aunt Anne. She worked at the same company Bob Weir's Dad was a partner in. She told me I should listen to a band that young Bobbie played in. Glad you're on the bus.

[@israellamar]

The man playing the bass is Phil Lesh. He's a genius.

[@hopeklemann1]

😊 I was at many Dead shows they are their own genre... I love the dead and I miss Jerry very much

[@Buddha-of8fk]

This was an awesome live song. I miss those days. The world hasn't been right since Jerry left here.

[@halfling_barista]

This version is phenomenal. Can’t believe I hadn’t heard it. Big Janis fan.

[@Deadheadchef89]

Check out this album reckoning recorded live from shows during September and October of 1980. The whole album is fantastic

[@waltercrain2910]

there's that smile again... as the music washes over you...

[@BucksBe]

How I wish I was discovering the Dead for the first time, again. Acoustic Dead is like a fine wine but most of their music was electric. One of the best "Americana" bands to ever do it. Impossible to suggest what to listen to next but in the spirit of the "Franklin's Tower" grove, I'd look at "Althea" or "Bertha." A little big longer but worth the time is "Wharf Rat" or "Terrapin Station." You'd get any Deadhead watching if you hit any of those songs. Also, great blues songs like "Deep Elem" or "Easy Wind" Impossible to choose so listen to them all!! 😎 Thanks for the review

[@827dusty]

The grateful Dead were a model on how to run a corporation in the music industry. They did it completely without having to bend their knee to the huge recording companies, because they did it without them, and kept everything in their own LLC. They cut out the middlemen of the music juggernaut, and recorded their own music, under their own label etc. These dudes were smart businessmen, and the money stayed withing the Band's control and they didn't have to pay anyone else. It was a strictly in-house plan, that made them all incredibly wealthy. I saw a documentary on it back in the 70s, I think it was a "CBS 60 minutes" episode or something like that.

[@mikemaricle9941]

Some of the $$$ ran off, and kidnaped Mickey's dad. ;^}

[@JayLandon64]

Before they abandoned the 'Wall of Sound', the cost for moving that monstrosity and the crew to set it up was pretty exorbitant. The main reason they abandoned the 'Wall of Sound' use is because they felt like they were carrying a small city behind them.

[@princelysnail1998]

Love the elevator music analogy…it’s like that, but if the elevator broke down and the tab just kicked in😂

[@mattbecker4320]

I was at the Pyramids in early 79 on a trip with my grandmother. I was almost 12 and not on the bus yet. An employee of the hotel we were staying at asked if we know anything about the American rock band that had recently played at the Pyramids. I had no clue at the time. Years later walking around the lot I saw something and instantly knew the answer to the question from so many years prior. Then I got to meet Bear before a show in Germany and Bobby on the streets of Paris in 1990. What a long strange trip its been.

[@herberthines6495]

There is a video of this performance. The Grateful Dead did a series of these acoustic sets in San Francisco and in NYC at Radio City Music Hall in September- October 1980. All of the acoustic sets from this time period are phenomenal.

[@mikec6733]

Jerry mused once, "The GD is like licorice. Not everyone likes it, but people who do like it, like it a lot."

[@HeatherMcCall-kelly-yv6sb]

My all time favorite band and I was lucky enough to have seen them numerous times.

[@megmegmegggg]

My favorite Dead song!

[@ncstagger]

Welcome to the family ❤

[@thetelemarkdaydream8896]

Every time I experience Bird Song I can feel my brain and soul healing.

[@TransHippie]

Oh, we were doing more than smoking. There was lots of that too. The Dead were about authentic moments which could not be replicated. When asked why he let fans record all their concerts, Jerry Garcia said something to the effect of "Once I play a note, I'm done with it." Dead music is a deep ocean. The absolute pinnacle is Viola Lee Blues live in Binghamton, 5/2/1970. Some people will tell you it's Morning Dew from Cornell 77. They're wrong. ;)

[@alpetrocelli4465]

A great tribute to their fallen friend. Try China Cat>I Know You Rider from Europe ‘72, or Not Fade Away>Going Down the Road from Skull and Roses for more upbeat tunes. And you’ll love the guitar on every tune by the Dead. Keep diving.✌️❤️🎶

[@patrickvarine8476]

This tune is a great example of this band's versatility. On electric instruments and 2 drumsets, it really takes off into the stratosphere. But here, it's a perfectly great, chilled-out acoustic folk song. All of the Dead's different influences get wrapped up into this mode that works in a number of different musical settings. I love 'em.

[@lotwook]

Such a lovely tribute to Janis. Her and Jerry were very close personally and musically

[@curtismoore9433]

They were close but her and pigpen were Really close. Bumpin uglies close

[@justkiddin84]

@@curtismoore9433 that is different from mental and heart close.

[@henriettamoody9085]

Ok. I’ve been watching you for less than a year. Love everything you are doing. I have been a fan of the GD since 1988. I’m 46 years. Gen X ✊🏼. I want to comment this morning after I see you are now doing your second Dead song in a just a few days. Thank you and the person who mention to you listening to The GD. Thank you. And so glad to have you in the tribe. ❤️💙🌹🌹💀💀⚡️⚡️⚡️