Songs Of Their Own - #42 "Brokedown Palace" The Brothers Comatose

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Grateful Dead, JamBase teamed with Telefunken to produce the Songs Of Their Own 50-day tribute series featuring a daily cover of a Grateful Dead original song. Our grand finale 50th video, a Playing For Change Songs Around The World rendition of “Ripple,” will premiere the day of the final Fare Thee Well show in Chicago on July 5. With a focus solely on Grateful Dead original songs, we asked many of our favorite artists to record cover versions at the JamBase office in San Francisco, at one of the many venues around the Bay Area, at Telefunken's Connecticut studios and beyond. No song was allowed to be covered twice, and today’s participants The Brothers Comatose fared well on “Brokedown Palace”
It seems fitting for “Brokedown Palace” to be today’s Songs Of Their Own entry as its lyrics inspired the naming of the Fare Thee Well - Celebrating 50 Years Of Grateful Dead concerts beginning tonight in Santa Clara, California. "Brokedown Palace" was among the retsina-fueled songs penned by Robert Hunter one afternoon in London in 1970 along with "To Lay Me Down” and “Ripple.” Sung by co-author Jerry Garcia, "Brokedown Palace" made its debut in the middle of an acoustic first set at the Fillmore West in San Francisco on August 18, 1970. Recorded for the 1970 studio album American Beauty, the song came and went from setlists, sometimes going entire years between performances. After being played over 200 times, “Brokedown Palace” filled the encore slot at The Dead’s June 25, 1995 concert at RFK Stadium in Washington D.C.
A few weeks back we had San Francisco locals The Brothers Comatose come down to the JamBase office to record their cover of “Brokedown Palace.” Standing in a semi-circle, band mates Ben Morrison (guitar), Gio Benedetti (bass), Ryan Avellone (mandolin), Alex Morrison (banjo, vocals) and Philip Brezina (fiddle) played an acoustic rendition of the song in the same fashion it was first played nearly 45 years ago.
Audio and video recorded and edited by: Jake Alexander

[@jcavilia1]

Very sweet cover of a favorite song. Many Deadheads honor this as a memorial song, either playing it for the funerals of loved ones or specifying that it be played at their own funerals. My wife of 47 years left this brokedown palace almost a year ago, and this is one of songs I listen to when I need to feel my grief and know she's in my heart. Thank you for another moving version to listen to.

[@CrystalTwinStar]

I've been waiting to hear him on lead vocals. I just KNEW he was hiding a treasure! He sounds awesome ! His voice is so pure and soulful!

[@michelelemke2744]

Ben and Alex both have great voices.

[@jeremyruth9096]

True story: My parent’s divorced when I was three years old. I’ve had an amazing dad, and two step dad’s. I crawled my way through my adolescent feelings…and then through becoming a U.S. Marine and all of the other twist and turns that getting older brings.. I didn’t come across this song until the end of 2019. Interesting enough, at the beginning of 2019, I had a daughter that my wife and I named Willow. Although I grew up more in the Beatles style of music, there’s never been another song that hit me like this one. And this version is absolutely beautiful.

[@mjworthley2860]

Watch the fiddler's face throughout this video. It shows you how it feels to play these Dead songs.

[@spicoli420forever]

hey now! you folks sure can" pick the tunes" that really touch our heartstrings peace and a long strange trip to ya"ll

[@RLeep2]

This is great! My favorite Dead albums have always been the semi-acoustic Workingman's Dead and American Beauty and I always liked the original of Brokedown Palace. But this version has really opened the song up for me in a new way, especially the vocals and harmonies. This is one time I kind of regret being clear the h--- over in Pennsylvania where I may never have an opportunity to see these guys live. Really good..

[@jwinslow5661]

Is it possible to be happy and sad at the same time? Great job guys!

[@jackiemanuel]

yes it is, and this song never fails to produce those feelings.

[@walt4670]

That’s the Dead!

[@barbaraann7610]

God your voices are beautiful! Heavenly harmonies!

[@angelatyo4948]

For years I have bean Deadicated listening ..you nailed it

[@wesleychenowith6662]

The vocals reminds me of Jackie G's rendition, which I hold I very high regards! So thank you guys for performing that beauty with the right amount of originality, while not straying too far from the good 'ol camp fire hymn, that we've all grown so fond of!

[@AZcycleSalvage]

Love this cover, gave me goosebumps. Thank you Brothers Comatose for being AWESOME!

[@thealaskanforever]

Jerry would be proud.

[@dirtyhippiesproductions1590]

Just fantastic

[@scot2691]

Great version of my favorite song. Thanks gentlemen! :)

[@zach0520]

Absolutely beautiful!

[@macmikemo]

Hauntingly beautiful 😢

[@Joshua-jy7ry]

Best cover I've ever heard.

[@bustan44]

That bass player is just so in the pocket. I gotta look this guy up.

[@connopv]

Nice version of a nice song.

[@patrickkelleher5336]

TALENT

[@iaincampbellking7760]

Brilliant!

[@thelatenightbar]

Great job, great tune. Thanks for sharing.

[@avefiggy2128]

rly beautiful cover 🌺⚡️💀⚡️🌺

[@chetrow1405]

A beautiful song done so well. Thanks for keeping it alive

[@arynwolf5915]

wow thanks so much

[@zach0520]

Beautiful

[@tommcgann2432]

thanks for this one...

[@finer49r]

amazing

[@danielgoldberg1371]

Excellent.

[@ibelle999]

Well done!

[@titobach]

great job guys!

[@tjohnstone8921]

beautiful rendition fellas

[@benjaminlaster3773]

nicely done

[@Christian-vo9wp]

W O W

[@techone2128]

sweet

[@johnmarkcarsonjr1848]

Y’all look scared or too serious or too amped up. Relax and have fun

[@walt4670]

Just weirdly low key psyched mine was the 666th like. Kismet.

[@davealvestad9251]

What model of Guild acoustic is that?

[@ripplemeinwater1]

OK, You manolin players out there..Are those little rubber inserts on the bridge for lower vibration or what?

[@banjohero1182]

a little allegro, dontcha think?