Since 1967, I have followed The Grateful Dead in terms of the evolution of their music, and its impact upon our culture. The Dead epitomized the 1960’s with their commitment to improvisation, incorporating folk, rock and jazz in the textures and complexities of their songs. They have always embraced technology and used it effectively in the presentation of their sound. Their live performances have always been legendary.
It’s still true:
There is nothing like a Grateful Dead concert.
Throughout the past fifty plus years, the configuration regarding the membership of the Dead has changed: Rob McKernan ( Pigpen ),Brent Mydland, both keyboard players died, Keith and Donna Godchaux, another keyboardist and vocalist departed the band, as well as Bruce Hornsby, keyboardist, who also left after a brief stint. Of course, the pivotal turning point for the Dead was the death of Jerry Garcia in 1995.
Jerry Garcia’s influence cannot be underestimated. Garcia masterfully incorporated folk and bluegrass traditions with jazz and rock.
Since Garcia’s death, there have been incarnations as The Dead, Furthur and now Dead and Company.
· The “ Fare Thee Well “ shows for The Grateful Dead in (2015) featured Trey Anatasio and Bruce Hornsby along with the original members Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Bill Kreutzmann, Mickey Hart and Jeff Chimenti
On December 2,2017, Dead and Company brought their Fall 2017 tour to the Frank Erwin Center in Austin, TX. Before a capacity audience of over 16,000, they delivered a generous show over three hours in duration featuring seventeen songs.
The current band featuring Bob Weir, John Mayer, guitarists and vocals, Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann Drums and Percussion, Oteil Burbridge Bass and Jeff Chimenti Keyboards reached back into the Grateful Dead catalogue for early material (Cold Rain and Snow, St. Stephen, Dark Star, The Other One). There were also offerings from the 1970’s (Uncle John’s Band, Jack Straw, Ramble On Rose , Sugaree ) .Perhaps the newest tune the band performed was “ If I Had The World To Give ( 1978 ) sung passionately by bassist Oteil Burbridge.
Throughout the night there was intense interplay between Bob Weir , John Mayer and Jeff Chimenti. The melodious and intricate layers of improvisation were a delight to witness. Oteil Burbridge is an effective beautiful bass player. His tempo is strong yet his style is smooth. This is in contrast to former bassist Phil Lesh who always had a dominant presence in his performance.
Both Oteil Burbridge and John Mayer have merged well with the other veteran members of the band. John Mayer, especially, has brought a blues influence back to the band’s sound. He shined on Junior Parker’s “Next Time You See Me “virtually channeling the late Stevie Ray Vaughn.
I thought Saturday night what would Jerry Garcia think about this? The stage was set with all the musical instruments and equipment, and oriental rugs adorned the floor of the stage. During the night both Bill Kreutzmann And Mickey Hart laid down a consistent foundation for the music. During Space, Mickey Hart strummed this string instrument that was a mixture of a harp and mellotron and which produced this booming bass sound.
The crowd was diverse ranging from in age from 7 to 70 plus. Two rows in front of me were a family of four, all dressed in green tie-dyed Grateful Dead t-shirts. A little girl shared half a bagel with her same age brother. Jerry Garcia once observed:
“We’re definitely attracting a younger crowd.”
On the main floor, in the general admission area, girls in long white dresses with flower bouquets in their hair twirled under the lights as the band played. Whiffs of Cannabis circulated in the air.
Dead and Company hosted a Participation Row display on the Frank Erwin concourse featuring several organizations including Reverb and Head Count focusing on voter registration and policy advocacy.
There was even a sign language interpreter standing on the left side of the stage interpreting for the hearing impaired.
After the show, I walked down the stairs of the Frank Erwin Center to the sidewalk on Red River. Across the street was the new Seton Dell Medical Center for the University of Texas. There were several people blowing up balloons from Helium tanks. I smiled and remembered back on May 30,1969 watching Jerry Garcia sitting in a panel truck behind Springer’s Dance Hall in Gresham, Or. He and several others were taking hits off the Helium tank. It was a circus-like atmosphere then as it was on Red River street Saturday night !
Again, the music never stopped.
May it be so.
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