This clip is from the Huberman Lab episode "Rick Rubin: How to Access Your Creativity." The full episode can be found on TH-cam here: th-cam.com/video/ycOBZZeVeAc/w-d-xo.html
my brother had a great way of describing a Dead show....other bands play the same show to a different crowd every night, the Dead play a different show to the same crowd every night. Going to a show was always an adventure.
Boy,I’ve never understood it. They were great, a movement etc etc but so many conflate those with quality. After so many years, so many shows ….. for f sake the lack of dynamics and intonation should embarrass them
The live shows are their essence, but something a lot of people don’t always have the time to come around to realizing, in regards to The Dead, is their musical diversity. Yeah, psychedelic rock and exploration is the core, but there’s so much influence from folk and bluegrass and jazz and funk and disco and pop and it goes on and on and on. The Grateful Dead have a little something for everybody, you just gotta poke around.
Lets also not forget songwriting and storytelling. The way Garcia could take Hunter's lyrics and create the melodies and harmony's. They make you feel the era of the story.
@@jackson9282 1000%, on par with their musical exploration. Definitely a part of The Dead that non-heads rarely get to because the "30-min psychedelic solos" dominate the rhetoric. They had 2 sets of Lennon/Mccartney’s with Garica/Hunter & Weir/Barlow, and yet 2 of the most beautiful songs in their entire catalogue originated from Phil. Pure poetry across the board.
I’ve always felt that the grateful dead’s live performances enhanced my understanding of life and appreciation of paying attention to the moment. and despite the stereotypes about hippies, it’s actually one of the more diverse fan bases- people from all walks of American life. some of my favorite shows were the ones where I was sober and with other sober people- so no, you don’t need drugs to “get it”!
For the people who'd complain about musicianship, etc, the best explanation I could give was that going to a Dead show was closer to sitting around a camp fire (badly) singing songs you knew by heart with your buds, rather than say going to watch an orchestra strive for performative excellence. It felt more like going to church, or coming home, or both.
I grew up in the 80s/90s, on rap and reggae. Never really a fan of rock music, until I heard the GD. It was unlike anything I’d ever heard before… I love the early stuff. 1969-74 (72-74!!) are my favorite years. Birdsong, dark star, jack straw🔥🔥🔥
Thing we always said was " a cult turns you in, towards it away from the world. This thing turned people out, made us more interested in the wider world, more engaged, more creative" Only a few really were stuck with "just "the dead. The rest of us carried it with us into the world at large.
@@ceeweedsl I don't think I was in a cult. I just ran away to join the last circus. Or better, I ran towards the circus and embraced it. When I was listening to this clip with what Rubin was describing, in the 30 years of the Dead and all the wonderful moments, A Beautiful Jam from 2/18/71 I think is one of the most unique 8 minutes of music they ever did. Many of their named jams were repeated over and over. This was the magical one off. The reason you went to every show you could. THAT moment. Cheers.
I understand what Rick is saying! There's something magical about being there and sharing the moment with the artists when the playful sonic unpredictability along with the crowd's energy peaks! Totally hypnotic!
Someone compared the Dead to a sporting event. You never know what you're going to see, but the chance of witnessing brilliance is what keeps you coming back.
Also, don;t forget the stats. I mean Dead show statistics are just as deep and complex as any sports analysis. Songs played, number of times played, Song appearance in setlist order, length of each Drums/Space, venues played, and the list goes on and on. It's wonderful. See Deadbase for true stats.
"something is really happening, it's a real moment". ~RR Absolutely. I can say that I'm so lucky that I've shared life and time-space on the planet at the same times as the Grateful Dead. Welcome, Rick Ruben, to the fountain of music that comes from the Grateful Dead that gives and gives. You don't listen to Grateful Dead music, Grateful Dead music happens to you. You'll receive different epiphanies from the same song over and over as the years roll by. It's truly music to grow old with.
As the saying goes, there's nothing like a Grateful Dead show on a hot night. The collective improvisation was what drew me to them and still draws me to dial up a show I haven't heard before. Some are misses, some are transcendent.
I haven’t come across more beautiful music than the dead. Terrapin, dark star, dew, roses, China doll, crazy fingers, bird song, high time, broke down palace, weather report, to lay me down etc are some of the most beautiful Americana Iv ever heard. I believe Jerry had more soul than anyone. He died for his music and fans. Nothing has come close as far as I’m concerned
Hi Perijon. I totally agree. Jerry gave 100% to his fans. He was totally selfless. I wish he could have lived forever, for every generation of humanity he had could have given something. I miss him dearly
I've been a blues listener and guitar player since I started playing, so listening to jam bands wasn't difficult for me. I know some Deadheads have zero love for John Mayer, but John Mayer is the reason why I've come to love the Dead and Jerry Garcia the way I do now. Learning Dead music has been a gorgeous and rewarding challenge for me, because I CANNOT afford to think like a blues player.
I think John Mayer has done a fantastic job. He has carried the torch, and represented the Dead catalogue well for those of us who are too young to have seen Jerry. Bless you all, and keep listening...
People don’t give Mayer the time of day because he’s a “pop star”. But he’s more so a blues cat at heart who’s disguised as a pop star. The dudes a fucking animal when it comes to his guitar playing on stage, especially his improv. He’s one of the few that I could hear without seeing and automatically know it was him. He’s overrated and underrated at the same time. Idk man, John Mayer is a weird phenomenon
I just tranced out to the grateful dead oldie. I went to a dead head concert in Houston with my deadhead brother-in-law back in the 80s. Trippy vibe unlike any others. Since doing heart brain coherence breathing, music has changed for me. This just spoke to me.
It was the mid 80's. Went to a show with all my Deadhead friends. One woman had her three year old boy along. He passed out during the intermission on his moms lap. He slept through the first half of the second set, but when the 'space' started he started reacting to the 'music'. Still asleep, as a sound would crescendo he'd sit up, slowly, wobbling it time to the crazy noises. When the sound stopped, he'd plop back over until the next crazy sound wound up. It became a spectacle as we started tapping the shoulders of all the Deadheads to watch. Finally there must have been a crowd of 50 folks just watching the little guy jamming to the space. The Dead were communicating directly with his subconscious nervous system. It was very cool. I miss Jerry.
My first Dead concert was in Santa Barbara in the 70's. I was amazed at how they were able to meander through a song. I was convinced that they'd lost the thread and then hey pulled it all together. I'd never heard anyhting like. It was electrifying.
I first listen to Dr. Huberman July 23, 2020 Joe rogan podcast 1513. It was among the best rogan guest podcasts. I have followed the doctor since that summer . I have followed the dead since englishtown 77 to 1999.
Dead & Co have done a remarkable job at keeping that magic alive. Their shows are a musical journey of happiness, sadness, introspection, joy and so many other feelings. Drugs are not required. Roll away the dew. Love the Huberman Lab.
Agreed. I read an article some time ago saying same thing. Wish I would have saved. Compared Dead to Eagles etc and explained why GD so much more important.
Space was when my best friend and I would wander the venue and people watch and find adventure. In later years, we figured out how to get on the roof of RFK (a little ledge-type thing that ran around the stadium) so we’d go up there and sit and trip out. :) I miss those days.
Rick Rubin hits the nail in the head when he includes the "everyone" sharing the moment in the equation, not just the band, but everyone. Of course the spontaneity of the band stumbling into something like the Grateful Dead did in their live shows was unique, but the expectation of many people in the audience being satisfied all at once was truly a unique experience.
I didn't get them at all for many years, but after listening to a few live shows they became my favorite band. Through them and looking at their influences, I discovered entire genres I'd never enjoyed before. They were like a portal to another galaxy of jazz, bluegrass, country, blues, etc. It's hard to overstate how special their live shows were, particularly in the 70's. The Grateful Dead Movie is a good example of that.
True. I imagine everyone has their own story about how the GD actually came to them. I guess we're not ready for it until we gain some sort of capacity for it. Really odd how so many people 1st take is a weird rejection of it, actually. Then you open up and realize you've been missing out all along. A bizarre phenomena.
@@bryanharrell4059 Indeed. It seems that with music, the best stuff doesn't resonate with me initially but upon repeated listens I enjoy it more and more. Catchiness is massively overrated.
I only saw the Dead live one time, but the bootleg archives are enough to keep you busy for your whole life. My opinion, live Dead shows had peaks and valleys. The peaks often resulted in a feeling of elation, as the music and the crowd could create an amazing momentum. Emotions are the key to anything and everything! Jerry was special.
The old famous quotation from Bill Graham...it was something like... "The Dead aren't only the best at what they do, they're the ONLY ones that do what they do."
"Music is God's gift to man, the only art of Heaven given to earth, the only art of earth we take to Heaven." Walter Savage Landor Keep on jammin' to what moves your soul!
God I miss making music with people who like to jam and improvise. It really is an amazing experience when you all stumble into something magical together.
new dead&co fan here, seeing john mayer live was my first view into the world of improv music, learned what the dead were about musically and decided to check them out. I have since found that they tell great stories and make interesting and unique music that spans multiple genres. Some personal favorites are st. stephen, terrapin station, black muddy river, fire on the mountain, and sugar magnolia. may everyone reading this find peace, love, and joy on this long, strange trip called life.
It wasn't until I learned most of their catalog that I really accepted how talented and innovative they were. They really did so much for live sound, and the business of live music as well. I was at Deadco a few years ago at Blossom and they were grooving, hard. A younger guy in front of me grooving along too. There was one wave that Mayer was surfing that was really deep in the music, you could feel the ESP, he turned around to me with wide eyes and asked me "did you hear that???" I was like f yeah I did lol. I have been to a few jazz shows that were like that, that lifted you out of your body.
Workingman's Dead and American Beauty are fabulous Dead studio albums. Granted I discovered them under the influence of Orange Sunshine (absolute killer LSD). I have been listening to those LPs and a few others but I also love their good live recordings. I still really like the Europe 72 double album.
The Dead are an acquired taste, not an easy band to get into, but once you find your way in, it's like no other. As far as their live shows: they had a huge repertoire. If they came and played Madison Square Garden for, say, 6 nights (which they did, sold out), you would not hear a song repeated over the course of the six nights. And they didn't go on with a setlist, and (in the second set) the songs would "jam" organically into the next ones. It made every song (and show) feel like a special occasion. They weren't just playing "Truckin'", they were breaking it out, on this particular night, for whatever reason. Also their lyrics often feel like they were written a hundred years ago, little nuggets of wisdom and street smarts. And when you're there tripping on acid, and they break out some particular song, a lyric may land on you and mean something profound, according to where you are in that particular moment, on that particular night. Some nights the Dead sucked, then the next night they would be amazing. Some shows they'd start out lousy and then come on for the second set and they'd win the game. I always say the Dead are more like following a sports team than a band.
I had one of those moments a few years ago when a group of us were playing guitars at a cottage on the deck. There were about 50 people there and we knew we had a moment going and then this tour boat swerved in close to shore to hear us. The deck itself was bouncing to the music. We knew and they knew and nobody wanted it to end. You can never repeat something like that. In fact it feels wrong to even try.
The Grateful Dead is one of the Gratest most Sacred bands of all time easily. They weren't only the best at what they did..they are the only ones who did what they did and they also had one of the most rich, diverse, and legendary revolutionary histories out of any band ever
Phish is far more technically superior and far more creative. Jerry was amazing but doesn't hold a candle to Treys technical skills incorporating effects.
@Mark Clemmens that is laughable brother and I love Trey and Phish/TAB...just doesn't tug at the heart and touch the soul nearly as much as Jerry and the Dead/JGB for me..but I definitely love Trey and think he is up there when it comes to guitar chops and technical ability.
@@markclemmens2862 im a lil shocked at that comment , far more and doesnt hold a candle . i bet Trey himself wouldnt completely agree with the second part .
While I wasn't JUST a Deadhead when I was in high school, I feel like certain groups gave me shite and could never understand why so many of us were drawn to this band and their concerts like a magnet. It's nice to see history reflect well on the Dead, more and more each year. All of a sudden it seems 'cool' to like them and seeing artists like The National, Dawes, and John Mayer living out childhood dreams playing with these guys just warms my heart!
@@adamhowardschneider357 IMO besides the draw of Grateful Dead music. It was the peaceful setting vibe of giving, sharing & caring that the Deadhead community put out to one another. And obviously the good time highs of psychedelics & ganja was a plus. At least it was always my experience over many years of Dead concerts back in the day when Jerry was still with us jamming. I really can't speak on Deadhead fans there after Jerry's passing. Though I've heard whispers that at times Dead crowd's have lost their way a little bit with a few dipsh!ts at the shows as the band continued with Dead & Company. However, Jerry always had an aura & vibe that he sent in his music & spread to every fan in the crowd all around with absolutely nothing but peace, love & friendship! Those concerts back then I never seen a single incident of violence or people fighting & arguing amongst each other at all. NEVER! Just saying... ++✌️& 🎵Rock n' Roll 4 Your Soul Bro++
Rick nailed it. The best music is when the musicians are searching. The music is a question, not an answer. Forgive me in advance, but that is why someone like Zappa never reached me. He's an answer, not a question, and as Dostoyevsky once wrote, "That 2 x 2 is 4 is not life, it's the beginning of death." The constant growing into something is what makes art and life exhilarating.
Nice description > I have decided the only good thing about being older is that I got to see Jerry a lot. Our Dead Jam event in Fort Collins , CO is now past its 10 th year and it has brought so many heads and beautiful people unaware of how diverse the music is , together. Hunter / Garcia songs are so colorful , enigmatic , and rich and so littered with historical , literary and folklore references …. the music has so many intertwined roots digging deep into our counties history …. I want the words to “ Attics Of My Life “ on my tombstone or ashes urn.
I never got to see the Dead, but have been following Phish for nearly 30 years now for the exact same reasons that Rick discusses here. Phish, however, seem to have figured out the album game far better than the Dead... while the albums don't compare to the live experience, Phish have been able to craft incredibly lush and beautiful compositions in the studio, allowing many of their songs to stand proud in their own right. The key to a good album, of course, is having a talented producer... the key to a good live experience is the exploration, and the community, which cannot be ignored when talking about either of these bands.
Agree that Phish is (are?) amazing. There are some fairly recognizable similarities to the Grateful Dead in their music (e.g., they’re both jam bands with amazing live improvisations; both highly conducive to psychedelics; etc …), but at the same time I’ve never been comfortable with comparisons between the two groups. Part of this is due to the regrettable rivalry among their respective fans. That really brings me down. But it also seems to disrespect each group somewhat by apparently failing to appreciate their respective unique qualities. As for Phish “figuring out the album game” … well, I suppose that’s so. Phish studio albums are amazing, so no argument. That said, they came of age at a time when studio technology was rapidly developing, and they made the most of it. I know that some purists eschew studio technology, but look at Sgt. Peppers and Dark Side of the Moon. On those albums, the Beatles and Pink Floyd showed that the studio itself could be an instrument. That said, however, consider the words of GB bassist Phil Lesh, who said, “we had no interest in being recording artists.” They weren’t even trying to figure out the album game; rather, they were kind of pushed into it by Warner Bros. And even though I agree that it’s the live performances which truly capture the spirit of the Dead, I very much enjoy the studio albums as well.
@@swimbikerunesq Everything you said here is spot on. I actually grew up with the Dead first, and had no intention to disrespect their strengths nor accomplishments. American Beauty and Workingman's Dead are two of the finest albums ever recorded... but you make a good point about their intention to focus on crafting the finest live music possible as opposed to polishing their tunes in the studio. Phish indeed came up in a time when technology made it possible to record music with much greatest ease, and far less cost, so my comparison of the two bands is a bit unfair in that regard. The fan rivalry is also regrettable, and I have had many a discussion with those who wish to take sides, as opposed to living in the moment and finding joy in exploring more than one band/style/scene. Phish had a ridiculous burden placed on their shoulders when Jerry died, as they had no intention of claiming the mantle of "Successor to the Dead"... the media hype machine lazily and incorrectly made that assertion, as both bands were outside the mainstream, and had fans that were tangentially similar, but not really of the same culture. As Trey stated in "Bitterweet Motel", he and his bandmates did not grow up in the 1960's counterculture movement. They had varied musical influences for sure, but they were suburban kids who grew up going to the mall, listening to bands like Boston, and King Crimson, and also the Dead, among many others. Both the Dead and Phish explore(d) new musical boundaries each evening, and some of their fans like wearing tie-dye and eating psychedelics, but the comparisons really went no deeper than that. I appreciate your perspective, and wish you much love and light my friend! :-)
Between 1970-72 they released American Beauty, Workingman's Dead, Skull & Roses double live album, Live '72 triple live album and the first Garcia album and Weir's Ace album. Enough classic Dead tunes right there to last a lifetime.
I agree about their impressive diversity, and I think the songwriting is almost as good as it gets but the word that defines the GD experience is "patience." Most groups, and even most jazz groups - present something rehearsed and polished when playing live. They learned and practiced all this cool stuff and then it is performed. The GD invite the audience in earlier in the learning curve so the audience is taken on a trip from a tenuous place to hopefully something interesting and evolved. It is this process the Deadheads have the patience for - they don't expect it to be totally happening from the downbeat. The GD don't "get to the point" too quickly and most listeners really enjoy listening to groups who make it happen immediately. There are a lot of great bands who do this and I dig many of them but the temporal aspect of musical creation is often slower when the Dead play. We hear art as a process from the GD, not as a result.
While Rubin is correct about the magic of the Dead was in their live performances, there's simply no denying that American Beauty & Workingman's Dead were both amazing albums.
Rick might not be as obsessed as some of us in the Grateful Dead, but he certainly "Gets" it. "Looking for something and sometimes they find it" That's the whole thing of improvised music. It's not about hearing that 3 minute song the same way every time, it's about collectively breaking new ground, and the audience knows it when it happens. Many music fans don't really have the attention span to sit through the searching part. Some of us LOVE being taken on that trip with the band. It's the reason people get so obsessed. When it all connects, its super powerful. "Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right"
I'm not trying to be a dink but I knew I would see a comment on here from someone pontificating about how some people just "get" it. I love the music, love Garcia, it's just not a great argument when "deadheads" speak about how they're the ones who "get" it, as folks who don't dig it aren't able to appreciate it. I don't think there's anything to "get", some love the music, some don't, and some hate it, just like black licorice. I think someone said that already, but I could be wrong
@@michaelkearns8499 It took me being exposed to the music for quite a long time for it to hit me just right. You don't expect a 10 year old to appreciate Shakespeare either. Sometimes, you have to have Black Licorice a few times to develop a taste for it. Then, there are others who try it, decide they don't like it and move on to talking about how people who love it are wrong. You can very much "get" what they were trying to do, or not "get" it. That's totally different than liking what they were doing. Over the decades I've spent listening to this music, there have been songs I've skipped every single time. All up until that one time, at that one place, with a specific set of circumstances, it hits you and makes sense and you can maybe see what others have been seeing in it. It takes a willingness and persistence that a lot of people just are not willing to have. If you don't like black licorice, how many times does a normal person try again? Deadheads tended to eat black licorice often enough to develop a taste, while some found the taste faster than others. I'll stop pontificating now.
@@michaelkearns8499 I believe that everyone is a Grateful Dead fan, they just don't know it yet. When they hear the right version of the right song, they get it.
@@DesmondMoeller if only everyone would listen to Bobby and the Midnites I Want to Live in America!!! Then I have no doubt, none whatsoever that everyone would get it!!!!!! Bobby and the Midnites 4 evrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!
I love how they are like "there's nothing else like it" You know there are many many Jam Bands. Phish, Allman Bros, DMB, Moe. Govt Mule, Blues Traveler, Widespread, they all capture a similar feel
I like the albums. American Beauty, Terrapin Station, Workingman's Dead, Live from Mars Hotel. Songs like Ripple, Brokedown Palace, New New Speedway Boogie, Estimated Prophet, U.S Blues, Loose Lucy coming home with two black eyes. I loved the shows. The best for me was June 6 1986 in RFK Stadium with Petty and Heartbreakers, Dylan both acoustic and electric backed by Petty and Heartbreakers, and the Dead to close it out. The last song of the day was Brokedown Palace and I cherish that song on American Beauty.
As someone who love jazz, punk, and the Dead more than classic, alternative, or most forms of (popular) rock, this conversation was really exciting. Punk seems the most prescriptive of the three, but the (early) energy of bands like The Stooges, MC5, the Clash, the Ramones, Bad Brains, etc is such a visceral thing that it moves you more than bands like Blink or Green Day; no discredit to those two.
i listen to the grateful dead the same as when i look at the haystack paintings from monet. they are the same haystacks/songs, but at different times of the day, or evening. with different light and shadows, so they are not just the same haystacks/ songs
Miles Davis opened for the Grateful Dead in the early 1970’s and the Grateful Dead were shocked, bewildered and got so intimidated by the heavy dark fusion that they refused to take the stage to follow Miles’s ferocious band, but 5-6 years later the Dead had themselves cracked the heart attack Jazz Fusion code around the summer of 1977, the Grateful Dead sounded very much like Miles band had earlier in the 70’s…8)
Every Saturday night at 7 - 9 pm PDT/PST, the radio show "Downtown Deb" airs live on 89.7 KLCC FM out of Eugene Oregon. You can livestream the show. Deb Trist plays tapes from Dead shows spanning decades. It's always a wow experience, especially when she plays something recorded from a show you attended. Dead Heads forever!
Jerry once said one of the reasons they didn’t concentrate on recording was because they just weren’t disciplined enough and he never wanted to put pressure on each other to try to create something because they “had” to. He loved the spontaneity and vibe they felt when playing live. He said they could never play the same song exactly the same
Oh Dr. Huberman, you punk rocker, you! You either got The Dead or you didn’t and that’s okay ❤ So much easier to get when your born in the 60’s. The Dead and Co. aren’t The Dead that Rick refers to. Put in a live tape, put the top down and drive the seaside road. Phenomenonal. The Space stuff you remember was Bob Weirs exploratory trip. I never liked that part either but when it finally ended and you were at Terrapin Station! Wow! Hugs. Peace and Love.
although Drums>Space didn't go on for hours I OFTEN wished that when a song gelled I DID HOPE they would JUST KEEP PLAYING IT for the rest of the concert, and then some 😍
I think the dead’s albums are underrated. It’s not the same thing as their shoes which are obviously the best. But American Beauty, working mans dead, wake of the flood, Blues for allah, aoxomoxoa, I mean they have a bunch I enjoy.
With the Grateful Dead live, Drums/Space was only 20 minutes max, usually...and it was improvisation time. The duo drummer story they were telling that night would tail off while the guitarists came back on stage to duet, then bass and drums would swell back in and a song erupt out of it. It wasn't ALWAYS like that but that was the basic template.
American Beauty / Workingmans Desd is a freaking masterpiece.. I saw them live with Jerry .. of course their lives shows are insanely phenomenal.. but those albums were great too.
And it must be said that some of their live shows were, occasionally, truly flops. Usually there was a gem to be found. But it was a highly unstable affair and that was part of the excitement also. In later years, they managed to stabilize the whole structure and that's when Bobby would call them the slowest growing rock band that finally got it together. But increased stability often smoothed over the interesting wrinkles as well. Instability was scary and fun.
I went with a few friends in 85 and by 86 I was in love with the band & the counter culture by 87 I was blown away by it all it was my circus I ran away every summer and had a ball the beautiful ladies were a plus there's nothing like a dead show
I think he’s spot on about the live shows of the dead, there are no shows live that sound the same, but I feel like he’s kinda wrong about some of their studio albums. I really enjoy blues for allah, and American beauty and working man’s dead are both incredibly beautiful albums, but I do enjoy their live recordings very much, more so than their studio albums
man the list of bands that would kill to have albums as strong as some of the GD ,s albums is long .ya they specialize in live improvisational music but most of their albums ,studio , were great too .
lf a band lives together in the same band house magical things can happen if they all get along. l experienced this in my 20s and 30s. Just sitting around watching a movie w/ our instruments we were learning things that bands that only get together in rehearsal halls dont have. The dead all lived together like this early on.
Hey Huberman -- "Phish" is a band that has a following like the Grateful Dead had where people follow them around & spend all their vacation time & money on the band. A Phish show is the greatest thing going nowadays in live improvisational music. Phish also caters to a psychedelic influenced crowd much like rhe Dead used to. You need to go see a Phish show to hear the awe-inspiring music, see the magic of the light rig, & feel the vibes of a scene that will remind you of the Dead shows you saw in your youth. The Grateful Dead & Phish are the kings of all jambands. I have a feeling you may enjoy Phish even more than the Dead. Phish is absolutely on fire right now & 2023 is their 40th anniversary year. Go see a show !!!
See if you was not there then you will never really know lol but you can try to recreate that and have fun its not a computation live in the now i have been only to one phish show not by choice phish is a good band no doubt but lets not forget the are not never will be any comparison to the best rocking roll band no not the stones but nickel back prove me wrong just kidding you phish stick
I've said for quite some time now- The Dead are the most punk rock band there was. Not sonically, but in spirit. I don't even really consider myself a huge fan, although I've dabbled (from some of the hot hippie girls I've dated in the past) and am awestruck by their majestic career, musical courage and impact on culture. Mad respect!!
I was a metal head and Beastie Boys type kid and my friends loved them and didn’t get it… then I did and that was it and I’m still those other things too. I think age helps one understand the magic of music
BUT... in listening back to their (GD) albums they hold up on their own for Sure! (this is also from seeing many live show and listening to them for over 40 years)
I never liked them either until I was initiated, and then I found the magic bus that was their music. I'll explain, like the song they described as, we don't play it, they just catch up to the forever vibe of it that's always going on, and then release it. That was the best description of them ever
This clip is from the Huberman Lab episode "Rick Rubin: How to Access Your Creativity." The full episode can be found on TH-cam here: th-cam.com/video/ycOBZZeVeAc/w-d-xo.html
my brother had a great way of describing a Dead show....other bands play the same show to a different crowd every night, the Dead play a different show to the same crowd every night. Going to a show was always an adventure.
That is the perfect way to look at it! Very cool!
Very apt. Sums it up beautifully. 😎👍
What?! 😂
Boy,I’ve never understood it. They were great, a movement etc etc but so many conflate those with quality. After so many years, so many shows ….. for f sake the lack of dynamics and intonation should embarrass them
Well said.
The live shows are their essence, but something a lot of people don’t always have the time to come around to realizing, in regards to The Dead, is their musical diversity. Yeah, psychedelic rock and exploration is the core, but there’s so much influence from folk and bluegrass and jazz and funk and disco and pop and it goes on and on and on. The Grateful Dead have a little something for everybody, you just gotta poke around.
And dont forget ...... KICK in!!#! COUNTRY & WESTERN
Lets also not forget songwriting and storytelling. The way Garcia could take Hunter's lyrics and create the melodies and harmony's. They make you feel the era of the story.
@@jackson9282 1000%, on par with their musical exploration. Definitely a part of The Dead that non-heads rarely get to because the "30-min psychedelic solos" dominate the rhetoric. They had 2 sets of Lennon/Mccartney’s with Garica/Hunter & Weir/Barlow, and yet 2 of the most beautiful songs in their entire catalogue originated from Phil. Pure poetry across the board.
Hey Now!
@Tyler Easterday Yes, they are the true curators of the world who's job it is to pass it on,
The Grateful Dead do not shout at you like other rock bands, they whisper to you and draw you closer.
That is such a good description.
They’re shit
@@Bogeyman19DidNotScareMyAss Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.
Bobby did shout once in a while.
That's not creepy.
"They're looking for something." You nailed it Rick Rubin!
And we were their willing partners in the pursuit of that musical adventure.
I’ve always felt that the grateful dead’s live performances enhanced my understanding of life and appreciation of paying attention to the moment. and despite the stereotypes about hippies, it’s actually one of the more diverse fan bases- people from all walks of American life. some of my favorite shows were the ones where I was sober and with other sober people- so no, you don’t need drugs to “get it”!
For the people who'd complain about musicianship, etc, the best explanation I could give was that going to a Dead show was closer to sitting around a camp fire (badly) singing songs you knew by heart with your buds, rather than say going to watch an orchestra strive for performative excellence. It felt more like going to church, or coming home, or both.
I grew up in the 80s/90s, on rap and reggae. Never really a fan of rock music, until I heard the GD. It was unlike anything I’d ever heard before… I love the early stuff. 1969-74 (72-74!!) are my favorite years. Birdsong, dark star, jack straw🔥🔥🔥
"They're not the best at what they do, they're the only ones who do what they do"
Thank you Bill Graham
We absolutely were cult like back then. I did 102 gigs following them around. Best days of my life!! I miss Jerry to this day!
Thing we always said was " a cult turns you in, towards it away from the world. This thing turned people out, made us more interested in the wider world, more engaged, more creative" Only a few really were stuck with "just "the dead. The rest of us carried it with us into the world at large.
@@ceeweedsl I don't think I was in a cult. I just ran away to join the last circus. Or better, I ran towards the circus and embraced it. When I was listening to this clip with what Rubin was describing, in the 30 years of the Dead and all the wonderful moments, A Beautiful Jam from 2/18/71 I think is one of the most unique 8 minutes of music they ever did. Many of their named jams were repeated over and over. This was the magical one off. The reason you went to every show you could. THAT moment. Cheers.
I understand what Rick is saying! There's something magical about being there and sharing the moment with the artists when the playful sonic unpredictability along with the crowd's energy peaks! Totally hypnotic!
Someone compared the Dead to a sporting event. You never know what you're going to see, but the chance of witnessing brilliance is what keeps you coming back.
Also, don;t forget the stats. I mean Dead show statistics are just as deep and complex as any sports analysis. Songs played, number of times played, Song appearance in setlist order, length of each Drums/Space, venues played, and the list goes on and on. It's wonderful. See Deadbase for true stats.
"something is really happening, it's a real moment". ~RR Absolutely. I can say that I'm so lucky that I've shared life and time-space on the planet at the same times as the Grateful Dead. Welcome, Rick Ruben, to the fountain of music that comes from the Grateful Dead that gives and gives. You don't listen to Grateful Dead music, Grateful Dead music happens to you. You'll receive different epiphanies from the same song over and over as the years roll by. It's truly music to grow old with.
As the saying goes, there's nothing like a Grateful Dead show on a hot night. The collective improvisation was what drew me to them and still draws me to dial up a show I haven't heard before. Some are misses, some are transcendent.
I haven’t come across more beautiful music than the dead. Terrapin, dark star, dew, roses, China doll, crazy fingers, bird song, high time, broke down palace, weather report, to lay me down etc are some of the most beautiful Americana Iv ever heard. I believe Jerry had more soul than anyone. He died for his music and fans. Nothing has come close as far as I’m concerned
To lay me down has been my favorite for a while. Super good
Best band by far tied with Pink Floyd and Jimi Hendrix, of course the three amigos
Hi Perijon. I totally agree. Jerry gave 100% to his fans. He was totally selfless. I wish he could have lived forever, for every generation of humanity he had could have given something. I miss him dearly
Mostly I don’t disagree, except I’d say he died early due to his drug use.
@@skaterman8180Althea is my #1
I've been a blues listener and guitar player since I started playing, so listening to jam bands wasn't difficult for me. I know some Deadheads have zero love for John Mayer, but John Mayer is the reason why I've come to love the Dead and Jerry Garcia the way I do now. Learning Dead music has been a gorgeous and rewarding challenge for me, because I CANNOT afford to think like a blues player.
I think John Mayer has done a fantastic job. He has carried the torch, and represented the Dead catalogue well for those of us who are too young to have seen Jerry. Bless you all, and keep listening...
People don’t give Mayer the time of day because he’s a “pop star”. But he’s more so a blues cat at heart who’s disguised as a pop star. The dudes a fucking animal when it comes to his guitar playing on stage, especially his improv. He’s one of the few that I could hear without seeing and automatically know it was him. He’s overrated and underrated at the same time. Idk man, John Mayer is a weird phenomenon
I just tranced out to the grateful dead oldie. I went to a dead head concert in Houston with my deadhead brother-in-law back in the 80s. Trippy vibe unlike any others. Since doing heart brain coherence breathing, music has changed for me. This just spoke to me.
Sirus satellite radio channel 23 plays recorded CONCERTS almost daily... The music never stops
It was the mid 80's. Went to a show with all my Deadhead friends. One woman had her three year old boy along. He passed out during the intermission on his moms lap. He slept through the first half of the second set, but when the 'space' started he started reacting to the 'music'. Still asleep, as a sound would crescendo he'd sit up, slowly, wobbling it time to the crazy noises. When the sound stopped, he'd plop back over until the next crazy sound wound up. It became a spectacle as we started tapping the shoulders of all the Deadheads to watch. Finally there must have been a crowd of 50 folks just watching the little guy jamming to the space. The Dead were communicating directly with his subconscious nervous system. It was very cool. I miss Jerry.
My first Dead concert was in Santa Barbara in the 70's. I was amazed at how they were able to meander through a song. I was convinced that they'd lost the thread and then hey pulled it all together. I'd never heard anyhting like. It was electrifying.
Man I just graduated from UC Santa Barbara and I love the dead. I wish I was there back then.
That’s the thing that draws me in
My first Dead concert was also in Santa Barbara in the 70s. Maybe the same one? NRPS opened the daytime show.
I first listen to Dr. Huberman July 23, 2020 Joe rogan podcast 1513. It was among the best rogan guest podcasts. I have followed the doctor since that summer . I have followed the dead since englishtown 77 to 1999.
Rick Rubin gets it, it’s the beauty of improvisation, mastered by Jazz and the Grateful Dead, you never know what you’re gonna get
Dead & Co have done a remarkable job at keeping that magic alive. Their shows are a musical journey of happiness, sadness, introspection, joy and so many other feelings. Drugs are not required. Roll away the dew. Love the Huberman Lab.
The most important American band period. Amazing to see their influence still expanding
Agreed. I read an article some time ago saying same thing. Wish I would have saved. Compared Dead to Eagles etc and explained why GD so much more important.
Space was when my best friend and I would wander the venue and people watch and find adventure. In later years, we figured out how to get on the roof of RFK (a little ledge-type thing that ran around the stadium) so we’d go up there and sit and trip out. :)
I miss those days.
Rick Rubin hits the nail in the head when he includes the "everyone" sharing the moment in the equation, not just the band, but everyone. Of course the spontaneity of the band stumbling into something like the Grateful Dead did in their live shows was unique, but the expectation of many people in the audience being satisfied all at once was truly a unique experience.
Phish was like that in the 90’s. It was incredible to be a part of it.
I didn't get them at all for many years, but after listening to a few live shows they became my favorite band. Through them and looking at their influences, I discovered entire genres I'd never enjoyed before. They were like a portal to another galaxy of jazz, bluegrass, country, blues, etc. It's hard to overstate how special their live shows were, particularly in the 70's. The Grateful Dead Movie is a good example of that.
True. I imagine everyone has their own story about how the GD actually came to them. I guess we're not ready for it until we gain some sort of capacity for it. Really odd how so many people 1st take is a weird rejection of it, actually. Then you open up and realize you've been missing out all along. A bizarre phenomena.
@@bryanharrell4059 Indeed. It seems that with music, the best stuff doesn't resonate with me initially but upon repeated listens I enjoy it more and more. Catchiness is massively overrated.
I only saw the Dead live one time, but the bootleg archives are enough to keep you busy for your whole life. My opinion, live Dead shows had peaks and valleys. The peaks often resulted in a feeling of elation, as the music and the crowd could create an amazing momentum. Emotions are the key to anything and everything! Jerry was special.
And a massive amount of their music is all available to explore for free. It’s amazing and seems endless
The old famous quotation from Bill Graham...it was something like...
"The Dead aren't only the best at what they do, they're the ONLY ones that do what they do."
If your just hearing it but not really feeling it, you will never get it. Sometimes when I listen to them, it penetrates my soul.
Grateful Dead proves God is sound 🙏
It's all sound and light.
"Music is God's gift to man, the only art of Heaven given to earth, the only art of earth we take to Heaven." Walter Savage Landor Keep on jammin' to what moves your soul!
@@foreverendeavor -- If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration.-Nikola Tesla
Everything has a resonance because we are all energy ✨
The Dead did not play space for hours. It was part of their show and the segment lasted maybe 20 minutes.
yes, it just seems like hours when someone hates drum solos 😆
"Being in the studio is like building a ship in a bottle. Being on stage is like being in a row boat on the ocean."
Jerry Garcia
God I miss making music with people who like to jam and improvise. It really is an amazing experience when you all stumble into something magical together.
Check out Goose.
new dead&co fan here, seeing john mayer live was my first view into the world of improv music, learned what the dead were about musically and decided to check them out. I have since found that they tell great stories and make interesting and unique music that spans multiple genres. Some personal favorites are st. stephen, terrapin station, black muddy river, fire on the mountain, and sugar magnolia. may everyone reading this find peace, love, and joy on this long, strange trip called life.
@The Sixth Beatle Right On! No doubt talk about a world of improv... ++☮️ Funk & Rock n' Roll 4 Your Soul My Friend & All That Jazz!++
Type live dead 1968 into the browser and press play
Sometimes you can get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right
🌹
It wasn't until I learned most of their catalog that I really accepted how talented and innovative they were. They really did so much for live sound, and the business of live music as well.
I was at Deadco a few years ago at Blossom and they were grooving, hard. A younger guy in front of me grooving along too. There was one wave that Mayer was surfing that was really deep in the music, you could feel the ESP, he turned around to me with wide eyes and asked me "did you hear that???" I was like f yeah I did lol. I have been to a few jazz shows that were like that, that lifted you out of your body.
Drugs will do that to you...not the music!
@@borntobewild9056 Well, I disagree with that.
@@borntobewild9056I’ve gone to shows sober, still amazing
Workingman's Dead and American Beauty are fabulous Dead studio albums. Granted I discovered them under the influence of Orange Sunshine (absolute killer LSD). I have been listening to those LPs and a few others but I also love their good live recordings. I still really like the Europe 72 double album.
live music is always unpredictable, and fun to hear in the raw
Experiencing a certain urgency while Jerry sang Blackpeter will forever haunt my bones 🙏
This comment spoke to me. Very true.
The Dead are an acquired taste, not an easy band to get into, but once you find your way in, it's like no other. As far as their live shows: they had a huge repertoire. If they came and played Madison Square Garden for, say, 6 nights (which they did, sold out), you would not hear a song repeated over the course of the six nights. And they didn't go on with a setlist, and (in the second set) the songs would "jam" organically into the next ones. It made every song (and show) feel like a special occasion. They weren't just playing "Truckin'", they were breaking it out, on this particular night, for whatever reason. Also their lyrics often feel like they were written a hundred years ago, little nuggets of wisdom and street smarts. And when you're there tripping on acid, and they break out some particular song, a lyric may land on you and mean something profound, according to where you are in that particular moment, on that particular night. Some nights the Dead sucked, then the next night they would be amazing. Some shows they'd start out lousy and then come on for the second set and they'd win the game. I always say the Dead are more like following a sports team than a band.
I had one of those moments a few years ago when a group of us were playing guitars at a cottage on the deck. There were about 50 people there and we knew we had a moment going and then this tour boat swerved in close to shore to hear us. The deck itself was bouncing to the music. We knew and they knew and nobody wanted it to end. You can never repeat something like that. In fact it feels wrong to even try.
The Grateful Dead is one of the Gratest most Sacred bands of all time easily. They weren't only the best at what they did..they are the only ones who did what they did and they also had one of the most rich, diverse, and legendary revolutionary histories out of any band ever
Dead till i die .
"they are the only ones who did what they did "
Phish does this as well.
Phish is far more technically superior and far more creative. Jerry was amazing but doesn't hold a candle to Treys technical skills incorporating effects.
@Mark Clemmens that is laughable brother and I love Trey and Phish/TAB...just doesn't tug at the heart and touch the soul nearly as much as Jerry and the Dead/JGB for me..but I definitely love Trey and think he is up there when it comes to guitar chops and technical ability.
@@markclemmens2862 im a lil shocked at that comment , far more and doesnt hold a candle . i bet Trey himself wouldnt completely agree with the second part .
A 1973 or 1974 Eyes Of the world says everything you need to know
While I wasn't JUST a Deadhead when I was in high school, I feel like certain groups gave me shite and could never understand why so many of us were drawn to this band and their concerts like a magnet. It's nice to see history reflect well on the Dead, more and more each year. All of a sudden it seems 'cool' to like them and seeing artists like The National, Dawes, and John Mayer living out childhood dreams playing with these guys just warms my heart!
Drug use is what drew most fans to dead concerts....and why they could sit and listen to that garbage music for hours!
@@borntobewild9056 what do you consider to be non-garbage music, bot?
@@adamhowardschneider357 IMO besides the draw of Grateful Dead music. It was the peaceful setting vibe of giving, sharing & caring that the Deadhead community put out to one another. And obviously the good time highs of psychedelics & ganja was a plus. At least it was always my experience over many years of Dead concerts back in the day when Jerry was still with us jamming. I really can't speak on Deadhead fans there after Jerry's passing. Though I've heard whispers that at times Dead crowd's have lost their way a little bit with a few dipsh!ts at the shows as the band continued with Dead & Company. However, Jerry always had an aura & vibe that he sent in his music & spread to every fan in the crowd all around with absolutely nothing but peace, love & friendship! Those concerts back then I never seen a single incident of violence or people fighting & arguing amongst each other at all. NEVER! Just saying... ++✌️& 🎵Rock n' Roll 4 Your Soul Bro++
Rick nailed it. The best music is when the musicians are searching. The music is a question, not an answer. Forgive me in advance, but that is why someone like Zappa never reached me. He's an answer, not a question, and as Dostoyevsky once wrote, "That 2 x 2 is 4 is not life, it's the beginning of death." The constant growing into something is what makes art and life exhilarating.
But what would be the answer to the answer man?
@thesixthbeatle Just playing with the chemistry set to see what would turn a pretty color or explode!
Nice description > I have decided the only good thing about being older is that I got to see Jerry a lot. Our Dead Jam event in Fort Collins , CO is now past its 10 th year and it has brought so many heads and beautiful people unaware of how diverse the music is , together. Hunter / Garcia songs are so colorful , enigmatic , and rich and so littered with historical , literary and folklore references …. the music has so many intertwined roots digging deep into our counties history …. I want the words to “ Attics Of My Life “ on my tombstone or ashes urn.
chasing "that moment" is exactly why many ended up on tour
It's not about the music, its about the energy - Jerry Garcia 🌹
Love live Dead. Obviously. But I sure as hell do sure do love studio Dead too, I do. Through and through.
Never heard anyone explain this so well.
Cream Puff War is pretty much a punk rock song before punk rock was a thing.
I never got to see the Dead, but have been following Phish for nearly 30 years now for the exact same reasons that Rick discusses here. Phish, however, seem to have figured out the album game far better than the Dead... while the albums don't compare to the live experience, Phish have been able to craft incredibly lush and beautiful compositions in the studio, allowing many of their songs to stand proud in their own right. The key to a good album, of course, is having a talented producer... the key to a good live experience is the exploration, and the community, which cannot be ignored when talking about either of these bands.
YES... Phish is amazing.
Agree that Phish is (are?) amazing. There are some fairly recognizable similarities to the Grateful Dead in their music (e.g., they’re both jam bands with amazing live improvisations; both highly conducive to psychedelics; etc …), but at the same time I’ve never been comfortable with comparisons between the two groups. Part of this is due to the regrettable rivalry among their respective fans. That really brings me down. But it also seems to disrespect each group somewhat by apparently failing to appreciate their respective unique qualities. As for Phish “figuring out the album game” … well, I suppose that’s so. Phish studio albums are amazing, so no argument. That said, they came of age at a time when studio technology was rapidly developing, and they made the most of it. I know that some purists eschew studio technology, but look at Sgt. Peppers and Dark Side of the Moon. On those albums, the Beatles and Pink Floyd showed that the studio itself could be an instrument. That said, however, consider the words of GB bassist Phil Lesh, who said, “we had no interest in being recording artists.” They weren’t even trying to figure out the album game; rather, they were kind of pushed into it by Warner Bros. And even though I agree that it’s the live performances which truly capture the spirit of the Dead, I very much enjoy the studio albums as well.
@@swimbikerunesq Everything you said here is spot on. I actually grew up with the Dead first, and had no intention to disrespect their strengths nor accomplishments. American Beauty and Workingman's Dead are two of the finest albums ever recorded... but you make a good point about their intention to focus on crafting the finest live music possible as opposed to polishing their tunes in the studio. Phish indeed came up in a time when technology made it possible to record music with much greatest ease, and far less cost, so my comparison of the two bands is a bit unfair in that regard. The fan rivalry is also regrettable, and I have had many a discussion with those who wish to take sides, as opposed to living in the moment and finding joy in exploring more than one band/style/scene. Phish had a ridiculous burden placed on their shoulders when Jerry died, as they had no intention of claiming the mantle of "Successor to the Dead"... the media hype machine lazily and incorrectly made that assertion, as both bands were outside the mainstream, and had fans that were tangentially similar, but not really of the same culture. As Trey stated in "Bitterweet Motel", he and his bandmates did not grow up in the 1960's counterculture movement. They had varied musical influences for sure, but they were suburban kids who grew up going to the mall, listening to bands like Boston, and King Crimson, and also the Dead, among many others. Both the Dead and Phish explore(d) new musical boundaries each evening, and some of their fans like wearing tie-dye and eating psychedelics, but the comparisons really went no deeper than that. I appreciate your perspective, and wish you much love and light my friend! :-)
Drum solos that went on for HOURS? No, "Space" was usually 10 to 20 minutes, max. (But perhaps it felt like hours to him...)
I see Drums/Space truly transformed Huberman's sense of time. Sounds like it broke down the barrier to realizing the illusion of time for him.
Those real moments are what its all about. Thank you for this!
Username checks out (~);}
Exactly right. Especially with the acid. 😊 When the Grateful Dead caught a wave it was absolutely exhilarating.
Between 1970-72 they released American Beauty, Workingman's Dead, Skull & Roses double live album, Live '72 triple live album and the first Garcia album and Weir's Ace album. Enough classic Dead tunes right there to last a lifetime.
I would try Without A Net and see what power they had in 1990 and it was straight 🔥
Truckin up to buffalo, 3 rivers stadium are distant seconds
Without a Net is a great introductory album.
I agree about their impressive diversity, and I think the songwriting is almost as good as it gets but the word that defines the GD experience is "patience." Most groups, and even most jazz groups - present something rehearsed and polished when playing live. They learned and practiced all this cool stuff and then it is performed. The GD invite the audience in earlier in the learning curve so the audience is taken on a trip from a tenuous place to hopefully something interesting and evolved. It is this process the Deadheads have the patience for - they don't expect it to be totally happening from the downbeat. The GD don't "get to the point" too quickly and most listeners really enjoy listening to groups who make it happen immediately. There are a lot of great bands who do this and I dig many of them but the temporal aspect of musical creation is often slower when the Dead play. We hear art as a process from the GD, not as a result.
Yes. And they know how to play the silences between the notes.
While Rubin is correct about the magic of the Dead was in their live performances, there's simply no denying that American Beauty & Workingman's Dead were both amazing albums.
Rick might not be as obsessed as some of us in the Grateful Dead, but he certainly "Gets" it. "Looking for something and sometimes they find it" That's the whole thing of improvised music. It's not about hearing that 3 minute song the same way every time, it's about collectively breaking new ground, and the audience knows it when it happens. Many music fans don't really have the attention span to sit through the searching part. Some of us LOVE being taken on that trip with the band. It's the reason people get so obsessed. When it all connects, its super powerful. "Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right"
I'm not trying to be a dink but I knew I would see a comment on here from someone pontificating about how some people just "get" it. I love the music, love Garcia, it's just not a great argument when "deadheads" speak about how they're the ones who "get" it, as folks who don't dig it aren't able to appreciate it. I don't think there's anything to "get", some love the music, some don't, and some hate it, just like black licorice. I think someone said that already, but I could be wrong
@@michaelkearns8499 It took me being exposed to the music for quite a long time for it to hit me just right. You don't expect a 10 year old to appreciate Shakespeare either. Sometimes, you have to have Black Licorice a few times to develop a taste for it. Then, there are others who try it, decide they don't like it and move on to talking about how people who love it are wrong. You can very much "get" what they were trying to do, or not "get" it. That's totally different than liking what they were doing. Over the decades I've spent listening to this music, there have been songs I've skipped every single time. All up until that one time, at that one place, with a specific set of circumstances, it hits you and makes sense and you can maybe see what others have been seeing in it. It takes a willingness and persistence that a lot of people just are not willing to have. If you don't like black licorice, how many times does a normal person try again? Deadheads tended to eat black licorice often enough to develop a taste, while some found the taste faster than others. I'll stop pontificating now.
@@faronsquare Right On! Keep on keeping on my friend. ++✌️ & Rock n' Roll 4 Your Soul++
@@michaelkearns8499 I believe that everyone is a Grateful Dead fan, they just don't know it yet. When they hear the right version of the right song, they get it.
@@DesmondMoeller if only everyone would listen to Bobby and the Midnites I Want to Live in America!!! Then I have no doubt, none whatsoever that everyone would get it!!!!!! Bobby and the Midnites 4 evrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!
I love how they are like "there's nothing else like it" You know there are many many Jam Bands. Phish, Allman Bros, DMB, Moe. Govt Mule, Blues Traveler, Widespread, they all capture a similar feel
I like the albums. American Beauty, Terrapin Station, Workingman's Dead, Live from Mars Hotel. Songs like Ripple, Brokedown Palace, New New Speedway Boogie, Estimated Prophet, U.S Blues, Loose Lucy coming home with two black eyes. I loved the shows. The best for me was June 6 1986 in RFK Stadium with Petty and Heartbreakers, Dylan both acoustic and electric backed by Petty and Heartbreakers, and the Dead to close it out. The last song of the day was Brokedown Palace and I cherish that song on American Beauty.
Miss. Half Step Englishtown NJ '77 ....toodeloo 👋
I was impressed by Rick Rubin's take on the Dead. Very intelligent and well reasoned. Coming from someone of his stature, good for him. Nice.
As someone who love jazz, punk, and the Dead more than classic, alternative, or most forms of (popular) rock, this conversation was really exciting. Punk seems the most prescriptive of the three, but the (early) energy of bands like The Stooges, MC5, the Clash, the Ramones, Bad Brains, etc is such a visceral thing that it moves you more than bands like Blink or Green Day; no discredit to those two.
The dead are more then music. They are therapy and life savers. Their music live or recorded, are pure MAGIC.
i listen to the grateful dead the same as when i look at the haystack paintings from monet. they are the same haystacks/songs, but at different times of the day, or evening. with different light and shadows, so they are not just the same haystacks/ songs
Miles Davis opened for the Grateful Dead in the early 1970’s and the Grateful Dead were shocked, bewildered and got so intimidated by the heavy dark fusion that they refused to take the stage to follow Miles’s ferocious band, but 5-6 years later the Dead had themselves cracked the heart attack Jazz Fusion code around the summer of 1977, the Grateful Dead sounded very much like Miles band had earlier in the 70’s…8)
So good, the things Rick says are so important to hear especially nowadays
each show was a special moment in time. some were extra special.
Every Saturday night at 7 - 9 pm PDT/PST, the radio show "Downtown Deb" airs live on 89.7 KLCC FM out of Eugene Oregon. You can livestream the show. Deb Trist plays tapes from Dead shows spanning decades. It's always a wow experience, especially when she plays something recorded from a show you attended. Dead Heads forever!
They always say the Dead didn't capture it on a record but American Beauty and Workingman's Dead are perfection in every way!!
Jerry once said one of the reasons they didn’t concentrate on recording was because they just weren’t disciplined enough and he never wanted to put pressure on each other to try to create something because they “had” to. He loved the spontaneity and vibe they felt when playing live. He said they could never play the same song exactly the same
it all pertains to the energy in that specific moment, a feeling unable to describe with the human language
THe compression on Rick’s vocal track is just so freaken old sounding crazy
Oh Dr. Huberman, you punk rocker, you! You either got The Dead or you didn’t and that’s okay ❤ So much easier to get when your born in the 60’s. The Dead and Co. aren’t The Dead that Rick refers to. Put in a live tape, put the top down and drive the seaside road. Phenomenonal. The Space stuff you remember was Bob Weirs exploratory trip. I never liked that part either but when it finally ended and you were at Terrapin Station! Wow! Hugs. Peace and Love.
The capturing of the moment. (2:20). That's what makes Rick Rubin an amazing producer
Dave's Picks 1 (Mosque) They Love Each Other... wonderful version and sublime Jerry solo.
what a crazy crossover I would have never expected!!
although Drums>Space didn't go on for hours I OFTEN wished that when a song gelled I DID HOPE they would JUST KEEP PLAYING IT for the rest of the concert, and then some 😍
I think the dead’s albums are underrated. It’s not the same thing as their shoes which are obviously the best. But American Beauty, working mans dead, wake of the flood, Blues for allah, aoxomoxoa, I mean they have a bunch I enjoy.
With the Grateful Dead live, Drums/Space was only 20 minutes max, usually...and it was improvisation time. The duo drummer story they were telling that night would tail off while the guitarists came back on stage to duet, then bass and drums would swell back in and a song erupt out of it. It wasn't ALWAYS like that but that was the basic template.
I always headed for a pee break during the drums/space 😀
American Beauty / Workingmans Desd is a freaking masterpiece.. I saw them live with Jerry .. of course their lives shows are insanely phenomenal.. but those albums were great too.
And it must be said that some of their live shows were, occasionally, truly flops. Usually there was a gem to be found. But it was a highly unstable affair and that was part of the excitement also. In later years, they managed to stabilize the whole structure and that's when Bobby would call them the slowest growing rock band that finally got it together. But increased stability often smoothed over the interesting wrinkles as well. Instability was scary and fun.
exactly what my band On,...in Costa Rica between 2000 and 2011 where looking for, we found it several times, the magic....
following a sports team is a good analogy
saw my first show in 83 at the garden I was 15 changed my life.
I went with a few friends in 85 and by 86 I was in love with the band & the counter culture by 87 I was blown away by it all it was my circus I ran away every summer and had a ball the beautiful ladies were a plus there's nothing like a dead show
I think he’s spot on about the live shows of the dead, there are no shows live that sound the same, but I feel like he’s kinda wrong about some of their studio albums. I really enjoy blues for allah, and American beauty and working man’s dead are both incredibly beautiful albums, but I do enjoy their live recordings very much, more so than their studio albums
man the list of bands that would kill to have albums as strong as some of the GD ,s albums is long .ya they specialize in live improvisational music but most of their albums ,studio , were great too .
lf a band lives together in the same band house magical things can happen if they all get along. l experienced this in my 20s and 30s. Just sitting around watching a movie w/ our instruments we were learning things that bands that only get together in rehearsal halls dont have. The dead all lived together like this early on.
The Grateful Dead...the Greatest Party on the Planet that Night.
Theyre not the best at what they do, theyre the only ones, who do what they do
2:04 - 2:40
"....it's a real moment.....
And it's a special moment . "
🙏
💝🌺💝🌺
Hey Huberman -- "Phish" is a band that has a following like the Grateful Dead had where people follow them around & spend all their vacation time & money on the band. A Phish show is the greatest thing going nowadays in live improvisational music. Phish also caters to a psychedelic influenced crowd much like rhe Dead used to. You need to go see a Phish show to hear the awe-inspiring music, see the magic of the light rig, & feel the vibes of a scene that will remind you of the Dead shows you saw in your youth. The Grateful Dead & Phish are the kings of all jambands. I have a feeling you may enjoy Phish even more than the Dead. Phish is absolutely on fire right now & 2023 is their 40th anniversary year. Go see a show !!!
Incorrect.
Correct
Yep- Phish is just killing it these days. Again. (or rather, "still".)
See if you was not there then you will never really know lol but you can try to recreate that and have fun its not a computation live in the now i have been only to one phish show not by choice phish is a good band no doubt but lets not forget the are not never will be any comparison to the best rocking roll band no not the stones but nickel back prove me wrong just kidding you phish stick
Yeah Phish is my jam. I've hear Huberman say he doesn't like them (I think) on Jocko's podcast.
I've said for quite some time now- The Dead are the most punk rock band there was. Not sonically, but in spirit. I don't even really consider myself a huge fan, although I've dabbled (from some of the hot hippie girls I've dated in the past) and am awestruck by their majestic career, musical courage and impact on culture. Mad respect!!
When everyone is in the groove it is quite magical (Bird Song with Branford). Or as Bootsy Collins says, it's The Power of the One ✌
"The one is where you think it is"~ Mickey Hart
I was a metal head and Beastie Boys type kid and my friends loved them and didn’t get it… then I did and that was it and I’m still those other things too. I think age helps one understand the magic of music
I differ. I feel some of the deads studio stuff can be there best. Workingmans snd american beauty are good examples of this
All things Wake are Solid Gold
BUT... in listening back to their (GD) albums they hold up on their own for Sure! (this is also from seeing many live show and listening to them for over 40 years)
I never liked them either until I was initiated, and then I found the magic bus that was their music. I'll explain, like the song they described as, we don't play it, they just catch up to the forever vibe of it that's always going on, and then release it. That was the best description of them ever