Grateful Dead - the Most Overrated Band Ever?

[rwwjr44]

Is a great single malt Scotch whiskey overrated? No, but it most often is not appreciated when first introduced to the palate. 

[firedog]

11 minutes ago, rwwjr44 said:

Is a great single malt Scotch whiskey overrated? No, but it most often is not appreciated when first introduced to the palate. 

The better analogy would be if someone started a thread about "Single Malt XXX" being over-rated. I can think of a few that would qualify.

Single malt is not necessarily equal to good or best. That's one of the reasons blends were invented. 

IMHO, there are even some good blends that are superior to many single malts, if taste is your essential criterion.

[MarkusBarkus]

I have a strict testing regime when it comes to Scotch. I'm trying to find one I don't like.

 

BTW: with regards to GD, I was born in the 50s, remember what I was doing when Kennedy was shot, registered for the draft, etc....and (I) think the Dead suck. Still. Is that too harsh?

Not everyone in the 60s/70s was tuned in to rock. Many folks were feeling the social messaging of Marvin Gaye, Funkadelic and groups of that vibe. I sure was.
 

I grew up in a mid-size city NE US and my reality was so removed from what I perceived the Dead to be about it was completely alien. Un-relateable. At least to me/then...maybe still, I guess.

[cab33]

5 hours ago, rwwjr44 said:

Is a great single malt Scotch whiskey overrated? No, but it most often is not appreciated when first introduced to the palate. 

 

The better analogy would be if someone started a thread about licorice.  Ask Jerry.

[firedog]

6 hours ago, MarkusBarkus said:

I have a strict testing regime when it comes to Scotch. I'm trying to find one I don't like

Boy, that picture shows you aren't kidding. Impressive.

[sphinxsix]

9 hours ago, MarkusBarkus said:

I grew up in a mid-size city NE US and my reality was so removed from what I perceived the Dead to be about it was completely alien. Un-relateable. At least to me/then...maybe still, I guess.

 

I grew up in Europe which could possibly make the whole process of relating to the GD phenomenon even more difficult. I've gone through the half of the 4h long (nomen omen) 'Long Slow Trip' documentary and I think I have a better understanding of the whole thing than ever (the second half should add to it at least a little bit), yet still their music (just like I foresaw it earlier here) just doesn't touch me. I only quite(!) liked the opening credits blues (I'm much more open to blues than country) - but IMO it also was nothing special. Seems that in general I'm not interested in country related music, that's simply not my thing, sorry. I have no problem with relating to eg Hendrix and J. Joplin - but they both were much more based in blues of course. Actually what I have seen so far in this doc  would rather confirm my view of GD as a half amateur band, on a couple of levels actually - from their instrumental technique to their inability to record in a really professional fashion, really interesting material in a studio. I am also still not convinced by theories saying - they were mostly a fantastic live band, for me they weren't - IMO they were just really loved and adored by their fans with whom they were able to create a quite amazing, friendly, relaxed atmosphere during the concerts, without the usual division 'we are the stars and you are our audience', rather kind of - we all are more like people of the same kind, friends, maybe almost like a family. This is all very nice and fantastic on many levels but on the level which is the most important for me in the whole thing, which is simply music - it's still like I said not convincing.. 

And so..

9 hours ago, MarkusBarkus said:

(I) think the Dead suck. Still. Is that too harsh?

For me - no, it is not.

Just please don't take it personally, guys, it is not meant to be taken in such way.

 

[sphinxsix]

At the same time I've got lots of sympathy for these guys now - seems that they not only led the lives they wanted but at the same time they also made lots of money! I've only succeeded with the former thing 😊

[Johnseye]

On 4/5/2021 at 7:55 AM, sphinxsix said:

At the same time I've got lots of sympathy for these guys now - seems that they not only led the lives they wanted but at the same time they also made lots of money! I've only succeeded with the former thing 😊

 

Old thread but I'm glad to see you found sympathy at least.  Although you don't have to. There's no reason you need to understand or like this band.  I hope that your intention of this thread was to gain a better understanding of what inspires people to like them enough to follow them around from concert to concert.  The same type of thread could be made of any band or genre even.  Although try as I might I still can't stomach modern rap.  I couldn't stand modern country music in the past and still can't for the most part but there are some artists and some songs I do like.  I love jazz and blues, and the Dead have only helped me to appreciate it more.

 

Music is very personal and what sways us to one sound or another is unique to each of us, but what is exciting is when we find others who are inspired the same way we are by the music.  This is what the Dead did for me.  When I had first listened to them I was indifferent.  It wasn't until I was smoking a J with some friends and someone popped a cassette tape in of a live Dead show.  I had never heard a live show before and hearing this high was a new experience.  I don't know what it is about hearing this music high, even after 35 years.  It still has the same effect on me.  My friends and I joke that when we listen to a recorded show we attended sober, that it doesn't sound nearly as good and this is a commonly held experience.

 

I attended about 75 shows and went on 2 tours before Jerry died.  This was late 80's until about '92 when their latest volley of songs of which were never released on a studio album were high in the rotation.  Jerry's playing was also hit or miss in the later years. I've seen every incarnation of their post Jerry years and see at least a couple shows a year.  John Mayer is an excellent singer and an even better guitarist.  While I never cared much for his solo work, he's an interesting person in this band of which an entire discussion could be had.  Some Dead songs I just don't care that much to hear.  Some of their song writing is uninspired.  Most of what Hunter wrote is very well written but can be cryptic.  Most of the Dead's music is incredibly fun to dance to and the entire event is a non stop party.  It's the party that is also part of the draws.  A roaming partly lasting a month or months where a band plays every day or every other day.  A party that visits new cities or new parts of the country where you meet new people or see old friends.

 

One other appeal is that there is not a single show that duplicates another and every show has been recorded by members of the audience and patched into the soundboard.  I have many live shows and listen to them frequently.  Attending a live show is always a unique experience and people have fun trying to guess what the band will play next, because it's always different. I can get tired of listening to any band's studio album after some time, but I can always listen to a different Dead show and hear something new.

[Johnseye]

On 3/30/2021 at 9:25 PM, Jud said:

 

Saw Miles live a couple of times.  First time he *opened up* for Herbie Hancock, who was having a moment (no disrespect to Herbie, some of whose music I like a lot).  The friend I'd gone with and I were completely blown away by Miles, to the point where, when Herbie took the stage and started playing, we silently nodded to each other and left.  Herbie's music just wasn't in the same league.

 

The second time he was the headline act.  (John McLaughlin opened and was amazing.)  When Miles played we heard everything from jazz way out there on the edge to funk so hard 70-year-olds were up boogieing their asses off.

 

It really wasn't so much his trumpet playing at all (though he did have a talent for saying a lot with a few notes - there's a famous story about his advice to Coltrane, who was the opposite), but about his compositions; his ear for others' compositions; and his huge talent for picking sidemen.  I don't know that there has ever been another jazz musician in the vanguard of three revolutions in jazz: Be-bop (as sideman to Charlie Parker along with Dizzy); cool jazz; and fusion.

 

That must have been a great experience.  I was fortunate to see Miles once after his recovery comeback if you can call it that.  Wish I had seen more.  I've seen Herbie many times in different formats.  Got to chat with him once at the Blue Note.  He's an incredibly friendly and personable man.  I'm a huge bop fan and never get tired of hearing that genre.  It's unfortunate that jazz musicians don't play it as much anymore.  I guess that same thing could be said of good rock music today but that's a loaded topic.

 

If you haven't listened to Avishai Cohen before you might like him.  He's incredible to hear live.

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