Known as the jam band of all jam bands, the Grateful Dead is a psychedelic masterpiece. Sound that brings peace and harmony to one's ears, this band was pure magic.
Within my music journey, I had a hardcore phase surrounding the Grateful Dead. I was simply fascinated by their stage presence as they dressed casually, but had an aura like something I had never seen before.
They had countless albums with sounds that were always different, but enchanting and optimistic. Music that sounded both loving and soothing, it was hard to find one song that no one could enjoy. They were the perfect jam band as they could perform for hours and never skipped a beat.
Three moments that made the Grateful Dead eternal
What made the dead eternal was the iconic performances that did not just involve them, but also their fanbase, as "deadheads" were notoriously known for following the band for their various shows across the United States. Regardless of camping out at the venues or busing around the states, the fans made it part of the experience to attend a show.
Through time as a deadhead, I have composed a list of my three favorite Grateful Dead moments as each of them is a reflection of music history and a flashback in time of pure talent in jam band.
China Cat Sunflower (Winterland, CA 10/14/1974)
One of their qualities was that they would document their shows on the road, and one of the most notable came from The Grateful Dead Movie, which was released in 1977, including footage from their Winterland show in 1974.
Over two hours long, with countless shows, was a gateway to how many performances they had done as a band and how many familiar faces you see the longer you watch.
One of my favorites from the film includes their hit, "China Cat Sunflower" from their 1969 album, Aoxomoxoa. The joy from the fans, yet the band performs effortlessly, much so, even in the beginning, toddlers find themselves dancing on the stage with the band.
Their performance is graceful and untouchable. Yet, watching the performances from this compilation makes me wish a time machine were available, just so I could feel the anticipated joy that fills me to the core when I hear their music, especially the live ones.
One More Saturday Night (1972), Live on BeatClub
Down to the visuals alone, they conveyed psychedelic mania with their television performance on Beat Club in 1972. Done with pure perfection and enough tie-dye, this was just a casual time for the Grateful Dead.
Definitely one of their more iconic moments on television, it perfectly captured their abilities as a band to show that you don't have to be wild on the screen to build a fan base. They had lyrics of living life as young teenagers in southern California, learning the ropes of rebellion and never wanting the party to end in a way that was fun and packed with guitar riffs and incredible organ work by a man nicknamed Pigpen. You knew you were in for a delight.
I suppose you could say that's what lured me into the darkness. They spoke about life, whether it was falling in love, building friendships, reflecting on oneself, or simply enjoying each day as it passed. They weren't trying to be people that they weren't; they were in it for the ride.
It was one of those performances where you can tell there was no second-guessing; they just followed each other's lead and let the music speak for itself. Breathtaking-really.
That's It For The Other One (Columbia University, 5/3/1968)
Saving the best for last (which you can view here) means going back into May of 1968, where I found myself in a deep dive. It was different as people back then did not realize what they were getting for free, which was pure history and the pioneers of jam band.
It was different whether it was approached from whoever filmed the whole thing, since they did not just capture the band, but various people in the audience, as it showed the diversity of the late 60s. People meeting in the quad of a college campus during the day, experiencing a free show which was a thing for the dead back in the 60's as their sounds filled the streets attracting listeners.
Though there were so many perfect bands coming out at the time, the Dead deserve the praise for being the originators of jam bands. They had the aura, the attraction of sound, followed by poetic lyrics of life. It really fit in well for the time.
Looking at the student body, life was captured, and it showed how much music brought everyone together for universal joy and entertainment. The fashion alone was enough to bring up the beauty behind this video.
It also shows early Grateful Dead and how the band grew and prospered over the span of over fifty years together. Dedication to your craft brings spontaneous growth, and to see the fans develop alongside the band is one of the most beautiful things music can offer people. That being growth, personal development, and finding yourself.
Thanks to the Grateful Dead, the world has jam bands, while also being known as one of the only groups that sound great in the studio but even better live.
Although the list is forever growing, the Grateful Dead is a timeless act that the world will always have too much footage to deal with, but that's the whole point...