Will future scholars of the Grateful Dead look upon post-Jerry incarnations with the same reverence and analysis as is done for the classic era? If not, what is the demarcation for exclusion? Jerry? Original music? Level of sincerity/authenticity? Not looking for a Mayer bash, genuinely curious as to what and how different eras of the conceptual through line make the cut for obsession > scholarship.
Scholars really aren't supposed to revere their objects of study, but that said l think Mr. C is probably pretty much correct in thinking that the extended career of "the Grateful Dead or Whatever's Left of 'em" will remain a useful lens through which to understand broad (counter-) cultural/social dynamics. The most recent example, the Sphere shows, would be a chapter in a book about the GDOWLOE's long relationship with technology.
"They come up to me in the yard, these big, tough gangsters, with tears in their eyes, and they say 'Sir! We've never seen someone with such a perfect verdict against them!'"
I chuckled at Kreutzmann having an index entry for "horses, cocaine and" in his bio (p. 231 if you're wondering). I thought it was just a BK/Benjy Eisen thing.
But of course I am an infinitely ignorant fool. Because, of course:
cocaine's for horses not for men
doctor say it kill you but they don't say when
cocaine done killed my honey dead
Well played.
note to self: I see now this is the second time I have made that same connection, as if fresh and new, 3 years apart.
rode with neil young & crazy horse again in #bridgeport & so happy i did. got tons of songs i didn't catch tuesday ("barstool blues"! "down by the river"! "dangerbird"! "fuckin' up"!), tour debuts ("when you dance"! "big time"!), & what felt like even deeper #jams ("powderfinger"! "love & only love"!). molina & talbot have always had their own special pocket & it's so rare/cool to hear a rhythm section age with their singer into something even heavier, if less nimble. also, a j. mascis sighting.
@bourgwick I'm really torn. I need to see the show, but l'm really not sure my broken body is up for standing in a field in the potentially hot sun all day. I really wish it was in a seated venue here.
