The Dead

[Drunk Monk]

You'd think yesterday's Frost show with Bobby with Stanford symphony would be something I'd be into but no.



Tonight Billy and the Kids play the Mountain Winery. Passing on that too.

But Phil at the Fillmore this Friday...

[Drunk Monk]

MUS 49 — Psychedelia and Groove: The Music and Culture of the Grateful Dead 
Quarter: Winter
Day(s): Mondays 
Course Format: Live Online (About Formats)
Duration: 6 weeks
Date(s): Jan 22—Mar 4
Time: 7:00—8:50 pm (PT) 
Refund Deadline: Jan 24
Unit: 1 
Grade Restriction: No letter grade 
Tuition: $405
Instructor(s): David Gans
Class Recording Available: Yes 
Status: Open
Please Note: No class on February 19 
ACCESS THE SYLLABUS » (subject to change)

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The Grateful Dead's groundbreaking fusion of music, counterculture, and community engagement forged an enduring legacy that transcends generations while shaping the evolution of music and cultural expression. Fresh off the farewell performance of Dead & Company in San Francisco in July, this course invites students to delve into the phenomenon that is the Grateful Dead through a captivating exploration of the band's history, music, and cultural impact. 
The course will start by tracing the band’s evolution, from its humble beginnings to its legendary status as one of the most influential bands in music history. We will explore the band's formation, the early San Francisco music scene, its unique approach to touring, and the various eras of its existence. We’ll next embark on a sonic journey through the band's diverse and ever-evolving musical catalog. Students will dissect the distinctive blend of rock, folk, blues, and improvisation that defined the Grateful Dead's sound. 
Finally, we’ll examine the band’s cultural impact on society, diving into the band's connection to art, literature, and social change, as well as its unique fan culture and the phenomenon of the "Deadhead." By the end of the course, students will have a well-rounded appreciation for the roots, struggles, and milestones that shaped the Grateful Dead’s trajectory, an understanding of its profound impact on music and culture, and insight into a legacy that still resonates deeply today. 
Guest speakers for this course will include Steve Silberman, who was featured in the documentary Long Strange Trip and is a regular voice on the Good Ol’ Grateful Deadcast. He is also a co-author of Skeleton Key: A Dictionary for Deadheads.
Please read at least one of the books listed below.
DAVID GANSMusician; Author; Radio Producer and Host
David Gans has been curating Grateful Dead music on the radio since 1985 as the producer and host of the nationally syndicated Grateful Dead Hour. Since 2008, he has been a co-host of Tales from the Golden Road, a two-hour weekly talk show on SiriusXM’s Grateful Dead Channel. Gans is the author of five books about the Grateful Dead. He has also produced several boxed sets and compilation albums of Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia music.
Textbooks for this course:
(Recommended) Blair Jackson & David Gans, This Is All a Dream We Dreamed: An Oral History of the Grateful Dead (ISBN 978-1250098160)
(Recommended) Peter Richardson, No Simple Highway: A Cultural History of the Grateful Dead (ISBN 978-1250082145 )
(Recommended) Dennis McNally, A Long Strange Trip: The Inside History of the Grateful Dead (ISBN 978-0767911863)

Alas Stanford. No class on Taylor Swift?

[Greg]

We will not quit. The Dead are going to the Sphere in Vegas.

Shakedown Street, meet the Sphere.
A year after announcing their final tour, Dead & Company will reunite at Las Vegas’ hottest, roundest new venue.
Information is scant, but the Grateful Dead offshoot band featuring John Mayer posted a video to social media that reads, “In 2023, Dead & Company played their final tour. But there are other ways to make sure the music never stops. And it’s gonna be a ball.” The video then shows the iconic Steal Your Face skull logo adorning a tie-dyed Sphere.
It’s unclear when, or how many shows Dead & Company will play at the Sphere, and whether drummer Bill Kreutzmann, who exited the band’s final tour for “creative” reasons, will return.


After the Sphere opened in September 2023, U2 kicked off a 40-date residency focused on their 1991 album “Achtung Baby.” After U2’s final show on March 2, Phish will play from April 18-21.
Describing their “final” tour stop at the Los Angeles Forum, Variety wrote last year, “The show’s arena-sized production complemented the grandness of the moment, the video screens cycling through psychedelic colors and imagery to match the lighting, which felt more Phish-like than previous outings. The L.A. crowd soaked — and smoked — it up in a warm collective embrace.”
Dead & Company formed in 2015 when former Grateful Dead members Bob Weir, Mickey Hart and Kreutzmann teamed with John Mayer to revive the spirit of the Dead. The group consistently launched massive summer tours, playing baseball stadiums and festivals. In January, they would go truckin’ down to Mexico for their own beachside “Playing in the Sand” event. The Mayer-led revival group is often credited with introducing the music of the Dead to younger generations. 

[Drunk Monk]

Yup.

Been following that. Been only ugly rumors so far. 

There's been a lot of buzz about Phish too. 

I can't afford that. And Vegas is a crazy town to work. I worked for both the Dead & Phish in sin city...

[thatguy]

--tg

[Drunk Monk]

Dead & Company has set a residency at SPHERE in Las Vegas consisting of eighteen shows over six consecutive weeks from May 16 through June 22.  The Sphere residency will feature never-before-seen visual storytelling from Dead &  Company, providing fans with the ultimate connection to the music through these innovative and immersive shows.  Each weekend’s three performances will feature a unique setlist.

Dead & Company — Dead Forever — Live at Sphere
Thursday, May 16;  Friday, May 17;  Saturday, May 18
Friday, May 24;  Saturday, May 25;  Sunday, May 26
Thursday, May 30;  Friday, May 31;  Saturday, June 1
Thursday, June 6;  Friday, June 7;  Saturday, June 8
Thursday, June 13;  Friday, June 14;  Saturday, June 15
Thursday, June 20;  Friday, June 21;  Saturday, June 22

Advance presale registration powered by Seated is available now at deadandcompany.com, with the presale beginning Monday, February 5 at 10AM PT. 

Vibee is the official VIP Concert & Hotel Package partner for Dead & Company’s historic residency at Sphere and is the only way to access ticket bundles for all three weekend shows. Fans can purchase various Vibee packages beginning Friday, February 2, at 10AM PT. For ticket and Vibee VIP Concert and Hotel Package information, please visit: www.deadforever.vibee.com.

I haven't dared to look at the price yet...

[Greg]

Don't. It will be bad.

[Drunk Monk]

Six additional dates have just been added for Dead & Company’s Dead Forever: Live At Sphere residency. Advance presale registration is open now at deadandcompany.com. 
Vibee VIP Concert & Hotel Packages for July 4-6 will go on sale today at 4:30pm PT and July 11-13 will go on sale today at 5:30pm PTat www.deadforever.vibee.com.
Dead & Company wants to give fans, not scalpers, the best chance to buy GA floor tickets at face value. To make this possible they have chosen to use Ticketmaster’s Face Value Exchange. If fans purchase tickets for a show and can't attend, they'll have the option to resell them to other fans at the original price paid. To help protect the Exchange, Dead & Company have requested GA floor tickets at Sphere are mobile only and restricted from transfer. Please note, a valid bank account or debit card within the country of your event is required to sell on the Face Value Exchange.
Dead & Company — Dead Forever — Live at Sphere
Thursday, May 16;  Friday, May 17;  Saturday, May 18
Friday, May 24;  Saturday, May 25;  Sunday, May 26
Thursday, May 30;  Friday, May 31;  Saturday, June 1
Thursday, June 6;  Friday, June 7;  Saturday, June 8
Thursday, June 13;  Friday, June 14;  Saturday, June 15
Thursday, June 20;  Friday, June 21;  Saturday, June 22
With Added Shows:
Thursday, July 4;  Friday, July 5;  Sunday, July 6Thursday, July 11;  Friday, July 12;  Sunday, July 13

[Drunk Monk]

The Grateful Dead make Billboard chart history despite disbanding in 1995


1 of 2 | 
The Grateful Dead performs in Oakland, Calif., in 1993. The band has broken the record for the most Top 40 albums to chart on the Billboard 200. The Grateful Dead pulled out ahead of Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra with 59 total Top 40 entries on the chart Monday following the No. 25 debut of their archival release “Dave’s Picks, Volume 49: Frost Amphitheatre, Stanford U., Palo Alto, CA (4/27/85 & 4/28/85).” (AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File)


2 of 2 | 
FILE - Grateful Dead lead singer Jerry Garcia performs at the Oakland , Calif., Coliseum on Nov. 1, 1992. The band has broken the record for the most Top 40 albums to chart on the Billboard 200. The Grateful Dead pulled out ahead of Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra with 59 total Top 40 entries on the chart Monday following the No. 25 debut of their archival release “Dave’s Picks, Volume 49: Frost Amphitheatre, Stanford U., Palo Alto, CA (4/27/85 & 4/28/85).” (AP Photo/Kristy McDonald, File)

BY MARK KENNEDY
Updated 3:33 PM PST, February 5, 2024
NEW YORK (AP) — A day after Taylor Swift made music history at the Grammy Awards, a band formed long before she was born made their own history: The Grateful Dead have broken the record for the most Top 40 albums to chart on the Billboard 200.
The Grateful Dead pulled out ahead of Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra with 59 total Top 40 entries on the chart Monday following the No. 25 debut of their archival release “Dave’s Picks, Volume 49: Frost Amphitheatre, Stanford U., Palo Alto, CA (4/27/85 & 4/28/85).” Elvis and Sinatra are stuck at 58 albums apiece.
It’s a remarkable run, made even more special since the group disbanded following the death of Jerry Garcia in 1995. Forty-one of the band’s 59 entries in the Top 40 have happened since 2012, thanks to the popularity of the series of archival albums compiled by David Lemieux.
Lemieux in a statement credited the Dead for recording so many live shows and “the loyalty and passion of the many Dead Heads who have made this record possible.” He said it “could be the most unlikely and unexpected record in music history.”
The record could be further solidified: Another volume in the Dave’s Picks series will be released in April, capturing the band’s May 1977 shows at the Palladium in New York City.

[Drunk Monk]

Stacy just gave me my birthday present.

 Saturday, June 1

[Greg]

Awesome sauce. You should keep her.

[Drunk Monk]

as long as she'll have me...

[Drunk Monk]

For my future reference...

DEAD & COMPANY VENDORS CREATE SPACE IN LAS VEGAS TO GET DOWN

ARTICLE CONTRIBUTED BY SHAKEDOWN VEGAS | PUBLISHED ON FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2024

With no area provided by promoters for the Dead & Company Sphere Residency Concert Vending Scene, the Deadhead Vendors have come together to create their own space.

Not-For-Profit “Shakedown Vegas” will be every weekend at the Tuscany Suites & Casino, 255 E. Flamingo Rd in Las Vegas. Starting Thursday May 16th Thru Saturday July 13th at 11am to 7pm and will be held on all show days of the 24 date residency on 8 weekends over 9 weeks, with the last weekend in June being dark. Shakedown Vegas will host Vendors, Live Music, Art & Exhibits. All ages are welcome and the event will be free to attend!
Starting the first two weeks in the parking lot of the casino and then moving indoors to the convention space, Shakedown Vegas will feature national festival vendors, artists, local bands and other musicians from all over the country. Poster artists and photographers will contribute to the featured exhibits from week to week. Specific artists and musicians will be announced in an updated release coming as soon as possible. Local artisans and glass blowers will create live art for attendees to witness and enjoy. For more info please contact Molly Henderson at shakedown.sphere@gmail.com, Liora Soladay at (415) 272-8062 or Robert Shatzer at (707) 701-3030.
Frustrated by the lack of options to create the now synonymous with the Dead & Company pre concert party SHAKEDOWN STREET, the vendors decided to take matters into their own hands. A small group of professional vendors spanning from all over the country came together on-line in a common chat group and decided to do the groundwork themselves.
After many calls, emails, posts and sharing of pricing quotes over two months. Molly Henderson and Robert Shatzer along with Jay and Liora Soladay agreed the Tuscany Suites & Casino met all the criteria. “While finding one location with availability for all 24 Sphere residency dates was a concern, finding the right “fit” was truly our objective. We knew immediately after meeting the Tuscany staff that we had a home and a production staff that would work with us to assure success,” said Molly, a professional Vendor and Jewelry Maker from San Francisco and New Orleans.

For local Henderson resident Robert Shatzer, giving back to the scene that has meant so much to him for the last 30+ years has been a calling. “I have a long history of creating events that intentionally just break even. I like having a good time and realized early on that if just a few people came together with the same intentions and willingness to donate a little time, really beautiful things could happen. When I brought up the idea to the rest of the members in our private chat group it was obvious this was the only way to structure the event”. A Free To Attend Not-For-Profit Production, defined internally as all monies generated by vendor fees and sponsorship will be used to produce and better the event. “We’ll make our money at our booths,” Shatzer added.

Typically paying steep daily fees charged by parking lots at venues across the country that make a “tour”, it didn't take the vendors long to realize they were generating some serious money for the promoters. The fees to vend, long being a thorn in the side of what some call “the hardest working crew in show business” is a common topic in the group’s online chats. “The cost of vending is killing us.” said Don Bryant, a retired Veteran Army Ranger who now lives out his retirement on tour with the “Deadheads”. Why can’t they all be like Chicago?” he added. Referencing Wrigley Field in Chicago, a venue that actually does not charge the vendors to set up and even offers them a designated space complete with porta potties and security. Bryant went on to say “It’s really great to see us vendors come together to create a space for the Vegas run. Coming together to have a good safe time, that's just beautiful.”

Grateful Dead Shakedown Vendors Are Doin’ It Just For You! & Themselves

Now that the contracts are signed, it is official! The officially non-official Shakedown Vegas event is announced! “Shakedown Street” (adopted from a song title by the Grateful Dead) being the more commonly known moniker for the vendor pre concert tailgate party outside Grateful Dead and other jambands concerts nationwide, doesn't quite describe the event. “It was important to construe this is more than just a “Shakedown” said Ken Czajka, a New York resident who started seeing the Grateful Dead in 1984 and is coming out for the entire 24 show run. When asked about how the event will differ from the usual scene Czajka replied; “Shakedown Vegas will be almost exactly like all other pre concert lot parties,but this one is different. We did it ourselves”.

Different also, in that the bands that often set up in the various parking lots to simply play for fun or exposure will have a stage and sound system. “We will still have some buskers working the crowd, but I think with the space we have outside it’ll be nice to give bands a nice area to play in” said Jay Soladay. “We’ve got a few tricks up our sleeves and we are gonna pull off some surprises,” he added. ”And when the event moves inside We’ll have Art and photo exhibits that would not be conducive to an outside set up”

With the business of space procurement out of the way. The group as a whole, all 95+ Shakedown Vendors, from all over the country are now collectively working on the promotion of the event. “Everyone is pitching in whatever skills they have to add to the event. We’ve got artists, graphic designers, publicists, web site designers and more just in our little group. We’re taking care of all of this ourselves, Shatzer says.

When asked about the self production Liora Soladay referenced the now infamous line taken from a Press Conference on Sept 13, 1988 at the United Nations for The Rain Forest Benefit. At which founding Member of the Grateful Dead Jerry Garcia famously said:

“...Somebody has to do something, it seems incredibly, in fact it seems pathetic that it has to be us...”.

“And this has become our unofficial motto," added Liora.

*Shakedown Vegas will take place 11am - 7pm, 3 days a week for 8 of 9 weeks, starting Thurs - Sat May 16, 17, 18 & Fri - Sun May 24, 25, 26 & Thu - Sat May 30, 31, 6/1 & Thu - Sat June 6, 7, 8 & Thu - Sat June 13, 14, 15 & Thu - Sat June 20, 21, 22 & Thu - Sat July 4, 5, 6 & Thu - Sat July 11, 12, 13 @ The Tuscany Suites And Casino in Las Vegas, NV.

For more information and the most up to date news about the event please checkout instagram.com/shakedownvegas& Shakedown Las Vegas on Facebook.

[Drunk Monk]

You know how it is when a major movie comes out and you’ve gotta avert your eyes on socials because you don’t want spoilers? That’s my world now. I’m on a lot of Dead socials and they are chock full of Sphere shots & vids. Some of my friends are there now and posting because that’s what you do (forget that ‘stays in Vegas’ crap - gotta feed the IG etal). 

Coming
Coming 
Coming around

[Drunk Monk]

Smooth flight. Sat next to a dude that could’ve been a younger version of Greg (sr) with an awesome dead Mexico shirt. He’d been following the dead since ‘74. Several other