What Is It With the Grateful Dead?
What is it with the Grateful Dead? This question is used prominently in the trailer for the Long Strange Trip, Amir Bar-Lev’s recently released 4-hour documentary. The question is fair. And the only way to truly answer this question is to jump once more into a show.
I did so this Saturday by heading to the Shoreline Amphitheater with three dear friends to watch Dead & Company. Walking into the show…literally walking from US 101, my mind was wandering…jumbled by the complexities of life. Am I ready to give my digital demo in Berlin in 2 weeks? Is Will regressing on his feeding program? When will the work on the Wisconsin house begin? How are my deals in China progressing? Why can I not drop the 10 pounds that I want to lose? What the hell is going on in London tonight? Is Will’s Way Foundation on track for its 2017 fund raising goals? Where is the market going? Will Brittany and I be able to get some alone time in July?
How? Where? When? Why? What? Questions.
My conscious was echoing the lyrics from I Know You Rider — “Laid down last night, Lord, I could not take my rest…my mind was wandering like the wild geese in the west.”
Then the music starts…Playing in the Band. Smiles appear. Bodies begin to move. iPhones come out to snap photos.
Viola Lee Blues…bigger smiles and a high five from a friend…”yep, we had predicted that one.”
Here Comes Sunshine, Tennessee Jed, and Candyman…the music begins to push the questions, the thoughts, the concerns, and the hopes out of the immediate consciousness.
And then it happens…Me and My Uncle starts, and a switch in the mind is flipped. The switch is flipped and the rest of the show is a joy of sound, visions, and vibrations. Only the present matters. The past fades. The future disappears. It is no longer a crowd of me, you, we, they, audience, and band. It is only the community from the next song, Friend of the Devil, through the encore, Black Muddy River.
The flip switches at every show.
Like religious revivals of our American history, you are in the moment. You learn to embrace the moment. You leave focused more in the moment. And that focus makes you a better husband/wife, dad/mom, non-believer, brother/sister, son/daughter, leader, Christian, team member, volunteer. You are better by being reminded that the moment is actually what matters.
So back to the question “what is it about the Grateful Dead?”
The Grateful Dead — and the many incarnations since 1995 — remain undefined. It is the music for all. It is also the scene for many. Another group does come for the drugs (which is how the band self-admittedly formed). Some leverage as a bond with friends. Everyone is searching for a bit of weirdness. Many look for meaning in the lyrics. A few travel as modern day Jack Kerouacs. A small number are historical custodians.
Well, here is my answer to the question — influenced by over 100 shows, documentaries including The Long Strange Trip, friends, and articles.
To me, it is the last great American revival. It is not about religion. It does not use public testimony. There are no preachers. Instead, it is a non-denominational revival criss-crossing the country with the promise of reawakening community through music delivered by some dedicated musicians. It is a reminder that live is short — the skull, but it is very sweet — the rose. A reminder to live in the moment. And that is goodness. It is something that I need from time to time.