One of my college roommates discovered the Dead our first year. By Junior year he literally listened to nothing else and had hundreds & hundreds of bootlegs. "Let’s listen to They Love Each Other, a concert from the early 80s, maybe at the Filmore? Let’s see… there’s Jan 27, 1982… or Aug 14th, 1983… "
And OMG on and on about what amazing musicians/songwriters they are. But I’m hearing what sounds TBH like semi-literate bluegrass. Hard to play, but not exactly complex composition or lyrics.
“They’re so honest and pure and noncommercial!”
Oh fucken gag me with a spoon they are multimillionaires many times over. And’ don’t tell me they never sold out, I’ll point at Touch of Grey
But yeah, I get your point, there. I used to be casual friends with someone who sounds like your roommate, with a massive collection of live performances. I would listen to a bit of Dead with him, but would NOT have been able to spend endless hangout times listening to nothing but their concerts. And just for me, personally-- I have a certain revulsion for obsessive behavior like that.
I’d say the Dead are a very fine band in the ways I first described, but… yes, could definitely be overrated in the ways you just described. There’s just too much fascinating music from around the world to make the Dead anything more than a passing obsession, at least for me.
Purely a single anecdote but not uncommon
One of my college roommates discovered the Dead our first year. By Junior year he literally listened to nothing else and had hundreds & hundreds of bootlegs. "Let’s listen to They Love Each Other, a concert from the early 80s, maybe at the Filmore? Let’s see… there’s Jan 27, 1982… or Aug 14th, 1983… "
And OMG on and on about what amazing musicians/songwriters they are. But I’m hearing what sounds TBH like semi-literate bluegrass. Hard to play, but not exactly complex composition or lyrics.
“They’re so honest and pure and noncommercial!”
Oh fucken gag me with a spoon they are multimillionaires many times over. And’ don’t tell me they never sold out, I’ll point at Touch of Grey
OVER. RATED.
You GO, Valley Girl! :D
But yeah, I get your point, there. I used to be casual friends with someone who sounds like your roommate, with a massive collection of live performances. I would listen to a bit of Dead with him, but would NOT have been able to spend endless hangout times listening to nothing but their concerts. And just for me, personally-- I have a certain revulsion for obsessive behavior like that.
I’d say the Dead are a very fine band in the ways I first described, but… yes, could definitely be overrated in the ways you just described. There’s just too much fascinating music from around the world to make the Dead anything more than a passing obsession, at least for me.
Q: “What did the Deadhead say when he ran out of pot?”
A: “This music sucks!”