| Author | Message | ||
| studiorecluse
Junior Username: studiorecluse Post Number: 17 Registered: 11-2005 |
Hi Folks. This is a serious question, and I am not tweaking anyone, OK? What is the deal with Jerry Garcia? I have heard his name a million times, but when I listen to the Dead I just don't get it. With guys like Larry Carton, Jan Akkerman, and Eric Johnson around, I have a pretty high threshold for a guitar hero... so I need a little guidance. You guys tell me the best examples of Jerry's playing- song and album, and I'll go listen. I'm serious, here's your chance to win a convert. Thanks and Happy New Year. Cary | ||
| dela217
Senior Member Username: dela217 Post Number: 567 Registered: 6-2002 |
Cary, I am with you too. I have even tried to convert myself. I figured that there is such a buzz about Garcia that there must be something to it. I have had a dead head friend give me his best shot, but no go. I even bought a couple of CD's and tried that. Nothing. Oh well, at least I tried. I respect anyone that likes it and understand what they feel, but I don't feel the same thing. It's not for everybody. Michael | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1563 Registered: 9-2003 |
Exactly! You either "get it" or you don't...nothing personal intended here. It's just like the question about the how's/why's of Harley-Davidson: If I had to explain, you wouldn't understand! Cheers, Kevin | ||
| zuperdog
Junior Username: zuperdog Post Number: 15 Registered: 11-2005 |
What's the deal with Yngwie? I like the Harley analogy. An explanation or "kick in the right direction" aint gonna do it. We don't all have to like the same guitarists, do we? Music is enough! Cheers, too- Rob | ||
| studiorecluse
Junior Username: studiorecluse Post Number: 18 Registered: 11-2005 |
True, but haven't there been artists whom you didn't "get" until someone pointed out what was going on or special? I have seen people not "get" Michael Hedges until I pointed out what he was doing, or played a video. Only then did these people see his brilliance and become fans. This was an invitation to point out examples of Jerry at his finest. | ||
| flaxattack
Senior Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 857 Registered: 4-2004 |
hard to point to one thing cary.... depends on your tastes... some love him- cough cough- same dont like him- but no one denies he was one talented muthaf****r theres rockin jerry folk jerry acid jerry jazz jerry reggae jerry blues jerry bluegrass jerry dylan cover jerry beatles cover jerry stones cover jerry who cover jerry buddy holly cover jerry creedance cover jerry to name a few,,, then theres guitar jerry banjo jerry bass jerry pedal steel jerry maybe its just that he could play anything?and good you can email me what you like- as i say to everyone- i can find at least 1 tune you will like.... :-) | ||
| flaxattack
Senior Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 859 Registered: 4-2004 |
whats the first thing a deadhead says when he runs out of drugs? this band sucks! hahhahahahahaha | ||
| jazzyvee
Advanced Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 314 Registered: 6-2002 |
I know what you mean, I listened to some Garcia/Dead, I thought for the very first time about 2 weeks ago. It didn't do a lot for me I must say, although I vaguely recognised some bits of it. The thing is listening to some types of music for the first time way out of its hey day can be an unfair comparison because its out of the context of today's music and your ears are tuned differently. I think that to get it you really have to listen to it alongside other stuff of the day to really check it's brilliance or otherwise. I felt the same when I listened to Dark Side of the moon about 15 years ago. I didn't get the point and still don't, same with Zeppelin. However I've seen live footage of Floyd and Zeppelin from that time and apart from the music I have to say their playing is worthy of their status. So I think not just listening to what they play on record but seeing or learning how they do what they do is part of the the real key to their brilliance, or otherwise. Forgive me for saying this.... ;-) I really can't take Country Music...full stop. However whenever I've been at an outdoor festival or seen country music players doing their stuff on tv etc I've been well impressed by their musicianship. Whilst I respect their abilities as musicians, I just can't take the music man...... Like some others have said, its good that we don't all like the same music but my point is, you don't have to like a particular genre of music to be able to see the brilliance of its musicians. I do intend to listen to more Dead stuff when I meet someone who has more than 3 tracks and see for myself what the fuss is about. Another thing about Gerry is that he is part of the Alembic story and hence... we have our beloved instruments :-) Enjoy the day Jazzyvee | ||
| flaxattack
Senior Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 861 Registered: 4-2004 |
the main problem with the dead is that the studio was NOT their favorite place to record so i would suggest going for live here is some good stuff imho garcia- reflections grateful dead- american beauty-live without a net- first double live-in the dark-dozin at the knick bill graham said it best 0n any given night- the grateful dead was the best r/r band in the world- the live experience was their forte.... like jazzy - i dont get led zep either.... and lighting a doob before never hurt anyone-lol | ||
| pas
Member Username: pas Post Number: 52 Registered: 3-2003 |
Let me preface this by saying I love Jerry & the Dead. That being said, in my humble opinion, you can listen to tons of Jerry/Dead & still not get it. My point being simply: you had to be there & see 'em live. The older I get, the more I tend to feel this way about music in general. Recordings are fine - sort of like a snapshot of a moment in time...but live music is what it's all about...for me anyway. Happy New Year to one & all... | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1565 Registered: 9-2003 |
Wow, I must REALLY be screwed-up: I love the Dead, Jerry, Zep, Yngwie, Michael Hedges, Akkerman, E. Johnson, Larry Carlton, et al! Each has something to say via their respective instruments (several instruments, including vocals for Jerry in particular) that speak to me in some way or another...and to me, it's all good. Cheers, Kevin Happy New Year! | ||
| richbass939
Senior Member Username: richbass939 Post Number: 516 Registered: 11-2004 |
I've always liked a wide variety of music. I like many traditional types of music and some more avant garde types. I regularly listen to (and play along with) music that is not my favorite genre just to hear what and how they are playing. I believe there is a lot I can learn from all different kinds. If I had $1 (USD) for every time I heard "What's that crap?" I'd add a new Series II to my stable. Rich | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 850 Registered: 7-2004 |
Jazzyvee: Try "Live/Dead". Many Deadheads agree that this double album captured the live experience the best. As a bonus, it was recorded by none other than Ron W. hisself! As you listen, keep in mind that Jerry is improvising 98% of the time. (On later Dead this probably went down to about 85% of the time). One of the most fascinating aspects of the Dead and Jerry's music in general was their continual efforts to let it all hang out and play on the edge, so to speak. One could see the Dead do the same song 20 times (and I did, and then some) and each time will be different. I would also suggest listening to some of the work Jerry did with David Grisman. This really showcases his acoustic technique. The bottom line, at least for me, is that Jerry's playing & vocals touched my soul. Jeff: Bass Jerry??!! And the Graham quote was "They're not the best at what they do, they're the only ones who do what they do." It was painted on the side of Winterland after it closed and stood there as a testament for several years until the bastiches tore the old girl down. What a place, I melted into the floor there many times! Bill, tgo | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 2920 Registered: 5-2002 |
Let's get back to the original challenge: the best examples of Jerry's playing - song and album | ||
| crgaston
Junior Username: crgaston Post Number: 27 Registered: 11-2005 |
As far as dvd's go, watch the first "View from the Vault", the Pittsburg one with the Kentucky bonus footage. From about "Let it Grow", the last song of the first set, through to the drum solo and you will get a pretty good idea of what Jerry can do. Phil is also smoking on this. After the drum solo, one of the drummers (Mickey Hart) gets on the Beam, which is an 8 foot long aluminum I-beam strung with 12 piano strings and sporting a giant humbucker. He plays it with piece of metal pipe and runs it through all kinds of delay effects. The bonus footage is choice, to, the jam coming ouy of "He's Gone" especially. | ||
| crgaston
Junior Username: crgaston Post Number: 28 Registered: 11-2005 |
Also, it is important to realize that a lot of what Jerry is playing doesn't even sound like guitar. He used to run through a midi pickup and would sound like trumpet, flute, or something entirely different, sometimes blending these with a regular guitar sound. This can be quite confusing when listening the first few times, especially if you're not expecting it. Watching will definitely help. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 2921 Registered: 5-2002 |
The Pittsburgh show would be July 8, 1990; and since it's a commercial release it is no longer on the archive. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 2922 Registered: 5-2002 |
Charles; I've been reading the reviews of the DVD; they're all over the place. What do you think; is this a recommended buy? | ||
| tom_z
Advanced Member Username: tom_z Post Number: 256 Registered: 7-2004 |
This is an interesting topic. Cary's initial post is a little like saying "I don't really get what the fuss is about BB King" or "I really don't get what the fuss is about John Coltrane." We're all looking for something in music that either moves us on an emotional level, or stops us with it's power, or makes us dance, or lets us escape from ordinary reality, or just something pleasant to mask the noise in our environment. It will be necessarily different for each one of us. That said, Jerry had a very soulful voice, both instrumentally and vocally. He was also, as Bill pointed out, committed to improvisation. So context played a great role in his musical performances. I saw the Dead many times from the mid-seventies through the mid-nineties and some shows were lame, some were transcendent. The Dead was not unaware of this as Phil states "...Your (the fans) love, trust and patience made it possible for us to try again the next show when we couldn't get that magic carpet off the ground..." The magic was very much a live performance phenomenon, as pointed out several times above, and recordings pale in comparison to seeing the Grateful Dead tear it up on stage. Garcia was a great student of many kinds of music, including all kinds of folk music and from what I understand he played almost constantly. He improvised modally and used arpeggios to create harmonies that were both surprising and incredibly imaginative, and did most of it in real time on the fly with other musicians that were doing the same kind of thing. Guitar Player magazine did a feature on Jerry in December – here’s a link: http://www.guitarplayer.com/story.asp?sectioncode=4&storycode=11720 Near the bottom of the piece are a couple sections that might be of interest – “Garcia's Raddest Riff” and “10 Radiant Garcia Moments” try to answer Cary’s question. Some of my personal favorites are “My Funny Valentine” from “Live at Keystone” with Merle Saunders. The work he did with Melvin Seals in The Jerry Garcia Band can also be amazing – I love “Don’t Let Go” from “Jerry Garcia Band,” 1991. I have live recordings of the Grateful Dead, too numerous to mention, that have absolutely amazing passages. Also, Jerry’s acoustic work with “Old and In the Way” and with David Grisman and his band are great. He also played on Ornette Coleman’s “Virgin Beauty,” with interesting results. I guess Jerry’s music “does it” for you or not, just like any other music. Have fun listening to all of the suggestions everyone is making. Tom =) | ||
| crgaston
Junior Username: crgaston Post Number: 29 Registered: 11-2005 |
Dave, get it. It's awesome. The thing I have heard the most complaints about is the psychadelic effects in the second set. The source for this show is the video feed for the big screens they had at the outdoor shows that tour, so the effects are there, like them or not. They don't take away from the music, and aren't really disconcerting like the effects in "So Far", or whatever the name of the video they released in the 80's was. Phil is a monster on this one. It's my favorite Dead video, hands down. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 2924 Registered: 5-2002 |
Charles; ok, I've ordered it!! | ||
| crgaston
Junior Username: crgaston Post Number: 30 Registered: 11-2005 |
Lemme know what you think! | ||
| pace
Intermediate Member Username: pace Post Number: 195 Registered: 4-2004 |
>>>>>What is the deal with Jerry Garcia? I have heard his name a million times, but when I listen to the Dead I just don't get it. With guys like Larry Carton, Jan Akkerman, and Eric Johnson around<<<<<< Carlton, Akkerman, and Johnson don't ingest ridiculous amounts of smack before taking the stage..... That's what has kept Garcia, Coltrane and Bird in a league of their own.... j/k  | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 2930 Registered: 5-2002 |
I know you were just kidding; but just to be technically correct, Coltrane kicked his habit fairly early in his career, around 1957. While all of his work can probably be said to be great, it can be argued that his best and most important work was done after that time. | ||
| jlpicard
Advanced Member Username: jlpicard Post Number: 288 Registered: 7-2002 |
Well, after reading all of the above comments about Jerry and the Dead, I'm afraid I'll still have to cast my vote in the " What is the deal with Jerry "column. Once, I even told Susan that I hated the Dead and she was still nice enough to sell me a bass! ( at a decent price, I might add!) LOL!! | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 540 Registered: 9-2002 |
Well, I never 'got it', either. I have a great appreciation of what the Dead championed as technical innovators for us gearheads. They spent FORTUNES on traveling PAs and stages that they certainly didn't have to. And I truly admire any band that mostly stayed together that long, and heroically supported their MANY employees and families, again when they didn't have to. I would agree that no one else did what they did, their particular bag. It just never grabbed me. J o e y | ||
| dela217
Senior Member Username: dela217 Post Number: 569 Registered: 6-2002 |
J o e y - Ah!! Right indeed. I never got the dead, but THE GEAR!!!! It's all about the gear. I have to admit going on the web just to look at old pic of that band just to admire the equipment on stage and the instruments that started it all for us being here. I get that! I like the comparison between the Dead and a Harley rider. That's funny! A friend of mine was making fun of a Harley rider today. He was saying that it seems that folks who ride Harleys just do it to wear the "costume". I hadn't noticed that before. I hope I don't offend any bikers here. I just think that my friend's observation was funny. Michael | ||
| jazzyvee
Advanced Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 316 Registered: 6-2002 |
I've managed to find some video clips of some of theDead concerts overnight and have just watched one called, A touch of grey, which is a video/partly in which the band members are replaced at times with skeleton puppets of themselves. Like the song its nice and catchy. Looks like he is playing a tribute shaped guitar but the pickups don't look like alembics. The search continues :-) Jazzyvee | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1569 Registered: 9-2003 |
AAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGHHH! Not the "Is Jerry's guitar an Alembic or is it a Doug Irwin" debate starting AGAIN!!!!! LOL! J/K, LOL! I believe that "Touch Of Grey" was the Dead's only Bilboard Top 100 "single", even though I understand that virtually all of their studio albums went platinum. The Dead was never a "pop" band that appealed to the masses, but had/have masses of followers all over the world (especially in the Woild Of New Joisey, LOL). Getting back to thread: It's all about personal taste...some, like the Dead are an acquired one. Even Mica, who'd been dragged to Dead shows all over the planet as an infant by her parents took a couple of decades to "get" what the Dead are all about and to appreciate their music. I've personally been hooked since age 13, and the Dead inspired me to start learning to play the guitar at age 14. I also personally appreciate anyone who's proficient on their respective instrument(s), regardless of whether I like their style/genre/idiom, etc. The moral: listen to as much Dead as you can, especially live, and make-up your own mind. It may take considerable time...their many styles are not "pop" music although they do have some catchy melodies. Personally, the "new" release of the "Terrapin Station" LP in '77 got me to listen, and the "Europe '72", "Live Dead" and "Skull F**k" (Skull And Roses) LP's hooked me. Live Dead shows cemented the deal! I haven't recovered since, LOL! Cheers, Kevin | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1570 Registered: 9-2003 |
BTW: The Harley "uniform" is a subject of humor even among the Harley faithful...the ole' "real" biker's versus the "RUBbie/YUPpie/AMEX" bikers thing. It's been said that there are two types of people in this world: Those that own a Harley, and those who want one, LOL! In my mind, it's simpler and more specific. There are two types of Harley guys: those who own 'em and those who ride 'em, LOL! H*ll, you got guys that have the whole Harley "uniform", including stickers on their truck and H-D underwear, but that don't even have a bike! LOL! Now git on your Harley, crank-up the Dead tunes, and hit the road! Cheers, Kevin We now return control of your regularly scheduled program, er, um, thread...Outer Limits out! LOL! |
