Grateful Dead

"I can only hope that some of these people see the light and start listening to and understanding improvised music. Then a whole world of great music will open up to them" Why assume that folks who do not like "jam bands" do not understand improvised music? In my opinion The Dead was never a Jam band; yes they jammed on a lot of their songs, but the songs all started as songs, good songs with melodies and lyrics that were not written with the sole purpose of a jam in mind. I get the impression that the opposite is true for jam bands, start with a jam, then write a song around it.

On the songs 'Laughing' by David Crosby and 'Mind Left Body' by Grace SLick/Katner, is some of my favorite pieces of recorded music.

I have had many of my friends completely dismiss Phish. A lot of them say simply "I don't like the funk", or "Everything phish plays is funk". THEN I show them an endless amount of Phish that has no funk sound whatsoever. Even at their funkiest in 97/98 Phish was doing a bunch of other stuff including jazz, salsa, ambient, rock etc. So don't dismiss Phish just because its what your "heady/cool" "Deadhead" friends do. I found out over time that a number my "Deadhead" friends, had no idea what the Dead is all about and what goes on musically. The most "heady deadhead" and you cant sit through any of their deep improve, or a song that goes on for more than 5 minutes? Don't listen to any live shows, know any members or albums? I don't think so, I think you like how the skull looks and the association with drugs and being cool. This comment is not directed at anyone here in the comments, just describing some of the people I occasionally have to deal with in my city. I just get tired of poser Deadheads starting nonexistent hate/feuds with/between the Grateful Dead and Phish, its ridiculous and a waste of time. I can only hope that some of these people see the light and start listening to and understanding improvised music. Then a whole world of great music will open up to them. Sorry for the rant.