The Deadcast examines how the Grateful Dead became a genre and school of music unto themselves, tracing the history of Dead covers to New Jersey in 1969, Calcutta in 1975, & beyond, featuring special appearances by Phish’s Trey Anastasio & Yo La Tengo’s Ira Kaplan.
Playing Dead, Part 1, supplementary notes
by Jesse Jarnow
After many years off, John Zias of Cavalry started playing Dead music again, and has played with a variety of artists, including Phil Lesh.
Sanjay Mishra was the guitarist in Mahamaya, who played songs by the Dead and others in Calcutta in the mid-1970s. Sanjay moved to the United States, studied classical guitar at the Peabody Institute, and--through a strange turn of events--met Jerry Garcia, who volunteered to record with Sanjay. I spoke with Sanjay in depth about the Blue Incantation sessions earlier this year and wrote about it for Aquarium Drunkard. He continues to perform and record.
Trey Anastasio and Phish jettisoned their Dead repertoire in the mid-’80s to focus on their original music. Anastasio and all three of his bandmates have been drafted into numerous Dead family acts over the past 20 years, with Trey joining the surviving members of the Dead at the Fare Thee Well shows in 2015. His appearance in this episode is drawn from a much longer conversation I had with Trey, used as the basis for the podcast Alive Again.
The Henry Kaiser Band (featuring bassist Gary Lambert) live at Wetlands, October 1990, tearing into songs by Captain Beefheart, the Dead, and more.
Comment
Loki!
i was in what we think was the first Dead cover band on Long Island, starting in 1972. The band was called Loki (pronounced Lok-eye), and we had a small, but pretty dedicated, scene in the Massapequa area and beyond for a while. We even had a songwriter (who, like Hunter, didn't play in the band) and a girl singer! The rhythm section of that band—guitar, bass and drums—is still playing around Long Island today. We're now called the Moondogs, still might pull out a Dead tune or stretch out a jam on occasion.
Dead band in Barcelona
Just wanted to let y'all good folks at the Deadcast know that we have a Dead band here in Barcelona. Unique in that I am the only American, and I basically introduced most of the band to the dead, and they love it now, and are doing a great job!!! The band is called the Burning Shore, with a rotating cast of musicians. Ah, and once in a while I get to play and record with the great people from Phil Lesh's different projects.
Love the Deadcast
This Playing Dead episode was a great exploration.
Jesse and Rich - if you're reading these - Fantastic job on the Deadcast. I have enjoyed listening to this podcast so much. It was particularly welcome entertainment during the strange times we all have been going through.
I have read a few of the books, and lots of websites, etc. and the Deadcast is IMHO one of the very best pieces on the history and culture surrounding the Grateful Dead. Telling the story of these albums and songs with all of the folks who have been included has been such a rich way to learn more about this history. So good.
Thank you for all of the work that you have clearly put into this and for sharing it with us. Real Gratitude for this!
A few favorite moments for me:
Owsley confronts Goldfinger
Jerry's inspired by Kenny Loggins to rearrange FOTD
Stephen Malkmus on Truckin'
Owsley confronts Goldfinger
I have listened to all of these amazing Podcasts too but I can't recall the above.
What episode was this from?
Goldfinger
@bigEZbob
I think the Goldfinger story was back in the "Black Peter" episode from Workingman's. Part of the story of Robert Hunter's extreme bad trip that led to Black Peter.
Can't make shit like that up!
Fire Dept.
Where can I track down that Fire Dept. cover The Only Time is Now?
It can be found on Pandora…
It can be found on Pandora.
Walking in the Sun. Fire Dept.
Wrong Video
The l i n k to the John Zias video goes to that same Henry Kaiser video
Just wanted to let y'all good folks at the Deadcast know that we have a Dead band here in Barcelona. Unique in that I am the only American, and I basically introduced most of the band to the dead, and they love it now, and are doing a great job!!! The band is called the Burning Shore, with a rotating cast of musicians. Ah, and once in a while I get to play and record with the great people from Phil Lesh's different projects.
i was in what we think was the first Dead cover band on Long Island, starting in 1972. The band was called Loki (pronounced Lok-eye), and we had a small, but pretty dedicated, scene in the Massapequa area and beyond for a while. We even had a songwriter (who, like Hunter, didn't play in the band) and a girl singer! The rhythm section of that band—guitar, bass and drums—is still playing around Long Island today. We're now called the Moondogs, still might pull out a Dead tune or stretch out a jam on occasion.