Day of the Dead

Surviving Grateful Dead Members
Kick Off Tour Tonight in Greensboro, NC

In less than seven hours, my wife and I are headed to the promised land—Greensboro, North Carolina. That’s where the Phil Lesh, Bob Weir, Mickey Hart, and Bill Kreutzmann (original members of the Grateful Dead), along with guitarist Warren Haynes and the keyboardist Jeff Chimenti, kick off The Dead’s 2009 tour—a reunion of sorts, consisting of 20-plus shows, after a five-year hiatus.

 The trek begins at about 10 a.m., with Terrapin Station playing through the car speakers, followed by a five-and-a-half-hour drive north set to a customized Dead soundtrack, of course. 

I first started listening to the Grateful Dead when I was about 14 years old, and just as I fell under its magical spell, Jerry Garcia died on August 9, 1995. Having missed an opportunity to see the band perform at Giants Stadium only less than two months earlier, I never did get to see and hear the band live in concert. But, with a growing passion for the music of the Grateful Dead, I got my hands on live recordings and listened. That, as great as some of the shows are to listen to, it’s not the same as being there. In the years since, I’ve experienced a few post-Jerry reincarnations of the band in concert: first as The Other Ones at Further Festival at Liberty State Park in Jersey City, New Jersey, where I was only feet from the stage and Bob Weir; later as The Dead at Jones Beach in Long Island, and even some solo performances like Phil Lesh & Friends in Asheville, North Carolina.

Sure, as many diehard Deadheads seem to frequently point out, The Dead minus Jerry’s virtuoso guitar-playing and singing is something different. But for me—someone who never had that full Grateful Dead live experience—it’s something. And something still quite amazing at that, from the vibe at the pre-show parking-lot party to the transcendent adventure afforded by the music (played, remember, by those great musicians that comprised the rest of the band) once it begins to the indescribable magic of simply being present. 

For the last few days, I’ve been thinking about what the set lists for tonight’s show might contain, what I hope the band plays. I’m excited by the endless possibilities, especially since this is the first stop on The Dead’s resurrection tour—on Easter Sunday, no less. While others fill the pews of churches throughout the country, I’ll be joining a different type of congregation for a different type of spiritual renewal in a different type of cathedral. I have no doubt that Jerry’s spirit will fill the air. And I’m ready for what will surely be a long strange trip. 

Not headed back out on the road again today? Get your fill of The Dead online. Every show will be available for download, usually within 24 hours, according to the band’s official Web site. Speaking of live recordings, Ben Ratliff writes in the Sunday Arts & Leisure section of the New York Times about how fans talk about the Dead—best shows, best era, best tours, etc.—and the amazing amount of live recordings widely available (“Nearly 2,200 Dead shows exist on tape, of the 2,350 or so that the group played.”). Listen to the podcast of a discussion about the Grateful Dead with writers and editors of The Times and Gary Lambert, editor of  the “Grateful Dead Almanac.” Then cast your vote for the greatest Grateful Dead show ever. The Times has also solicited photos from readers snapped at previous Grateful Dead concerts. For 2009 tour photos, each show will be documented in collectors’ edition books (personalized with your own uploaded pic on the cover), available within 72 hours of the concert from Blurb.

I’ll be back after the show—at some point on Monday—with set lists and initial reactions. Till the morning comes.

Recommended Reads, From My Library to Yours:
The Complete Annotated Grateful Dead Lyrics
Searching for the Sound: My Life with the Grateful Dead