005 - Grateful Americana

This month on the Brokedown Podcast we take a look at the Grateful Dead's lyrical Americana. More an overview than a deep-dive, we're going to cover a fair bit of ground like a freight with a good signal and a head of steam. We're covering all four decades of Grateful Dead this time.

It's no question that the Grateful Dead are, musically, a potent amalgam of American musical styles. Bluegrass, jazz, rock, R&B, folk, country, and avant garde composition mesh into a tantalizing stew. Lyrically, the band tells stories that cover the gamut of American walks of life and even paint a romantic mythology blending old west, deep south, appalachian, and maritime themes with modern road songs.

This, along with some jamming, is what we set out to explore over these two sets of great live music. Naturally you'll get some discussion before and after each. The playlist will be posted after the jump to protect you from spoilers. So fire this up along with the backyard barbecue and have yourself a real good time.

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As always, Thank you for listening.

Listen via iTunes, GooglePlay, or in the player below.

Set I

Promised Land 1990-07-19, Brown Eyed Women 1974-03-23, Jack Straw 1987-04-06, Peggy-O 1977-09-03, Stars And Stripes Forever 1972-11-19, Me & My Uncle > Cumberland Blues 1989-07-17, Dire Wolf 1969-06-27, Black Throated Wind 1974-03-23, Lazy River Road 1993-09-22, The Music Never Stopped 1977-09-03

Set II

Tennessee Jed 1982-10-10, Truckin’ > Nobody’s Fault But Mine Jam > The Other One > Drums > Jam > Weather Report Suite 1973-10-23, US Blues, Uncle John’s Band 1974-06-23

You can cop the excellent Frost '82 aud recording mentioned in the show (Tennessee Jed) at archive.org.

As promised in the introduction, here's the great The Harder They Come from Garcia Live Volume Nine: August 11, 1974

You can order that here.