007- September '72

The kids are back to school and we're making a study of one of the finest months in Grateful Dead history: September 1972. This time around we also have our first ever guest, Andy, bringing his knowledge and enthusiasm to the show.

The music on this episode ranges wildly and the conversation does too. We hope you enjoy it and hope you feel free to offer feedback on this change in the show.

Please, don't forget to follow the @BrokedownPod twitter account for regular news, live tweetstorms of shows as I listen, and other minutiae. Also, if you use iTunes, please consider posting a review as it really help get the word out.

As always, Thank you for listening.

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

006 - Happy Birthday, Jerry

August marks Jerry Garcia's 75th birthday and so, we're celebrating.

This month we've put together to mixed sets of music spanning the 60's, 70's, and the 80's. Tracks run from acoustic to very electric and all points in between. So open up the windows and crank the speakers. Light a candle and crack a smile because Jerry's Birthday is a time to celebrate, not mourn.

We hope you enjoy this little sampler of the treasures Jerry and the Grateful Dead gave to us over the years.

Please, don't forget to follow the @BrokedownPod twitter account for regular news, live tweetstorms of shows as I listen, and other minutiae. Also, if you use iTunes, please consider posting a review as it really help get the work out.

As always, Thank you for listening.

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

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.

Please don't forget to follow the @BrokedownPod twitter account for regular news, live tweetstorms of shows as I listen, and other minutiae. Also, if you use iTunes, please consider posting a review as it really help get the work out.

As always, Thank you for listening.

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

004 - June '73

It's June. It's hot outside in my town and, man, it's only getting hotter. I could drop in a lousy joke about how cool the Grateful Dead are but I'll spare you.

This month, with our fourth episode, we pay tribute to a fallen Brother and get into some deep jams along the way. As you well know by now, Gregg Allman passed on May 27 and though he may be sorely missed, he'll always be with us in his work.

The episode is broken into three chunks of music from three different shows. Each is accompanied by a bit of discussion along the way.

As I say in each episode, don't forget to follow the @BrokedownPod twitter account for regular news, live tweetstorms of shows as I listen, and other minutiae.

As always, Thank you for listening.

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


Track listings and such come after the jump!

003 - Spring '77

It's May, which is still Spring and a perfect time to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the laudable Spring '77 tour. The band has marked the occasion with the release of a new boxed set featuring the complete 5/5 (New Haven, CT), 5/7 (Boston, MA) , 5/8 (Ithaca, NY), and 5/9 (Buffalo, NY) shows. Additionally, the legendary 5/8 show from Cornell University has received its own standalone release on compact disc and vinyl. (You can grab these here: boxed set and here: 5/8 CD, Vinyl)

On this episode, we join in the party with a mix of tunes from the tour as well as a tribute to the 5/8 show itself. Whether it's your favorite Grateful Dead show or one that you feel gets a little too much love, we hope you enjoy what we've got in store for you here.

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

002 - April '78

This month's episode focuses in on four shows in the Middle of April of 1978. Working their way out of the South, the Grateful Dead played Duke University on 4/12, VPI (now commonly referred to as Virginia Tech) on 4/14, William & Mary on 4/15, and Huntington Civic Center on 4/16. These four shows display a tidy cross-section of the band at the time and, fortunately for us, some quality tapes circulate.

The band is working into the layout of the modern Grateful Dead, with song oriented first sets and second set jamming but the jams aren't only in set two. In the episode, we talk a little about each show and then we've assembled a pair of 'sets' from highlights of the four nights.


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

001 - Spring Tour

It's springtime (or very nearly.) 

Here at Brokedown Podcasting Central, Spring came early this year. Whether we've got snow on the ground, flowers in the trees, or both on the same day; this time of year makes me itch to get out on the road for tour. Yes, it's been a long time since Grateful Dead played a Spring tour but, every time I see a 3x5 card, it seems like yesterday.

For our first episode, we begin with a sampler from the Spring. Each selection comes from a show within the first ten years of the band with one basic requirement… a Springtime date. We hope you enjoy this little trip.