Some people - even some with otherwise great taste in music - just don’t get the Dead. You guys get it, and that makes this old Deadhead happy 😊⚡️💀

If you are a lyric guy, they essentially had a top notch poet on hand in Hunter. The Dead's catalogue is essentially endless.

"I can't put my finger on it." Exactly. That's why we keep coming back. It's the most familiar thing in the world, and it's always just beyond our grasp.

Btw if you guys really want to break down where the Dead sound comes from Phil Lesh the bass guitarist was a violinist playing classical music when young changed to jazz saxophone as he aged and ended up playing bass for the Dead and his style is influenced by Bach. Jerry Garcia the lead guitarist plays anything with strings (banjo pedal steel etc) and he played folk country and bluegrass early on Bob Weir the rhythm guitarist was originally into folk and blues and he is influenced by the jazz artist McCoy Tyner in his playing. The drummer Bill Kreutzman was originally into R and B and jazz. Two other members Pigpen McKernan on keys ,until his death was strictly into the blues and Micky Hart (not on this cut) was their second drummer and he was into International music. Put it all together and you get the Grateful Dead

The Dead were well known for bridging together two songs beautifully. Also, imagine sitting on a grassy hill in the sunshine listening to The Dead jamming for hours.

They blow my mind in my sobriety as much as they did in my non sobriety. The Dead were the quintessential American rock and roll band.

Type of music: Grateful Dead 😎

I've said it before, but your enthusiasm and sincerity in reacting to songs us old farts take for granted is so refreshing! Makes us appreciate them all over again. That is what KZfaq reactions are supposed to do, and you two do it perfectly. Going to be so bummed if I wake up one day and you brothers aren't there anymore.

"The Grateful Dead arent just a band, theyre an environment " if youre on the bus you know.

I’ve been listening to them for over 50 years and have seen them live 19 times (between 1972-1991) and I gave up trying to describe them to people or figure the band out for myself a long time ago. Now I just sit back, listen to their music and smile.

Not bad for a 51 year old song

The first song, China Cat Sunflower, was created by the Dead themselves, the 2nd song was an old country/folk tune that they reworked in their own way. Jerry Garcia, their lead guitar was actually deeply into Bluegrass, as a banjo player, in the years before the Dead came together. Their bass player, Phil, was studying and composing modern Classical music, before he took up the bass to join the group.

The Dead like Pink Floyd are a genre unto themselves.

"They're not the best at what they do, they're the only ones who do what they do." edit: for a great Grateful Dead jam session- check out "Scarlet Begonias/Fire On The Mountain" recorded at Barton Hall 5/7/1977.

"Can't put my finger on it, but it sounds good." Hell yeah, that's how we all got hooked, man.

The Grateful Dead are the originators of The Jamband. Live, improvisational jamming of any genre but with a hippy feel. That’s kinda their bread n butter 😉 They also, to me, are a fusion band. They play rock, jazz, funk, folk, bluegrass, country, Motown n everything in between

The greatest band ever! The Beatles with balls!

This music was made for dancing and smoking and drinking with your friends or maybe just with yourself! Let your boy Dark Star keep guiding you on this part of your journey!

Great choice for a live Dead reaction guys! This from their European tour of '72

unique band.you want country ,check out workingmans dead album. you want jazz ,check out EYES OF THE WORLD SONG, you want orchestration, listen to terrapin station, you want soul ,you got jerry garcia band, thats what love will make you do and it goes on and on. you guys will love it all. thanks for playing some

Not Fade Away / Goin Down the Road Fellin Bad. Skull&Roses Album

This whole album is what got me into the dead...Europe 72..this is definitely one of my favorites..its like country rock on acid

Their sound is simply the unique sound of The Grateful Dead, and it belongs to them alone. It is profoundly American music, folk and country and bluegrass and blues and rock and roll set against a psychedelic background. And you'll never find a better sounding live recording from this era of any other band! They had true tech wizards traveling in their circus, as devoted to their craft as these amazing musicians were to theirs. LOVED watching you guys bop to this incredible performance!!

"I know you rider" was first heard by a musicologist from a young black woman on death row in Louisiana early in the 1900s

The Dead were committed to living a life of improvisation. Sometimes it might miss, but when it hit, man it was magic.

Rock promotor Bill Graham once said of the Grateful Dead they aren't the best at what they do, but they're the only ones that do what they do.

I was introduced to the Dead by cosmic accident in '74. My parents took my younger sister to the music store for her birthday and a cassette copy of Europe '72 had found it's way into their bag. So my first listen was Cumberland Blues. I grew up listening to Hank Williams, Johnny Cash etc. I liked what I heard but thought that sure is a strange name for a Country & Western band.

The transition between the trippy, dippy "China Cat Sunflower" to the CW/rock "I Know You Rider" is so-o-o smooth. Your heads were bopping on your shoulders. This was a live album from their Europe '72 Tour. You'll enjoy the vids of them playing live. Such a great band performing in the moment.

The skull with the lightning bolt is called a Steal Your Face, after a lyric from the song "He's Gone", another of their "hidden gems". Dead Heads know it, but most "civilians" don't.

the sound of a Fender Stratocaster when played by a musical genius

This is one of my most favorite pieces of music ever

Nice guys! The dead are growers,it takes a minute to take all the nuances in . But keep going.they are the coolest story in rock . ..try some Jerry band stuff like knocking on heavens door,any bob Dylan cover by Jerry !

One of my favorite memories of the Grateful Dead: My brother Ray and I drove down to San Francisco for the closing of Winter land. Had no clue how we were going to get in, but not having a ticket when arriving at a Dead show had never been an issue. We figured it would work out. The Dead hit the stage a little before midnight and played til it got light outside. Breakfast with the Dead on a bittersweet New Year's Day morning.

This is what country X rock X funk X jazz X blues X Motown fusion sounds like. This band is comprised of several members with varied genre abilities and backgrounds creating this unique fusion. Plus they were the early pioneers of psychedelic rock which has the highest level jamming and improv allowing them to maximize the fusing of these genres.

For those of you who didn't know, that's Bob Weir on lead guitar from 4:40 to 6:04.

I'm7 0 + and this has always been a top 3 album. -the last 30 min or so - Prelude / Morning dew ' is sublime. M.Dew , written by Canadian folky B. Dobson, from the flick ' on the Beach' which 'll rattle yer brain. oh, someone made a real good Utube Vid. of about an hour of a concert from this run of shows. ( Tivoli ) .... late ps - song ' White Bird' from tangleewood ( utube ) band Beautiful Day

Jerry is easily the most underrated vocalist and guitarist ever if you combine both into one category. All the great guitarists love Jerry.

The best from the best. This is there best live album. Many great songs.

Saw them many times live from 1977 to 1993. Such a great sense of community and joy. A lot of dancing amd tripping lol🎸🥁🤣😎

First of all... thank you for the great reactions that you share on your channel, your perspective on the rhythms and the quality of the mixes is always appreciated. I am a long time Dead head and so it is good to see that you guys are heading down the rabbit hole of their songbook. I know that many fans are going to push for you to go after their live performances and I encourage you to also... I would just suggest that you first sample some of the Grateful Deads own live releases before you start into the mass of bootleg performances, which can be great but also uneven at times. The album Live Dead is a great recording of the Dead in the late 60's, Dead Set is a good one from the early 80's, and Europe 72 another fantastic recording of the band. Don't shy away from the studio releases also. American Beauty is a masterpiece, Terrapin Station, Mars Hotel and Touch of Grey are just another few that are well worth a listen. Best wishes to you La and Che on your journey. -Matt

So much of their bluegrass and jazz influence comes through in this live performance, and it becomes a uniquely Dead brand of funky groove. 1972! This is the perfect example to spin when someone asks “why are their live recordings so much better than their studio stuff?”

They took every American genre of music (folk, country, western, blues, R&B/Motown, rock n roll, and even a little disco) and put ‘em in a blender. Then they performed it with the improvisational traditions of Jazz, Bluegrass, and Dixieland. The end result is something completely new and unique, yet feels strangely familiar and comfortable. People can argue about the “greatest” American band, but no band is more “quintessentially American” than the dead. “They aren’t the best at what they do, they’re the ONLY ONES who do what they do”

It IS a jam session. They were committed to improvisation in all areas of band life, and it comes through in the music.

They are the ULTIMATE "jam band." They never played a song in exactly same way twice, they made up their play list on stage as they played, and--as in jazz--they played off of each other. As for style, they were country, blues, bluegrass, rock, jazz...and pretty much anything else. They played what they felt. The thing I love the most about the Dead is the upbeat atmosphere of their music. You just can't help but feel good when they play. Welcome to your Deadhead membership, guys.

Sounds like America. Awesome. Rock on.

My first Dead show was 1985 at RFK stadium, and the lineup was Tom petty, Bob Dylan and the dead. The show started at 1pm and went until 10 pm . Tom petty was good, and Bob Dylan was better than Tom petty, but the Dead totally out classed both of them

Bob Weir and Wolf Bros. are touring right now, you should catch a show. The same awesome music and a great time. Love it all.

Seen hundreds of shows... used to tape their live shows... and i still can't figure it out... heard that particular china/rider since the late 70s and i still never hear it the same way twice. The Grateful Dead aren't just music, they are magic. Thanks for sharing this ❤

The bus came by and I got on, that's when it all began.

It is a badass tune!

Maybe my single favorite Dead cut. The guitars in "Rider" sound like sunshine glinting in a million directions as it passes through the pouring rain. The whole crazy locomotive of American music was roaring through the theater that night.

I'm so fucken blessed to have had the Dead ❤

Help on The Way/Slipnot the opening track on the album Blues For Allah. you should listen to that... The two guitars and bass hold a great groove flowing throughout and weave in and out of each other so intricately in the instrumental bits (Lovely singing too). I know most Grateful Dead fans favour the live stuff (and I do too), but this is my favourite track of theirs.

The Bakersfield Sound and Bob Dylan's Blonde on Blonde album kicked the door open for Country into Rock. Gram Parsons, Byrds, The Dead, The Allman Brothers, CSNY ... it's a long, long list. Dylan created the electric Folk Rock sound you hear here. The Dead are excellent, studio and live.

Deadheads know . Superb musicians and great lyrics in the songs . Their music is meant to be experienced.

THey are kind of a hippie-jazz-country rock kind of thing. BUt definitely a jam band--they would hand out acid in their early shows in the 60s early 70s in the smaller venues and have psychedelic light shows that would show both on the screen behind them and on the audience, too--and the audience would hippie dance to the music--total free form in the light and music. They are a San Francisco based band and all about free expression.

Jerry Garcia was an amazing banjo player as well. If you guys are ever up for some throwdown, his band Old & in the Way is Bluegrass heaven.

So glad to see these cats diggin what we all know is an American 🇺🇸 original.

Pure as the driven snow Psychedelia… just floats along with the poetic lyrics and incredible harmonies.

I bob my head the same way when I hear this tune. (Which is frequent. This is one of their best. Endless great versions abound).

Terrapin is a masterpiece and you really should listen to both the studio and live versions as thestudio has a orchestra too. Eyes of the world live with guest Brantford Marseilles on Sax/ clarinet is amazing

I do enjoy listening and watching others have a musical revelation.

My man in the expos hat has officially entered the Phil Zone🌌

Here’s a Steely Dan “Kid Charlemagne” connection with the Grateful Dead. Steely Dan wrote that song about Owsley Stanley who most famously was the chemist behind the best LSD that was being produced in the 60’s and early 70’s. He was also a live sound engineer for the Grateful Dead and recorded many live shows of theirs early on. He also poured a lot of his money into the Grateful Dead’s legendary live sound system and out of that would spring Meyer Sound which is now one of the most famous and respected live sound reenforcement companies in the world.

You guys said it . They were a Jam Band . Definitely best heard live . Used to love trading tapes back in the day .

If you were ever at a concert as they transitioned from China Cat to Rider, you have never seen an audience on their feet and dancing together like that anywhere else in your life ... pure joy!!!

Psychedelic/Country/folk/jazz/rock

You guys made me smile to this! Listen to anything Cornel 77 to have your minds blown!!

Ive been so excited for you guys to finally get to this one!💛

Rolling stone called Jerry the master of the extended guitar solo...Im a dead head and got 37 shows under my belt to take to the grave. Love them. Every show was a mini woodstock. Camped in arena parking lots up and down the east coast. The best days..all my tour buddys are dead now. Crazy.

I love that y’all are feeling it the way it’s meant to be felt. Top notch musicians all around. My favorite band

Mickey Hart (one of the drummers)has said that the Grateful Dead were really in the transportation business, the music was how they moved people, like a taxi driver uses a cab. And we did call it Cosmic Country Music, Jerry came from a Bluegrass background.

As Bill Graham said, They're not the best at what they do, they're the only ones that do what they do!

You have a better chance of throwing a rope on the wind than "putting your finger" on the Dead,because it's everything,a road map to so many genres. Like legendary promoter Bill Graham said,"The Grateful Dead aren't the best at what they do,they're the ONLY ones who do what they do."

Oh, once more, soo fun to watch you listen and try to “figure it out.” Yeah, simplify it, fellas, just enjoy it … Yes, you ARE listening and catching so many of the influences … ❤

Europe of 72 Album - great choice. A jug band of great partying musicians traveling thru Europe.

Yeah, they're a little country, blues, reggae, folk, disco, funk, jazz, played in a jamming style. It's just American music, and it's good. They have something everybody can like.

The "gratest" band in history.

"We would get to the "end" of a song but the music kept going" ~ some member of the dead c. Early 70s

Went to one concert with them and it was a crazy good time!

??? Folk/country/rock fusion!!! ...bluegrass/ Jazz for Sho!!! They're really good musicians and fairly Eclectic. I've also heard their music called "Soul music for white folk" don't judge me.

This is zone out music ,go park in middle of open feild ,injoy stars and musical tripp

Maine..1980..Lewiston Racetrack..best sunset and China Cat Sunflower EVER....

No two performances of the same song were EVER the same!

As a good jam band lover like the beloved Grateful Dead, I mentioned in another comment that checking out the Dave Matthews Band live is worth a shot. They're an experience live. They mix in jazz fusion, while Dave, as down to earth as he can be, sings with his acoustic guitar while his incredible band takes off like a rocket in the jams and solos. whoa. Live performances at the well-known Central Park concert or concerts at the Gorge Ampitheater in Washington State are highly recommended. Great live are Two Step, Stay, Grey Street, All Along the Watchtower, Lying in Our Graves and on and on. Fun stuff. Thanks you guys!

I just call it Americana. Almost every kind of musical influence possible was channeled into an incredible catalogue. Even non fans have that one Dead song that resonates with them.

One of my favorite musical places is the space between these songs

It's almost impossible to overstate how damn good this band's music is. Oh, and there is NOTHING like a Grateful Dead concert. Or WAS nothing like it, alas...

So glad you returned to the Dead! You really need to check out Going Down the Road Feeling Bad/ Never Fade Away and Scarlet Begonias/Fire on the Mountain. - Cornell ‘77

Those subtle kick drum rolls during I Know U Rider make my hair stand on end, even when I know they're coming. Really adds to the "locomotive" feel of the whole song

The Grateful Dead is a very deep rabbit hole but well worth the trip. "The bus came by and I got on, that's where it all began. There was cowboy Neal at the wheel on a bus to never ever land." Get on the bus, guys. If you want to see a really great concert video try Halloween night at Radio City Music Hall, NYC.

Great call on this. Check out their live versions especially the 1972 Europe tour. Its insane. Dead are top top notch Dead are a live band. Thats where their genious is.

Their type of music is Grateful Dead music...they are a genre unto themselves. When Jerry Garcia died a writer for Rolling Stone magazine summed them up perfectly when he wrote that in the world of rock music 'there is Grateful Dead music and then there is everything else.'

Yep,..y’all looking for that funk,ya just gonna have to check out Jerry band with merl Saunders on keys ,got that Reggie funky feel on most of it! Mu-tron masterpiece as well!🫡🫡✌️🎸

You guys are grateful. I laughed when you said this is dope China cat is not an easy song to sing yes I Rastafari Tucson Arizona Sonoran desert 🌵🍄

I am now officially addicted to your channel. I didn’t even know reaction videos were a thing. I have a bunch of requests but I am wondering if you could do a reaction to any of the Robert Plant & Allison Krauss tracks. They have 2 albums both are great, there’s also some live videos that are kick ass. And please listen to Bruce Springsteen’s “Meeting Across the River” off of “Born to Run”. Thanks!

I know you rider is a famous blues song played by a ton of artists dating back to the 1920s, the dead use the vocals as a skeleton to build their jam on. The first set of most shows approaches 2 hours, some shows have gotten up to 5 hours of acid soaked jamming and twirling. The music never stopped....

Keep on doing the live Dead videos! The Grateful Dead is a true American treasure.

❤ you look like I must have looked like when I first heard this at 17 in 1972. Changed my love of live music forever. Be well young men 😎

You two make perfect bobble heads! And that’s a compliment!❤ You’re right there with the bounce!!