Grateful Dead fans; a lot of talk, but not much rock. Why is that?

with rainbow colors blended

 

They may not be a rock band but when they peaked live, no band ever rocked harder.

 

That's for sure!

 

Their music existed further outside the artificial construct than any others.

 

The premise is flawed. If you're voted one of the ten greatest bands of all time, you're doing pretty well for yourself.

 

The Grateful Thread is the only place where one can discuss terms like thick air and McGanahan Skjellyfetti and everyone knows what's being talked about.

 

Or talk about the Road Crew referencing only first names or nicknames. Or have a detailed discussion about someone like Owsley Stanley. Or discuss Jerry’s guitars. Or recording techniques, reel to reel VS. cassettes and just so much more!!!

 

I am not a Deadhead.

My take is that enthusiasm in the thread is pretty typical for the Deadhead community.

As an outsider who knows some community members, you have to understand that it really is a community. I have never seen another band that generates such a sense of community and belonging among its fan base.

Yes they are obsessive about it. The archiving and collecting of shows. The endless discussion of lyrics similar to Dylan fans. Like they are writing a paper for a college course.

They find something very spiritual, transcendent and unifying in both the words and music

I have come to understand that regarding live shows Dead fans are very different than fans of other groups. They certainly aren't looking for reproductions of the records or even perfect show.

They seem to be seeking moments in the music and improvisation that create transcendence or beauty. As such that if on a certain date there are great jams but the voices are off key or horse that tape is still really desirable. Whereas with other bands the fans would say that was an off night.

All of this adds up to an intense interest in discussion and hence the long thread.

Sorry for such a long meandering read

 

*reports you to @warewolf95 for remedial 90's listening*

 

Yes on all counts.

Plus,

The bus came by, and I got on. . .

 

You take one guy who is into
- Bluegrass
- one into Stockhausen
- one into Cal C&W
- one into the blues
etc.

mix with neurotransmitters, and...

 

1...2...3...take a step back...1...2...3...take another step back....

 

Um, wait, I thought we wanted MORE Norwegians?

 

"These Grateful Dead fans - they're all talk, no action."

 

That works for me.

I would also guess there are others like me who don’t really feel the need to make sure the band gets well represented in best band polls etc., they are what they are to us and we are fine if anyone else finds them or does not. Should anyone show interest in them however, well I don’t think you’ll find a fan base more willing to help. I think to the OP’s question, many of us have also been around the pike enough to know you aren’t going to convince many bystanders they are the greatest band anyway given all the baggage and preconceived notions about them. And what does best even mean anyhow, especially given that their measure of success is so unique and closer to inexplicable anyway. In short I think we are simply having too much fun discussing things amongst ourselves to worry about much else given that the listening and the discussion topics are never-ending, always going on, and I think each of us knows we’ll never have time to finish it all anyway; so no need to get distracted.

 

Yup. We don't need people to find the band. When the time is right, the music finds them.

 

I guess I just don't really care about a poll all that much...we have enough silly ones here.

 

Fantastic post.

 

You nailed it there

 

They’re a band beyond description!

 

It's also the only place where "Archtop" is a verb.

I call sampling bias for the aforementioned polls. Try running them again in Turlock and see what happens.

 

Wait, does that mean I want to be Archtopped when I grow up?

 

I believe at this time only musical passages can be Archtopped. But with R&D working overtime, perhaps one day other apps can be rolled out.

 

#1 with a bullet.

 

So what is your point with this thread?