Happy Friday! I don’t know about you, but I’m feelin’ kinda’ funky. It’s time to talk the Dead.
I was originally going to post a little Jerry Garcia Band because…well…he rips. If you haven’t heard, do yourself a favor and check it out.
Instead, I decided to bring to light one of the larger contributions the Grateful Dead brought to the “jam” scene outside of the music itself — Shakedown Street.
For one, Shakedown Street is about as funky as the Dead gets. Great song, great jam, great sing-along. Gotta love it.
For two, Shakedown Street has become popular slang for the part circus, part bazaar that seems to gather out of nowhere at larger jam shows and festivals. Burritos to handmade clothing. Glass pipes to ganja goo balls. Hetty this, hetty that. It’s a small, self-sustaining economy that helps fund the lifestyle of tour-heads who sell their goods to the “custies”.
It really is one of the more unique things to be experienced in live music. To some, it is the show — moreso than the music. To others, it’s a cesspool of enablers — drug addicts that make a living out of their habit.
Whatever the opinion, it all stems from these guys. Enjoy!
- MJ
