Today occasional guest-blogger Sophist jumps in with some of his thoughts. -rj
We find ourselves midweek, and it’s none other than that spell binding time of year where we honor the birth and death of one of rock music’s greatest, and most unconventional icons: Jerry Garcia. He holds a special place in my heart for a few reasons, first and foremost, his uncanny playing style has always stuck out to me, and his innovative and evolving song writing catalog is just as unique today as it was when it unfolded at each show. Garcia had a way of dancing his legato infused lines into your heart, soul, and mind. While he could make you smile, at the same time he could hit the darkest depths of your soul and channel the human condition. Garcia was and is more than music, he is an example of spreading the most carnal experiences of life through music, and this is why his legend will stand the test of time.
Musically speaking, Garcia is in a league of his own. His use of bluegrass, jazz, blues, rockabilly, and avant garde styles melt into one kaleidoscopic sound wave of sonic bliss. Garcia was always quoted for his love of leading tones, and his use of them did set him apart from other musicians of that era. His technique lives on today with a plethora of jam band guitarists emulating their fallen hero night in and night out.
What is most unique about his playing style is his tone. While other guitarists of the 60’s and 70’s where exploring the inner realm of Hendrix like dichotomies, Garcia found himself carving out a completely different sound. It was as if instead of having Jimmy Page bitch slap you with 64th notes, Garcia would caress your ears and gently lift you up into the outer hemisphere. This is what is commonly missed with non deadheads, it wasn’t about jaw dropping finger action, it was about gliding in and out of the confines of the space of the room, adding a new dimension to the venue.
Finally, we must also recognize the role model aspect of Garcia, and how he helped to refine multiple generations by infusing his philosophy world wide. At the heart of the Grateful Dead is the love, compassion, and understanding that Garcia brought to each show. He truly was and is a selfless human being. He set the standard for the hippie movement, and the individuality that permeates the dead scene. To be is to be. It is the essence of Beat. His modesty is something we should also not overlook, for it shows that even in his latter days, he still saw himself as a common man. In closing, do more than just listen to Dead this week. Recognize the beauty the fat man brought us, and go forth and make your own beauty in this crazy trip we call life.
-Sophist