SS #1: 1965-1969

Shakedown Speak

Grateful Dead fans Drew Hamilton and Mike Widmer talk about the years 1965-1969 and give their review of the albums The Grateful Dead, Anthem of the Sun, Aoxomoxoa, and Live/Dead. Hear about the formative days of the Grateful Dead and the early lineup, which included a combination of Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Bill Kreutzmann, Ron “Pigpen” McKernan, Mickey Hart, and Tom Constanten.

Like a Dead song debuting in concert, Hammy and Widdy come out firing on this podcast with no idea where they’re going. They play snippets of each song on the Dead’s first four albums and provide musical commentary along with some history of the band and its members. Their so-called “plan” is to lay down the foundation by reviewing the Dead’s recorded catalog before getting into the nuances of the “band beyond description” in future podcasts.

Show Highlights (or Lowlights depending on your viewpoint):

• 02:05-02:45 Widdy’s 9th grade yearbook quote
• 03:48-04:03 Why exactly does Hammy proclaim he’s wearing a Dancing Bears t-shirt?
• 09:25-09:30 Widdy’s audible burp (yes, that was out loud, Wid Kid)
• 10:10-10:30 Hammy with an odd reference to being born in 1967 (a fact of which the audience isn’t aware…making it even less relevant)
• 11:45-12:38 Ham supports Wid with a stellar one-word analysis of Cream Puff War
• 24:45-24:56 Wid Kid not-so-discreetly cracks open another brew

As for the next episode, pay no attention to what the boys say at the end of Episode 1. Hammy and Widdy bit off WAY more than they could chew when they thought they could cover 1970-1975 in Episode 2. That ain’t happening. Rather the next episode will focus on 1970-1971 including the albums Workingman’s Dead, American Beauty, Skull and Roses, and Bear’s Choice.

Hop on the bus for this long, strange trip through another time’s forgotten space…on Shakedown Speak!