Editor’s note: The following is a letter to the editor. The opinions expressed in this letter are those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect those of The Mendocino Voice. If you would like to submit a letter to the editor feel free to write to info@mendovoice.com.
Why are there so many Grateful Dead cover bands in Mendocino County? (And yes, that was a rhetorical question.) I like the Grateful Dead too, but damn, you would think there would be some local musicians here in Northern California who would be interested in doing something original musically instead of playing “Casey Jones” or “Touch of Grey” for the thousandth time in their lives. C’mon, y’all. You can do better.
And then there’s this: most tribute bands do a disservice to the band they’re attempting to honor, because most bands that only play cover songs usually stink. And this is certainly true in regards to Grateful Dead tribute bands. But don’t be discouraged, deadheads, because most bands’ versions of cover songs are awful, including the Grateful Dead themselves who were well-known for butchering songs on stage written by other even older and/or long dead artists who were sent spinning in their graves.
For instance, ever hear the Grateful Dead’s live version of Buddy Holly’s “Not Fade Away”? It’s one that only a true deadhead could love. For those Buddy Holly fans reading this, you know what I’m saying—the Grateful Dead lived up to their band name by doing everything they could to drain the life out of that song sonically, somehow making an otherwise great tune boring and unlistenable. How dare they! R.I.P. Buddy Holly. (Rush’s version is so much better anyway.)
So don’t do the same here in Mendocino County with the Grateful Dead’s own music, much of which was outstanding. Do not dishonor them with your lousy cover versions of their many great original songs. We get it already, deadheads, you love Jerry Garcia almost as much as you love LSD, but to put it bluntly you are boring audiences with seemingly uninspired musicians and bands that are just rehashing old, worn material that’s a paid ticket to musical disappointment for most listeners. Just saying.
Music should be interesting, for the listeners at least, if not for the bored and/or boring musicians themselves. Do yourselves (and us) a favor. Stop wasting your time and ours playing Grateful Dead songs already and write something new and if not necessarily original, at least write and perform some music that is derivative of bands other than the Grateful Dead. We can listen to “Ripple” on our own at home without having to pay a cover charge, and if some unrepentant paleo-hippie octogenarian deadhead can’t handle that, just do your best Tommy Chong impression and tell them to “Mellow out, man.” Then offer them some acid.
Jake Pickering
I get it’s your opinion, but you’re wrong. There aren’t a lot of cover bands here. Maybe they’re the ones that get the gigs but anyway. What’s with wanting to complain or air your grievances online? You should be grateful any music comes rolls through here. I praise all the musuc makers. Don’t go to GD cover bands go support all the other acts that come around, simple.
Hey Pickering-
That’s like your opinion man.
Better to Remain Silent and Be Thought a Fool than to Speak and Remove All Doubt.
Gotta agree. In fact why are there any tribute bands period ? Music used to be considered a creative endeavor but now it seems the majority of it is strictly business and involves squeezing what you can out of people by catering to their worst instincts. Even a band that just does a variety of covers can be entertaining (particularly if they do it in their own style) but a tribute band ? Maybe I’m just out of touch (am certainly a geezer and a fool so that’s probably it) but a refried copy of even a band I like just has no appeal. And though I appreciated the spirit of the Dead I was never a fan of their music; they always just seemed like a bad garage band – so a Dead tribute band… ?
Well Jake Pickering, maybe you havent been paying attention. I know 4-5 killer local bands and all their stuff is original material. There always a cover tune or 2 cleverly slipped in to keep people asking WTF, but apparently youre missing out. I know one coastal local, and all he does is covers. But he just destroys it in the best way, i have NEVER heard a better set of chops in his version of FREE BIRD! KID WICKED you freekin ROCK. And thats all im gonna say here, other than youre oblivious, and rather a dick it would seem. Toodles
I can’t believe this made it to the editorial page…lol…
“Free Bird”? Seriously, Poncho? Speaking of pathetic… Well, I guess a Southern Man like you don’t need Neil Young or Jerry Garcia around anyhow.
Totally agree. And I say this as a musician and a life long Deadhead. In Marin County it seems like original bands no longer exist and all that is here are Dead tribute bands. But even worse is the nepotistic and cliquey nature of these bands. How many times are we expected to get excited over Phil’s kid’s band? Doesn’t the crowd want something different? Better than a DJ or a spotify list over the sound system but it’s sad, and I miss when Marin actually had a killer local music scene of original music creators.