Believe it or not, the Grateful Dead had a far-reaching influence that stretched way beyond their inner circle of improvisational minded bands. Since playing their first shows 50 years ago the Dead have earned their place in the lexicon of culture as perhaps the quintessential American band. In light of their final shows, which take place June 27 and 28 in Santa Clara, CA and 4th of July weekend in Chicago, without lead guitarist Jerry Garcia of course, and to commemorate their legacy as a whole, we’ve decided to launch a special column that focuses specifically on the impact of the Dead within many different musical communities. In each installment of Easy Answers (get the reference?) we will question a different musician or band, ranging from the obvious to the not so obvious, about the importance of Grateful Dead on their own life and musical path. We could easily keep this column within the jam band community – and we will most certainly turn our focus to some of those acts – but the goal of Easy Answers is to get insight from musicians who most wouldn’t expect to be influenced by or fans of the Dead.
That being said, this week we are excited get back to the jam scene and turn our focus to Keller Williams. For over two decades Keller has been a ubiquitous presence in the scene, whether playing as a one-man band or with acts like String Cheese Incident and any of his numerous other projects. Throughout the course of his career Keller has made it clear how much he loves the Dead, even spearheading Grateful Grass, a bluegrass band dedicated strictly to playing Dead songs bluegrass style. Besides tearing up the festival circuit and touring constantly, Keller has always kept busy in the studio, and next week he drops his 20th official album, Vape, which, appropriately, drops on April 20th. The album captures the same loose and fun improvisational spirit that can be found in his live performances. It also features appearances from well-known musicians in the scene and perhaps fellow Deadheads like Sam Grisman, John Kadlecik, Ronnie and Rob McCoury, and Alan Bartram. The tunes showcase a range of instruments and sounds to compliment the offbeat, at times humorous lyrics that may be the perfect soundtrack to your own vape sesh. Like any longtime Deadhead, Keller Williams was excited when he heard the news of the Grateful Dead playing their final shows, and was more than happy to reflect on his own personal love of all things Dead.
How did you first get into the Grateful Dead?
I was 17 with a few solo gigs under my belt when I heard the record Reckoning. It was a live acoustic record with songs like “Birdsong” and “Cassidy.” I dove into that music head first. But going to my first shows that September is what did it for me. It was the ’87 Capital Centre run.
Are there any personal memories of the band or a concert experience you’d like to share?
In the late ‘80s they put small speakers on stands in the hallways of the coliseums. Possibly for people like me that knew what the band looked like and needed WAY MORE S P A C E than the conventional concert ticketed seat area provided. These hallway dance parties were smelly freak shows, and I was right there in thick of it. I would often take it upon myself to guard a speaker by claiming my space in front of it in hopes of getting so close to the music that I might have ended up inside of it.
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What is your personal favorite Grateful Dead song and why?
“Scarlet Begonias”, “Slipknot”, “Supplication”. It’s about the jam.
What is your favorite era of the Grateful Dead and why?
Summer of ’89. Jerry was tan and wearing shorts. Brent was alive and the two of them were constantly interacting with each other. Another great musical year was ’77. The tones, the vibe, and the long groovy improv jams all play a part of this glorious musical era.
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What Grateful Dead offshoot (The Other Ones, Furthur, The Dead, Phil and Friends, Ratdog, etc) did you feel did the strongest job of playing the material?
I feel all of those projects represented the material as well as it possibly could have been represented. It’s almost a genre unto itself. Like in the jazz and bluegrass worlds, people can play music together without ever having met before and make it sound like it was rehearsed. Grateful Dead music is the same way. There is a certain deep connection and understanding of the music that many musicians get and understand.
I think it’s really cool that Mickey Hart is actually writing new music. It’s not that the other guys aren’t, it’s just that he is actually playing it live. He has a certain vision that goes way beyond the Grateful Dead’s material. Some of his recent studio stuff dives deep into electronica, and I really appreciate that.
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Pipgen, Tom, Keith, Brent, Bruce or Vince on keys and why?
Keith and Bruce are my favorites. I like the natural-sounding piano the best.
What do you feel is the greatest misconception a lot of people outside the Dead’s circle have of the band?
This seems to me like a setup for a conversation about drugs. Not all Deadheads are on drugs or ever took drugs. But let’s be real, a lot of us are and have. I strongly feel that the Grateful Dead would not be as powerful as they have been and still are without them. THIS OF COURSE IS JUST MY HUMBLE OPINION. It’s well documented that the band experimented back in the day, as did the people listening to the band, thus creating a certain bond between the two. So it’s prominent and obvious that there was a connection between drugs in the Grateful Dead and their fans. However, a common misconception is that all people that are into the band are drugged-out hippie freaks. That’s obviously not the case. Just about 39.9%. I feel it’s the same situation with EDM, but that’s a whole different article.
Do you remember where you were when you heard of Jerry’s passing?
Yup. In my ’93 Mazda 4-cylinder pickup on Pacific Avenue in Virginia Beach. The DJ on the radio sprung the news. I pulled over and cried. It was over.
What are your favorite Robert Hunter lyrics?
“Strangers stopping strangers just to shake their hand”. I did a lot of that at shows.
Name three songs you hope they play in Chicago….
1) “Stash” 2) “Punch You in the Eye” 3) “The Wedge”
Listen to a tune off Keller’s new album:
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You can catch Keller on tour this spring/summer:
Friday, April 17 – Sweetwater Music Hall Mill Valley, CA
Saturday, April 18 – Sunday, April 19 Earth Jam Three Rivers, CA (Keller Williams Solo + Keller & The Keels_
Monday, April 20 – Terrapin Crossroads San Rafael, CA (with Phil & Friends)
Thursday, April 23 – Friday, April 24 – Pour House Charleston, SC
Saturday, April 25 – Georgia Theatre Athens, GA
Friday, May 1 – Sunday, May 3 – Republic New Orleans, (LA Voodoo Dead – 50th Anniversary of the Grateful Dead w/ Steve Kimock, Bill Kreutzmann, Jeff Chimenti, George Porter Jr.)
Saturday, May 9 – Chics Beach Festival Virginia Beach, VA
Friday, May 22 – Summer Camp Chillicothe, IL (Keller Williams’ Grateful Grass plus Keller Williams Solo late night)
Saturday, May 23 – Dark Star Jubilee @ Legend Valley Thornville, OH (Keller & The Keels)
Friday, June 5 – Mountain Music Festival, Minden, WV
Sunday, June 14 – Huck Finn Jubilee Ontario, CA (Keller Williams’ Grateful Grass)
Wednesday, July 1 – Summerfest Milwaukee, WI
Saturday, July 4 – Highberry US Festival Ozark, AR
Saturday, July 11 – All Good Music Festival Summit Point, WV
Sunday, July 12 – Santa Cruz Mountain Sol Festival Felton, CA (Keller Williams’ Grateful Grass featuring Michael Kang & Keith Moseley)
Friday, July 17 – Northwest String Summit Northern Plains, OR (Keller Williams with The Travelin’ McCourys plus Keller Williams Grateful Grass)
Thursday, July 23 – Floydfest Floyd, VA (Keller Williams Solo, Keller & The Keels, and Keller Williams’ Grateful Grass)
Saturday, August 8 – Grand Targhee Bluegrass Festival Alta, WY (Keller Williams’ Grateful Grass)
Sunday, August 16 – Peach Fest Scranton, PA (Keller Williams’ Grateful Gospel featuring John Kadlecik)
Saturday, September 5 – Backwoods Music Festival Stroud, OK
Sunday, September 13 – Lockn’ Arrington VA (Grateful Gospel)
Saturday, October 3 – Homegrown Music Festival Mebane, NC
Sunday, October 4 – Luna Light Festival Darlington, MD (Keller & The Keels)
Additional dates to be announced. Tickets and Info available at www.kellerwilliams.net
Check out more Easy Answers:
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Cover photo credit: Taylor Crothers
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