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.
As the lead voice and lyricist of both Strangefolk and Assembly of Dust, Reid Genauer has, in the spirit of both Robert Hunter and Jerry Garcia, evoked an earnest tone over picturesque landscaped lyrics that are both narrative and thought provoking. If there ever was anyone who took a cue out of the Robert Hunter songbook, it’s Genauer. ust listen to some of his original compositions like “Otis,” “Oxbrow,” “Reuben’s Place,” “Stout Hearted”, and more recent ones Assembly Of Dust tunes “Cluttered” and “Unvarnished”, which maintain the folksy charm of “Uncle John’s Band” with the imagery of “Dire Wolf.”
Genauer has always wore his affinity to the Grateful Dead loud and proud. In fact, Strangefolk was kicking things into high gear right in the mid 90’s just when The Grateful Dead performed two legendary shows in Franklin County Airport in Strangefolk’s home state of Vermont. With the original together again after a 12 year break – playing a handful of shows a year – Genauer is still playing strong with his other band Assembly of Dust as well. Just prior to the Santa Clara shows this week (right near where Genauer) currently resides, we got some cool insight on his affinity for The Grateful Dead.
How did you first get into the Grateful Dead?
When I was in eighth grade one of my friend’s older sister – who happened to be a beautiful hippie chick and the coolest of cool – had a bootleg tapped version of Live Dead. I’m sure the fact that I was enchanted by her was part of the allure BUT I heard the music and something genetic clicked. I was hooked from the first time I heard that shitty ass degraded bootlegged version.
Are there any personal memories of the band or a concert experience you’d like to share?
I’m a fan boy, so for me, the chances I’ve had to meet, open for and play with various members of the band has been a personal high. Of those, the coolest for me was having a chance to sing and play “Friend of the Devil” with Phil Lesh and Friends at Jones Beach in 2002. Phil had seen me perform solo and one of his people called me to see if I would like to sit in. I was like “ARE YOU KIDDING?!” – of course. My only regret is that in my moment of panic I couldn’t think of a less obvious song to do. Regardless of floundering the first draft pick – meeting Phil and playing that song with him, Warren Haynes, Jon Molo, Jimmy Herring and Rob Barraco was super cool. I recently moved to California and I’m hoping to do it again. I don’t rip on guitar and I don’t sound like Jerry vocally but man I get the heart and the “intent” of those songs.
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The coolest thing about this little episode though was that I was over eager and showed up like five hours early. I noticed a little dude my size kind of wandering around back stage as I was. It turned out to be Robert Hunter – who is so overtly the unsung hero of The Dead’s epic journey. His genius is so much a part of what makes The Dead – The Dead. I wound up hanging out with him – eating a pear and meeting his daughter. The thing that was cool besides a delicious pear and meeting a personal hero was Robert Hunter the man. I have by and large been disappointed when I meet my idols. Inevitably, they wind up being something other than I imagine them to be: usually less inspirational than their music. Robert was everything I imaged he might be – soft spoken, a generous listener, intelligent, humble – coolest “celebrity” hang. The last part of my tale was that I knew there was a lost verse to “Friend of the Devil” that Jerry didn’t sing. I asked Robert for it and he jotted it down. I sang it in front of like 10,000 people. I felt like I was somehow filling a gap and adding new thread to a song that was otherwise so well worn. It was powerful from my POV. That said, I think some of the fans were pissed in that they thought I made up my own verse rather than paying homage to the original.
What is your personal favorite Grateful Dead song and why?
It’s really hard to pick one. I think “Attics of My Life” is one of my favorites lyrically and harmonically. “When there were no words to speak – you spoke to me…” – those are bone chilling lyrics and really interesting intersecting lines of harmony.
In terms of just fun bouncing bubbles and feel good blue skies I like “Franklin’s Tower.” In terms of drama and composition I think “Terrapin Station” is worthy of some kind of award. The moment “Inspiration move me brightly” hits I feel like a hidden world is revealed – it’s an arrival. I love 90% of them but I’m not a huge fan of some of the darker messier ones – “The Other One,” “Dark Star,” etc.
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Do you have any particular memories around any of the songs you just mentioned?
I can barely remember what I had for breakfast. The big thing for me with Grateful Dead music is more of a feeling than a memory. The feeling is like putting on a pair of comfortable jeans. They sooth my soul. Psychologically, The Dead is my happy place and that’s probably why I don’t like the few darker tunes in their catalogue.
What is your favorite era of the Grateful Dead and why?
I like 1972. They were on their game, they were hungry, they were writing and playing badass songs and they destroyed the audience night after night around that time. There were other shows and other eras of course, but in and around that time was when I feel like the band presented themselves in their most powerful and most consistently amazing form.
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 love RatDog because it strikes me as the most authentic: Bob Weir singing Bob Weir songs. But I am a song guy. Phil and Friends has done the most interesting job of it musically over the long haul. He has a cool strategy in that that he brings in new players night after night and it keeps things fresh. By having new minds who all have some kind of simpatico point of view on the music and the culture of the band, Phil’s been able to breath youth and vigor into songs that have been so heavily worn for so many decades. It’s like new fuel in an old van.
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Pipgen, Tom, Keith, Brent, Bruce or Vince on keys and why?
Keith. I loved the natural sound of the keys and the honky tonk playful feel he gave the band. No disrespect to the others – his playing just tickles my ear buds.
What do you feel is the greatest misconception a lot of people outside the Dead’s circle have of the band?
I think people don’t give them the credit they deserve for writing, performing and recording one of the best collection of rock and roll songs the world has and will ever see. The writing and craftsmanship gets obscured by their reputation for noodling and drugs. But behind the fog of war there is genius clarity.
Do you remember where you were when you heard of Jerry’s passing?
Yep. I was on the porch of an old farm house in Waterbury, Vermont. I had a gig that night with Strangefolk in Maine. It must have been like JFK’s or MLK’s passing to people of that generation. It’s etched in my mind. Frozen in time.
What are your favorite Robert Hunter lyrics?
I have a zillion favs. Here are a few:
“Dust off those rusting string just one more time – gonna make em shine.”
“Delilah Jones went to meet her god and the old man never was the same again”
“Comes a time when the blind man takes your hand says can’t you see”
“Just then the wind came squalling through the door but who can the weather command?”
“I will not condemn you nor yet would I deny I would ask the same of you but failing will not die”
…and on and on and on. He is the phrase master.
Name three songs you hope they play in Chicago…
Name three you wouldn’t want them to play?! It’s gonna be great no matter what they play! I would love to see Trey rip on “Estimated Prophet,” bubble and bounce on “Franklins.” I would love to see them do a Trey song or two. I know the crowd sure as hell would!
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Strangefolk recently took the stage at Garcia’s at The Capitol Theatre for three nights to honor The Grateful Dead on June 4-6, 2015. Assembly of Dust has two NY area shows ahead on July 8th at the Brooklyn Bowl and July 9th at the Chenango Summer Jams in Norwich, NY. The band will then hit Sweetwater Music Hall in Mill Valley July 17th and July 18th at the Redwood Ramble in Navarro, CA. Visit aodust.com for more info.
Check out more Easy Answers:
Aron Magner of the Disco Biscuits
Matt Butler of Everyone Orchestra
