In mid-August, I chatted with journalist Jim Newton at Booksmith in SF about his newly released Here Beside the Rising Tide: Jerry Garcia, The Grateful Dead, and an American Awakening, which is out now.
We touched on:
Why Jerry would’ve been the ultimate interview guest
The Dead’s wild growth in the ’80s — was Reagan the backdrop?
Garcia’s allergy to politics and endorsements
Jerry Brown asking for help… and getting turned down
What kept Deadheads coming back, year after year
This week, Dr. Darryl De Marzio curates the setlist as returning champ Adam is joined by John, Jack, and Bryan.
Darryl is the Executive Director of the Portsmouth Institute, Portsmouth Abbey’s Benedictine Center for Catholic Thought, Liturgy, and Culture. Darryl holds a masters and doctoral degree from Columbia University. His scholarship spans philosophy of education, ethical theory, and Catholic educational practice, with articles published in leading journals including Educational Theory, and Studies in Philosophy and Education.
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This week, professor Rick Monture curates the setlist as returning champ Scott is joined by Adam, Cory, and Matt.
Rick is the director of the Indigenous Studies Program at McMaster University, where he also teaches in the Department of English and Cultural Studies. Rick is a member of the Mohawk Nation, Turtle Clan, from Six Nations of the Grand River Territory.
Rick is also the author of We Share Our Matters: Two Centuries of Writing and Resistance at Six Nations of the Grand River—which maps the intellectual traditions and ongoing sovereignty of the Haudenosaunee people.
Rick holds a PhD in English from McMaster, is a past Fulbright scholar, and has long served on the boards of cultural and educational institutions at Six Nations. Rick is also a longtime Grateful Dead taper and member of the Grateful Dead Studies Association.
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This week, Grammy winning sound engineer David Glasser curates the setlist as returning champ Brendan is joined by Scott, Alec, and Max.
David Glasser is founder and chief engineer at Airshow Mastering. With over 35 years in audio engineering, David has mastered thousands of records, including more than 80 GRAMMY nominees. He’s a three-time nominee himself, earning two Grammys for his work on the Anthology of American Folk Music and Screamin’ and Hollerin’ the Blues: The Worlds of Charley Patton. David remastered the Dead’s entire studio album catalog, Europe ’72, Without a Net-- the list is endless.
This week's poster was designed by Billy King.
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This week, author Ray Robertson curates the setlist as returning champ John is joined by Dylan and Brendan.
Ray is the author of multiple novels and nonfiction works, including All the Years Combine: The Grateful Dead in Fifty Shows, a journey through the Dead’s history via fifty iconic performances. Ray’s writing has appeared in The Globe and Mail, The Walrus, and Canadian Notes & Queries.
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This week, journalist, author, and music critic Joel Selvin curates the setlist as returning champ Phil is joined by Brian, John, and Paul.
Joel was the longtime pop music critic for the San Francisco Chronicle and has written about rock and roll for over 40 years. He’s the author of many books, including Fare Thee Well: The Final Chapter of the Grateful Dead’s Long, Strange Trip and Altamont: The Rolling Stones, the Hells Angels, and the Inside Story of Rock’s Darkest Day. His latest book, Drums & Demons: The Tragic Journey of Jim Gordon, is out everywhere now. It tells the story of Jim Gordon, the legendary drummer who laid down drums on classics like “Layla,” “God only Knows,” “Good Vibrations,” and many more— before a descent into undiagnosed schizophrenia led him to murder his mother and spend the rest of his life in prison.
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This week, Brian Anderson, author of the upcoming Loud and Clear: The Grateful Dead's Wall of Sound and the Quest for Audio Perfection, curates the setlist as returning champ Denis is joined by Matty, Michael, and Phil.
Brian Anderson has been a Webby Award-winning senior features editor, writer, and producer at VICE. More recently, he did a stint running the Science desk at The Atlantic, where he was part of the Pulitzer Prize-winning team for pandemic coverage, and was later a senior editor at Vox. Loud and Clear is available for pre-order now.
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This week, senior writer at Rolling Stone Angie Martoccio curates the setlist as returning champ Zak is joined by Jackson, Denis, and Josh.
Angie has written cover stories on Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo, and Boygenius, and interviewed icons like Stevie Nicks, Neil Young, and recently, Bob Weir. Her award-winning work often highlights overlooked women in music history.
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This week, Bob Bralove curates the setlist as returning champ Corey is joined by Zak, Dave, and Isaac.
Bob Bralove is a musician and producer who worked with Stevie Wonder and the Grateful Dead, helping pioneer the use of synthesizers in live performance. He has continued to release his own music, including his new album with violinist Patti Weiss, Acoustic Conversations.
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This week, Parsons School of Design lecturer Annabelle Walsh curates the setlist as returning champ Pete is joined by Adam, Tomas, and Corey.
Annabelle investigates the intersections of subculture, fashion theory, and material culture. Her thesis project at Parsons was entitled Fashion is Dead: The Long Strange History of Deadhead Style. She has presented at the Dead Studies Association Conference.
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This week, author, historian, and Grateful Dead publicist Dennis McNally curates the setlist as former champs Steve, Pete, and Gavin face off in the Season 2 Tournament of Champions final.
Dennis wrote the introduction for The Silver Snarling Trumpet: The Birth of the Grateful Dead―The Lost Manuscript of Robert Hunter, which is available now.
Thanks to Ellisa for providing a beautiful painting of Jerry Garcia as the winner's prize, and Shelburne Farms for hooking up the second and third place finishers with prize packs as well. As always, thank you to 30k ft. for creating the show poster.
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Bestselling author Chuck Klosterman joins the show to give his (non-Deadhead) take on the Grateful Dead. Chuck dishes on why the Dead are tied for 4th on his list of greatest American bands, the Dead's politics, John Mayer's guitar playing, separating the art from the artist, and lots more.
Chuck's newest release, The Nineties: A Book, is available in paperback now. This episode is brought to you by Scarlet Fire Hot Sauce. The show poster was created by 30k ft.
We'll be back next week with the Tournament of Champions final.
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This week, Sam Coturri from Winery Sixteen 600 and The Wine Makers podcast curates the setlist as former champs Aron, Pete, and CJ face off. Thanks to Winery Sixteen 600 for providing this week's prize pack. As always, thank you to 30k ft. for creating the show poster.
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This week, German Deadheads Uwe, Wolfgang, Frank, and Hubertus join for a special Europe '24 episode. This week's prize pack was generously provided by the official Grateful Dead Tarot Cards.
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This week, John Henrikson, host of The Deadpod, curates the setlist as former champs Gunnar, Gavin, Edward, and Brett face off. As always, thank you to 30k ft. for creating the show poster.
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This week, Jim Newton, UCLA professor, author, and former LA Times bureau chief, curates the setlist as former champs Steve, Patrick, Sean, and Ben face off. Thanks to Sancho and Althea for providing this week's prize pack. As always, thank you to 30k ft. for creating the show poster.
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This week, Davis Schneiderman, professor of English at Lake Forrest College, Executive Director of the Krebs Center for the Humanities, and Principal Investigator of a $1.2m Mellon Foundation grant called HUMAN, curates the setlist as returning champ CJ is joined by Ross, Skelly, and Pete. Thanks to Green Mountain Bluegrass and Roots Festival for providing this week's prize pack. And, as always, thank you to 30k ft. for creating the show poster.
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This week, Dr. Sue Balter-Reitz, host of The Dead of Night on Yellowstone Public Radio (alongside co-producer Ken Siebert) curates the setlist as returning champ Aron is joined by John, CJ, and Jay. Thanks to Green Mountain Bluegrass and Roots Festival for providing this week's prize pack. And, as always, thank you to 30k ft. for creating the show poster.
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Click here to check out Season 2's official shirt designed by our poster artist, Dillon. The shirt will only be available to buy for 48 hours.
Thank you for your endless support. It means the world.
This week is a mailbag episode. Listeners sent in tracks (and explanations) which returning champ Henry, as well as Luke, Aron, and Sean guessed the years of. As always, thank you to 30k ft. for creating the show poster.
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This week, Andy Logan from Grateful Guitars curates the setlist as returning champ Henry is joined by Brian, Isaac, and Charlie. Thanks to Jerry Tone Store for providing this week's prize pack. And, as always, thank you to 30k ft. for creating the show poster.
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