Too Much Dead?

No hate. I think the powers that be need to maintain the brand they have established of lots of GD and GD compatible music, but not be shy about focusing on what the younger audience wants to see in that vein. And means not being stuck on the old guys and formerly famous now unknown--artists and music.

There a plenty of other festivals for other tastes and I don't mean that in any negative way whatsoever.

What? why?

I like the Dead as a theme since their music is so diverse and jazz based, so very open to interpretation by others. What annoys me is the same players every year. If we get TTB, WSP, UM, SCI, etc. again, how is this a unique experience? The National did an entire Dead cover album collaboration and none of those bands have played Lockn. I will admit that I get my fix at Lockn and don’t really seek to see D&C the rest of the year unless it is really convenient. Too many other people I want to see. The only other issue I have with the Dead focus, is what happens to Lockn after Bobby goes? Phil is out after this year. Not a great business plan, but pretty much too late to turn the ship at this point and given the slacker nature by which they seem to book bands, unlikely to change.

I certainly like this line....

I feel during a 3-4 day festival, anymore than Six Traditional Dead Sets can be overkill. More than that and you start getting repeats, people’s toes get stepped on & you get into “who played it best” and “I wish so & so would played this insteada that”. You can get away with an extra set of Bluegrass Dead or a JGB Set or even JRAD b/c they’re different enough and can play a Zeppelin or Sabbath cover too and that’s enough so that it’s not stagnant. And even Phil & Friends b/c depending on the Friends they can play a set w/ 5-7 covers and only a couple Dead songs and nobody’s disappointed. I think the best mix is 2-4 sets of Dead music from Original Members (Phil/ Dead & Co/ Current Phil & Bob Project), 1-2 Sets from original members side projects (Wolf Brothers, Billy & The Kids) and then a couple more Dead related sets from bands like JRAD, Keller’s Grateful Grass and a JGB type Set from Melvin & John K. or an Oteil & Friends Set. In a year with less original members present it would be cool to see whole sets of Dead music from bands like SCI, WSP, UM or TTB. This year I think we’ll get 6-8 sets of Dead related music. 5-6 from Phil and his Friends & Family Bands and then a Wolf Brothers Set & something JGB related. Maybe Billy & The Kids but I doubt it. Is that too much Dead Music, I don’t think so. I think it’s just right for a Phil Fest, now it would be a lot at Electric Forest or The Gathering of the Juggalo’s but not for Lockn. Dead music is diverse and it has very deep song book that most bands really explore. The exception to that is Dead & Co, they play a pretty stagnant mix of the same 40-50 songs. And with them there, they demand alotta the better known material which pushes more obscure pieces onto other acts. If Dead & Co’s On the bill they’ll play the Heater’s at half the pace and you’ll get what’s left. I remember in ‘14 when Billy & Phil’s sets stepped on each other a little, of course Phil stepped on Winwoods toes a little worse. But we heard a couple of the same songs twice in one night, in consecutive sets. That’s no bueno. I think Dead music can be plentiful as long as it’s thought out & coordinated.

I get what people are saying about same headliners getting old but I like TTB, UM, SCI, WSMFP every year at all the festivals. And honestly, if they lose them, they are in big trouble. I mean short of Phish, they are the biggest jam bands on the circuit. If they go to Twiddle, PPPP, ***insert second tier band name here*** as headliners, they are done. Sneaking in a big name classic rock or collab breaks it up a bit, but you need those bands.

And at some point Spafford, Strings, Goose, etc.. will be the ones we are complaining are always at the top of the bill, and I cant wait for that!

I thought Jason Isbell crushed it last year. No one could question MMJs performance. Gary Clark was fire. Wilco! There are tons of other bands they could put in the mix that aren’t jam, but rock the house. In fact the thing that stood out to me on Isbell’s performance was how tight his songs were and that he knows how to end one. It gives a juxtaposition to the long winded jams that actually make both better. After back to back sets of UM and SCI, I feel like I am watching a transformer movie; a lot of shit is happening but I just don’t care anymore because there is nothing to compare it to.