Grateful Dead Music

It's so funny. Every year when I look for Grateful Dead swag for a friend's birthday, I get a new idea and wonder, "Do they even make those?" Of course they do. This year I thought about buying him some Deadhead pajamas and thought that I'd never seen any before. After searching I was happy to see that there are plenty of designs being sold right now!

Pajamagram sells them, and so does American Eagle, Hanna Anderson and plenty of other stores. The cuter ones are, of course, sold by indie businesses who make them by hand. The cost more but boy are they better looking! Have you noticed that lately? Even going to the store to browse Halloween decorations just isn't as fun as looking at whatever they're coming up with on Etsy. All of these super cute, custom designs have me ruined.

Have you found any fantastic Grateful Dead pajamas anywhere lately? Share them in the chat!

More and more bands are having concerts as they are vaccinated or as restrictions are lifted and many of us have conflicted feelings. As much as we miss going to concerts, we're still wary of crowds, especially if it means exposing loved ones to germs. When events are distanced and outdoors, it does make them seem safer, but it's still a gray area that most of us don't know how to best answer.

It's a difficult road to navigate, especially when peoples' livelihoods are on the line. Bands like Dead & Company are playing live again, entertaining their fans with their music in places like Boston Music Center like they did this past week. It's heartening to see music venues like Boston Music Center require a vaccination record or proof of a negative test in order to be admitted.

Will you be going to any Dead & Company or other concernts this year? Where will you be going?

Lots of bands have covered "The Weight" by The Band over the years, and it's such a simple, classic song that most covers are pretty effortless at being well done. Jensen Ackles, who plays Dean Winchester on the CW's Supernatural, even performed it for his fans once, much to their delight.

The Grateful Dead also covered "The Weight" in 1993 at the Robert F. Kennedy Stadium in Washington, D.C. Like plenty of our favorite bands, The Dead have played a number of covers live over the years that have been really enjoyable, and this is just another good example. 

What are some of your other favorite covers performed by Jerry and the gang? Share them in the chat.

Have you ever heard your favorite Grateful Dead song played on a cello--or a violin? Classical music covers of rock songs aren't new but they are becoming increasingly popular, especially with bands like 2 Cellos touring.

What about a performance on a harp? Mikaela Davis and Southern Star just performed several covers and if you haven't listened already, please do. These covers will give you goosebumps. I'm still listening as I write this.

There are plenty of other classical, jazzy and avant garde covers of the band elsewhere, including baby albums to play as lullabys! The Dead aren't alone, either; other bands, like the Beatles, have also had baby albums created in their honor.

What other cool yet unconventional covers have you enjoyed lately? Share them in the chat.