Jerry Garcia's Conservative Children

The New York Sun ^ | 8/9/05 | John P. Avlon

[qam1]

Think back to the ringing guitars, the spinners, the patchouli oil and the haze of pot smoke hanging over an arena - the psychedelic country rock of Grateful Dead concerts seem like an unlikely cradle for today's conservative commentators.

And yet, 10 years to the day after Jerry Garcia's death on August 9, 1995, no less than three of Generation X's most high-profile young conservatives remain dedicated Deadheads: Deroy Murdock, Tucker Carlson, and Ann Coulter.

[wagglebee]

In my opinion, groups like Widespread Panic and Phish are at best mediocre imitators of the Dead, they will never be able to duplicate the Grateful Dead. The Dead basically created an entire musical genre. They sold out every show for decades, but had never had a top selling album or any real on-air coverage (except for Truckin’ and Casey Jones to a small extent) until 1987. I don’t think anyone who never went to a show will ever be able to fully appreciate what the Grateful Dead experience is all about. Deadheads by and large were from upper-middle class families who discovered the Dead in high school or college; however, they continued to enjoy the music and the shows as they got older. And as I said before, except for their opposition to Vietnam and the rainforests, the Dead’s politics were basically straight libertarian.

So basically, you missed out! -:)

[nopardons]

No, not really; the mid 40s is middle age. If someone is still acting like a "kid" at that age, then they are a case of arrested development.

[Sam Cree]

"No, not really; the mid 40s is middle age. If someone is still acting like a "kid" at that age, then they are a case of arrested development."

I understand all that pretty well, my daughter, who is in her early 20's, might be a kid, but she's certainly more mentally grown up than plenty of folks in their 50's that I know. I was merely making a wan remark about how at my age, someone in their mid forties, like Miss Coulter, looks very young.

[dinodino]

Same here!

[x]

Ann Coulter is in her mid 40s; she's no Gen Xer.

Tucker Carlson is around the same age; maybe older and not really all that Conservative.

He's 36, she's 43. Tucker's background is interesting: mother an heiress of sorts, father a PBS executive. Wikipedia.org is a good source for these things.

[scott says]

We can disagree about "the product" then...I have many tapes from 84-87, I saw them 50, yes, 50 times in 1984, in my opinion they weren't as good as a couple of years before.

[tet68]

I need a miracle bump.

Like ripples on still water,
when there is no pebble tossed
or wind to blow...

This path is for
your steps alone.

[wagglebee]

Once in a while you can get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right.

[tet68]

I burned a dube with jerry and the band in '69' at the
master grill, Piedmont park, Atlanta.

God love ya Jerry, your wheel is still turning!

[wagglebee]

Damn, that must have been awesome!

[dinodino]

I agree with you on Widespread, but I think Phish are tighter and musically more "out there" than the Grateful Dead. I enjoy both, having seen Phish maybe eight times and the Grateful Dead 35 or so.

[wagglebee]

I agree that Phish is definitely talented, but I want to see where they are in ten or fifteen years. If 40 and 50 year olds are still listening, that will be the real indication of their impact.

[6ppc]

I just never understood that band's appeal.

That's cause you never saw them live. There is nothing like a Grateful Dead concert.

[Rubber_Duckie_27]

My husband and I were only in our teens when Jerry died, and got into the music in our college years. Our bedroom has a couple thousand CD cases of Dead shows (among many others). Loved Phil & Friends, and enjoyed Phish...like Gov't Mule, the Allman Brothers, et al. But nothing can top the Dead at the height of their game.

I'm solidly conservative, and husband is a right-leaning moderate. I ignore musician's political statements if they make them - many musicians in the jamband scene are liberals but generally don't make a scene about their leanings (unlike more mainstream "musicians").

[lugsoul]

By many definitions, folks born in 1965 are GenX. So, those who are 40 now were the leading edge of GenX.

[tet68]

Thanks for the link, got lost in Big Railroad Blues
among others.

[Blackirish]

Q. What do you get when you play a Dead Song back words ?

A. Dead Song.

[tet68]

Knew someone, who knew someone, but still a great memory.

RE dead collectors, did a wrought Iron balcony rail for
a collector once, lord did he have the tapes.

Nice rail I did for him, copper roses and terrepins!

[wagglebee]

That's cause you never saw them live. There is nothing like a Grateful Dead concert.

It's a lot like sex. You think you know what it will be like, and you kind of get an idea practicing on yourself; but when you actually get to do it with another person, it's a completely different experience.

[scott says]

I found link to August 30,1981 show for download
One of the reviewers says same thing as me,"probably the best show that no one has ever heard of"...its true
http://www.archive.org/audio/etree-details-db.php?id=13077
Enjoy...this is the Dead at their best...