Whip out your tie-dye t-shit and skull-patterned socks, because it’s time to talk about the Grateful Dead. Or, rather, their die-hard, multigenerational, technologically proficient fanbase, the Deadheads. Born from the jug bands and acid test shows of 1960s San Francisco, the Grateful Dead took the world by storm with their experimental, long-form jam sessions that, for over five decades, drew legions of young hippies from across the country to experience (with the help of some very strong psychedelics) the pure sonic bliss of a Dead show. But, like laced PCP, nothing can be pure forever. And when your fanbase now comprises of the likes of Nancy Pelosi, Andy Cohen, and Anne Coulter, and your band is now helmed by indie demon John Mayer, you’ve gotta wonder… what went wrong? In this episode, Hannah and Maia are joined by Hannah’s father and former Deadhead, Patrick Raine, to discuss the legacy of the Deadheads, their spirited (or spiritual) online presence, and the dangers of a band outsized by its fanbase. Tangents include: Hannah’s terrible texting abilities, a lively discussion about downtown Toronto’s “The Well”, and Hannah’s dad’s love for the hit Bravo reality show, Below Deck.
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Intro and outro song by our talented friend Ian Mills: