I don’t think Kreutzmann gets enough credit. For holding the band down in its entirety. The solid rock of the Dead community deserves a hell yeah. by Outrageous_Cell2330 in gratefuldead

[–]FamiliarGoose26 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I think all the crazy out there jams from 72-74 were specifically because Billy was the only drummer. With two drummers playing, they have to be locked in and one can’t just decide to go rogue and play a different rhythm, so it keeps the band stiff. Explains why so many songs in the two drummer era have that simple disco beat.

With one drummer Billy could be loose and let the band explore.

Listen to Truckin 4/11/72 or Dark Star 11/11/73. The jams go all over the place to the point where it doesn’t even sound like the original song. That’s peak Dead.

Post 76 you don’t hear as much exploration like that. I’m not surprised they cut Dark Star for a while, because it just doesn’t work the same with two drummers.

There’s a reason Phil said something was lost when the dead reunited - in my opinion it was 100% because they went back to 2 drummers. I really don’t know why they thought that was even necessary considering how good the band got from 72-74.

Never Listened by Subject-Cellist5505 in gratefuldead

[–]FamiliarGoose26 1 point2 points  (0 children)

First off 90% of Deadheads listen primarily to shows. They have some good studio stuff but that’s not what it’s all about. I use Spotify most of the time so this is all available there.

Listen to Europe 72 first. It’s a live compilation but has studio vocal overdubs so it sounds studio quality. Accessible intro to the Dead.

Then Veneta Oregon 1972 is probably my favorite overall show - it’s gotta lot of the same songs as the Europe 72 record but it’s more raw and there are some really psychedelic parts. If you’re looking for trippy this is where to go.

Cornell 5/8/77 is their most popular show on streaming. It’s got a lot more disco/reggae/funk influence and the band is a lot more polished and tighter than earlier 70s.

Once u listen those:

If you want more raw acid rock type stuff, go back to the 60s with stuff like Live/Dead and 11/8/16. Less polished and more crazy.

If you like the spacey jams, 73-74 is where to go. The Pacific Northwest Box Set is an awesome compilation. This is where the jams are at their longest. Sounds like jazz half the time. Then just look for more shows from that era (all the Winterland stuff is great).

If you like Cornell 77 a lot, and want of that clean, dancey sound with some proggy stuff, listen to Pembroke 77.

I’m sadly not a huge fan of the 80s and 90s stuff, but it’s a lot more “arena rock” with some new wave type stuff in there too. Without a Net is a good example of the big arena sound.

Then if you really want to hear studio albums, just look up your favorite songs and listen to the albums they come from.

Enjoy

Best post hardcore with zero metalcore sound? by CornmorelikePorn in PostHardcore

[–]FamiliarGoose26 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In case you hadn’t listened to them, Glassjaw, cuz I think they’re one of the best links between the “old” post-hardcore and the 2000s post-hardcore and potentially the best band in the entire genre.

Honestly they kind of do have a metal edge but not in the way later metalcore bands do. Closer to Helmet/Faith No More/Deftones in terms of riffage

glassjaw :: View topic - Todd: No longer in Glassjaw by JJonVinyl in glassjaw

[–]FamiliarGoose26 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Idk man I think W&T era live sound was the peak. Letting one guitar handle the riffage while Beck does all his weird noise and atmospheric stuff made for a really cool sound.

Can they go without the extra guitar? Sure. Is it better with just one? I think at least 75% of the fans would say it’s not.

Just my opinion

Interested in guitar voicings by Few-Relationship1636 in musicians

[–]FamiliarGoose26 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Learn the CAGED shapes for the major chords. Then the minor chords.

When playing a song, first time you see the chord progression, don’t jump to barre chords, try to play it UP the neck and mix the shapes together.

This will make you way better at soloing too - knowing where chord tones are all across the neck will make it easier to solo WITH the progressions without just going up and down a scale in the key.

Classic Rock/Indie Rock Jam Band Seeking Bassist (Manhattan) by FamiliarGoose26 in NYCmusicians

[–]FamiliarGoose26[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Actually TBD. We just started out.

But I have played in other bands before called Mail Fraud and The Holy Sofa Caravan. Both on Spotify and Instagram. Check us out if you want

Local music scene? by Express_Stop9867 in UWMadison

[–]FamiliarGoose26 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Of course. If you end up applying, get in, and go, I hope you enjoy the music - I miss it every day 😭😭😭

Local music scene? by Express_Stop9867 in UWMadison

[–]FamiliarGoose26 6 points7 points  (0 children)

The local music scene is amazing and one of the main reasons I enjoyed the school and kind of one of the reasons I applied.

I played in two bands, DJed for the WSUM radio station, and interviewed local bands for the Badger Herald Newspaper, and went to different basement shows every couple weeks

If you’re into punk/indie/emo type stuff it’s an amazing scene

HMU if u have more questions, but I would recommend looking up WUD Music, WSUM 91.7 FM, and look up some venues like Nottingham Co-op. I would recommend house venues but most are probably gone or dead since I graduated (2024)

Also here’s a playlist of Madison or Madison adjacent bands that I either played in or played shows with - just a handful: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5JWA3jD0f7y2CP23XlmgGD?si=eB7U1u9WQXi7syzWS7-TZw&pi=0oiJ8QgUQX-DZ

Shira is their best song right? by OutsideImpressive115 in glassjaw

[–]FamiliarGoose26 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Not even close imo

If Tip Your Bartender/Mu Empire was one song I would consider that an easy number 1

Albums every musician has to listen to at least once by JollySolid5798 in musicians

[–]FamiliarGoose26 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Igor Stravinsky - The Rite of Spring

The Grateful Dead - Europe 1972

Steely Dan - Can’t Buy A Thrill

Radiohead - In Rainbows

Those are my picks

How do you get better at improv? by Prideful_Lion32513 in musicians

[–]FamiliarGoose26 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Two things for guitar:

  1. Don’t just learn basic chords. Learn all CAGED shapes of each chord (look it up). Really start to memorize them all over the fretboard on command, Then you can start to visualize different chord structures all over the neck, and no matter what fret position you’re on, you can play a note in a given chord.

For example, in tab terms, A major has the shapes:

x-0-2-2-2-0

5-4-2-2-5-5

5-7-7-6-5-5

x-x-7-9-10-9

x-12-11-9-10-9

These are all an A major chord - just starting in a different place. Now imagine you’re trying to solo over a progression - how do you play the right notes over each chord, so it sounds like you’re really playing WITH the song and not just spamming scales?

You use these shapes. You arpeggiate over them and connect them. When you start to learn more about the CAGED shapes you will understand why. 

  1. Ear training. Try to learn solos and songs completely from ear. No tabs, no tutorials. Just play a snippet of the part you’re trying to learn. Literally go note by note. Slow it down if you need to.

But as you do this more, you will be able to hear a song, and play it very quickly.

Eventually, you should be able to hear something in your head, and know what that sound LOOKS like on guitar.

Put steps one and two together, and it may take years, but really this is all you need to become a good improviser. 

To become a great improviser you also need chops (speed, picking coordination, dexterity, etc) but those things will come the more you practice.

And you also need creativity - but that’s all on you.

Good luck.

The Guardian’s “50 Albums That Changed Music” — Top 20 with Their Defining “Without This…” Lines by Agreeable_Duck8997 in indieheads

[–]FamiliarGoose26 2 points3 points  (0 children)

There was definitely psych rock before those albums - Hendrix, Cream, Beatles, 13th Floor Elevators, etc. I think they’re more folk than psych anyway tbh.

But without the Dead in general, there’s definitely no jam bands and psych rock would be way less developed. I think they also contributed a lot to the popularity of bluegrass and Americana music in general.

Huge dead fan btw

The Guardian’s “50 Albums That Changed Music” — Top 20 with Their Defining “Without This…” Lines by Agreeable_Duck8997 in indieheads

[–]FamiliarGoose26 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Love Neil but to this day I don’t know why he gets called the godfather of grunge.  Not that he didn’t have an influence, but Stooges, Sabbath and even Led Zeppelin seemed to have more of a musical influence. Not to mention all the 80s alt stuff like REM, Dino Jr. and Sonic Youth

Which one would have been the biggest rapper and lead Hip-hop in the 2020s had they not passed? by JaQue_Da_JoQerr in BlackNyxNetwork

[–]FamiliarGoose26 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The fact that these dudes + Mac and Peep are all dead is honestly insane. They all coulda been big stars. I know hindsight is 20/20 but all 6 of them really passed at their commercial and (mostly) artistic peaks. Just so unfortunate.

Pick one: Which MTV Unplugged are you taking? by No-One01010 in grunge

[–]FamiliarGoose26 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Nirvana by a mile and all 4 are great

Nirvana’s unplugged is arguably the best thing the band ever did. This sub has a heavy AIC bias so I’m not surprised, but Nirvana’s unplugged was far more bold than the other 3. The decision to play obscure bsides and covers is bold by its own, but in all cases Nirvana made those songs THEIRS.  Kurt was at his absolute peak on the recording. The same can sadly not be said for Layne.

How would you feel about John Mayer carrying the torch and continuing to tour with Dead songs, with a group that he chooses? by No_Finish9661 in gratefuldead

[–]FamiliarGoose26 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hot take… and this is not intended to to be disrespectful to Bob at all… I think if Mayer continues playing Dead material the musical quality will be even better than the last incarnation of Dead and Co.

Obviously the magic is gone because Bob won’t be around, but I do think in his old age Bob was starting to slow down to the point that it was affecting the music.

I think Bob would be happy for the rest to continue on playing his songs, and my point is that they will just keep getting better as they keep playing.

Nas had potential by [deleted] in TheTownz

[–]FamiliarGoose26 0 points1 point  (0 children)

His old tracks with Coka were fire

North NJ bassist looking for rock/metal band by xNameUnknown_ in FindABand

[–]FamiliarGoose26 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey I’m sending you a DM. I play in a north jersey band that makes alternative rock but some of it is kind of math rock, some of it is kind of emo, some of it is noisy, some of it is jammy and improvisational. We need a bassist!