Grateful Dead Studies
I’ve spent a lot of time around Deadheads, at shows, in parking lots, on the road, but not so many Grateful Dead scholars as I did at the Grateful Dead Studies Association in conjunction with the Southwest Popular / American Culture Association (SWPACA) Conference in Albequerque, New Mexico. Each day was packed with sessions ranging from poetry, musicology and counterculture of the Grateful Dead to philosophy and material culture of the band and subculture. I was amazed, and yet not entirely surprised, that so many connections and explorations could be found with the Grateful Dead. Brian Dyke’s talk on using “Dark Star” in clinical treatment of addiction fascinated me. A review of Grateful Dead TV (DTV), which aired from 1988-1990 was filmed in the lot, on the road and included interviews with band members. It was a delight to see the footage, and some of it can be viewed on: https://dreamswedreamed.com As an English major, I appreciated David L. Emerson’s session comparing Robert Hunter’s work to Samuel Taylor Coleridge (“The Rime of the Ancient Mariner”) and Kenneth Grahame (Wind in the Willows). Nicholas Meriwether, from the Grateful Dead Studies Association, introduced Robert Hunter’s uncollected elegies in his session. Hawk Semins discussed the connection between Phil Lesh and the Charles Ives Society, and Christopher Coffman the connection between “Terrapin Station” and Abraham Cowley’s Pindaric odes. I also enjoyed a technical talk on “Birdsong.” During another, the whole group sang lyrics from “Dire Wolf.” I was lucky enough to share my session spot with Cecilia Vidal who spoke about Franciscans and Deadheads and Annabelle Walsh who presented on the resale value of vintage Grateful Dead t-shirts. I spoke about the use of historical fiction and magical realism to capture the Grateful Dead and Deadhead experience. You can read my paper here:
I was also an exhibitor and signed and sold several copies of Birdenwheel! On Friday, there was a great Grateful Dead cover band, Easy Jim, that played the venue, Fusion. It was so cool to break loose and shake our tail feathers, remembering the band and music we all love.