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Not too many people give shout outs or frequently spit out superlative anythings about the guy, so this is my thread of badass keithness. IMO he's phenomenal. Even after listening to the dead and jgb for most of teenage and adult life he still blows me away. he's the most understated, yet poignant piano player ive ever heard. kills me how good he was without showing off at all. what are your favorite keith moments, yall? bring it.
Score: 4
Not a fan of his...but I like him better than Brent Mydland
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From Europe 1972 to October 1974, he was wild. One of the best keyboard players of that period.
Listen to the soundboards, especially 1972, and he very often steers the jams as much as Jerry Bob or Phil. Beautiful runs on the grand piano, and downright funky on the electric organ.
Even 1975 shows he is still dynamic. But the road and the powders got a hold of him in 1976, until he and Donna left in Jan 1979. He seemed like a bystander, happy just to go along with an amazing band. Even during the highest of highs during 1977, it sounds like he is just happy to add fills.
Listen to the soundboards, especially 1972, and he very often steers the jams as much as Jerry Bob or Phil. Beautiful runs on the grand piano, and downright funky on the electric organ.
Even 1975 shows he is still dynamic. But the road and the powders got a hold of him in 1976, until he and Donna left in Jan 1979. He seemed like a bystander, happy just to go along with an amazing band. Even during the highest of highs during 1977, it sounds like he is just happy to add fills.
Score: 1
So pryski, you're not a Dead fan I take it. That is fine, but if you're not a fan of Keith or Brent, that effects many years of great music they were a part of. Well, I think both Keith AND Brent are the MAN in their own ways. Keith, with his much more classic way of playing, did a lot of interesting things. Moments? I can only go by what I listen to because I was not fortunate enough to see Keith live. I'm listening to the Strand Lyceum from the Europe '72 tour right now and he is so subtle, yet so spectacular at the same time. So awesome.
But Brent, he holds a special place in my heart right next to Jerry.
Score: 9
I am a Dead fan, but those 2 cats never really did it for me. I guess I what really turned me off about Brent was the stupid song he sang called "I Will Take You Home". That voice just turned me off....
Score: 0
^What is this guy talking about??- I know we all have opinions but, HUH? Brents voice is great to me...Back to Keith though, I really wish there was an era with him and no Donna. He's great and would've been way more appreciated solo and I bet he would've stayed on longer. That said- 80's Dead rules all others for me.
Score: 4
Everyone has their opinion. You like the 80s, i cant stand that era or the early 90s.
Score: 1
I love Keith, but IMO Pigpen was better and Brent was the greatest
Score: 1
@abcde said: Everyone has their opinion. You like the 80s, i cant stand that era or the early 90s.Can't stand half the Dead but you like the Dead? Interesting...
Score: 5
got much love for both keith and donna, wish i was alive in the 70s...
Score: 4
prime keith right here
Score: 3
@abcde said: Everyone has their opinion. You like the 80s, i cant stand that era or the early 90s.So you basically don't like the Dead's keyboards from 6/72 through 7/90. To each his own.
/mind officially boggled
Score: 8
n00b
Score: 5
@ADAWGWYO said:
n00bRight.....dont like a few keyboard players and i am deemed a n00b
Score: 0
First off, Keith is a beast. Secondly, my list of the Grateful Dead's keyboardists:Pigpen> Brent> Keith (love the keys, hate the Donna)> Bruce> T.C
Score: 2
mallak7, that is some 1974 jammin'
just about anything from Dec 1973 (tour without Donna), through Oct 1974 is gonna be downright funky
turn it UP
just about anything from Dec 1973 (tour without Donna), through Oct 1974 is gonna be downright funky
turn it UP
Score: 1
I like Keith alot (for a longtime he was my fav Dead keyboardist), but I LOVE BRENT. Never got to see either, so I will defer to those lucky enough to have for some (hopefully) firsthand insight on Keith. I agree with the notion that are both unique and great in their own ways. I do know a great Brent appreciation thread popped up here this summer by MJZ and if it wasn't for that, I wouldn't have know the story behind I Will Take You Home. Made me cry.But back to the topic ... hear, hear for Keith!
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@BajaPhish said: ^What is this guy talking about??- I know we all have opinions but, HUH? Brents voice is great to me...Back to Keith though, I really wish there was an era with him and no Donna. He's great and would've been way more appreciated solo and I bet he would've stayed on longer. That said- 80's Dead rules all others for me.
I don't mind Donna, but if you want to hear Keith-era GD without Donna, listen to the end of 1973, from 11/30/73 through the end of the year Donna wasn't there, all great shows.
Here's a good one with an all-time great "Dark Star":
http://www.archive.org/details/gd1973-12-06.sbd.miller.105560.flac16
Score: 0
Truckin' > Mind Left Body Jam > Not Fade Away 5-19-74 Portland
/Thread
Score: 8
I do too love some Keith but agree with earlier post stating he was happy to just go along with the group adding small fills here and there. But that was his style, his personality. I also have to say that I am a fan of Donna. I get why people aren't into her, not the greatest voice. But for me I guess growing up I listened to (or my Dad listened to) mostly Keith/Donna era shows. So in a way she is a huge part of the Dead sound to me.I enjoy every keyboard player the Dead had. They are the freaking Grateful Dead, they aren't going to hire just anybody to be in the band. Every player they had was amazing in their own way. That being said, I think Brent might be my favorite. Love that voice, love his playing. And he is the one that gave us Hey Jude -> Dear Mr Fantasy -> Hey Jude. I mean really. That shit is great.
Score: 1
dark star 12/6/73. thats why i love keith.
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@MJZ1974 said: Truckin' > Mind Left Body Jam > Not Fade Awayi knew you would post that date.......knew it. nice work, dr.
5-19-74 Portland
/Thread
Score: 1
@joechip said: @BajaPhish said:totally beat me to it. excellent work as well, sir.^What is this guy talking about??- I know we all have opinions but, HUH? Brents voice is great to me...Back to Keith though, I really wish there was an era with him and no Donna. He's great and would've been way more appreciated solo and I bet he would've stayed on longer. That said- 80's Dead rules all others for me.
I don't mind Donna, but if you want to hear Keith-era GD without Donna, listen to the end of 1973, from 11/30/73 through the end of the year Donna wasn't there, all great shows.
Here's a good one with an all-time great "Dark Star":
http://www.archive.org/details/gd1973-12-06.sbd.miller.105560.flac16
Score: 0
Keith!Brent!
Can't get enough of the soul
Score: 1
i cant even get started...brent=amazingness....hes my thrird fav dead memeber ever behind jerry and phil
Score: 1
Never saw Keith, but Brent was just amazing with his interplay w Jerry and his backing vocals. Added an awful, awful lot to the band. Cant go wrong w either.
Score: 0
Without Keith, Europe 72 wouldn't have been as good as it was. The interplay between Keith and Jerry during the deep jams is magical. Keith opens doors for Jerry to walk through, and vice versa. Jerry is the reason Keith was in the band and they were great musical partners. As time went on, Keith went downhill, but he helped bridge the gap after Pigpen got sick and he was an integral part of the best era of Grateful Dead.I love Brent too, but I have heard some people criticize his singing as sounding too much like Greg Allman. Like that's a bad thing, but whatevs.
Score: 2
^^^Brent sounds like Gregg allman and Michael McDonald had baby. In a good way.
Score: 1
I forgot about Michael McDonald, that's true too. Some (most?) of Brent's songs were cheesy but I like the tone of his voice and he could hold down the keyboard slot. Check out Brent on the Help on the Way from 4/1/84, one of my first tapes back in the diz-zay. Love it!http://www.archive.org/details/gd1984-04-01.sbd.walker-scotton.miller.32535.sbeok.flac16
Score: 0
cant wait to see phil next week
Score: 0
Where's you Vinnie lovers?Thanks for the reminder on the absent Donna shows. Those are great, but still not like 80's and early 90's Dead when Jerry's guitar was especially cranked and midi was being thrown around. And just for the record, Take You Home out of space was some of Jer's spaciest noodling, then into wheel for good measure.
RIP Dead Keys
Score: 0
Just caught a piece of 2/22/73 on the grateful dead channel while driving home. Nothing spectacular Keith wise, but seriously, anybody who doesnt dig what he brought to the band is insane. His grand piano sound defined the band during the years where each individual member was playing at their best (73/74). These were the years I feel like everybody was at their most equal, and not relying on certain members to carry certain shows. Yeah, Keith eventually got lost and nodded off on stage and lost interest. But in 73/74 his sound stands out so much. It was so basic yet so essential to that particular heyday. Of course I love Brent too, but my love for him personally has more to do with personality and emotion, of which Keith was lacking IMO. But as far as a straight ahead rock/country pianist he was tops.
Score: 0
bump
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I spent a good amount of time trying to figure out who my favorite Dead keyboardist is, and then I noticed that all of my favorite shows have Keith loud and clear in the mix. I think the guy adds a more power than the others. Brent got to showcase himself more often, but I like sound the band created in the 70s infinitely more and I think Keith is a very underated and important part of it. That tonally simple saloon sound fits so well with the Hunter/Garcia cast of characters and imagery and makes the big jams all that much stranger when they blast off.
Score: 4
Pig, Keith and Brent were all great.....done deal.
Score: 3
Listen to his first show with th band, he slides in very well and plays like he's been playing with the band for years. The Bertha from that show is one of my favorites
Score: 1
@pryskikeith played 72-79, brent 79-90, and you dont like the early 90's.. considering the only played until 95, i guess you only like 93-95, and 65-72... man you are missing out on some good dead...
brent all the way
Score: 1
@Kurtzboy said: First off, Keith is a beast. Secondly, my list of the Grateful Dead's keyboardists:
Pigpen> Brent> Keith (love the keys, hate the Donna)> Bruce> T.C
i know hes not the best, but Vince did contribute to the dead too
Score: 2
I love the electronic sounds of 74. He was outstanding.
Score: 2
His keys definately defined the Dead in the 70's and his jazziness was certainly welcomed. I'm personally a Tom C man myself but Keith was definately awesome
Score: 2
@BajaPhish said:
They like their Dead raw: feedback-drenched psychedelic warrior music meets hillbilly biker R&B, and sometimes there's a campfire & acoustic guitars. ...and gunpowder. You can't have a piano and gunpowder go together...especially once you start letting d#mn wives in the band! They long for the days when men were men, women were naked, and buses went furthur.
@abcde said:Not strange at all. There are plenty of old-timers who don't care for much of anything after mid-'71.Everyone has their opinion. You like the 80s, i cant stand that era or the early 90s.Can't stand half the Dead but you like the Dead? Interesting...
They like their Dead raw: feedback-drenched psychedelic warrior music meets hillbilly biker R&B, and sometimes there's a campfire & acoustic guitars. ...and gunpowder. You can't have a piano and gunpowder go together...especially once you start letting d#mn wives in the band! They long for the days when men were men, women were naked, and buses went furthur.
Score: 2
@AugustWest2001 said:
Not too many people give shout outs or frequently spit out superlative anythings about the guy, so this is my thread of badass keithness. IMO he's phenomenal. Even after listening to the dead and jgb for most of teenage and adult life he still blows me away. he's the most understated, yet poignant piano player ive ever heard. kills me how good he was without showing off at all. what are your favorite keith moments, yall? bring it.The one that always gets me is about 3/4 of the way through Good Lovin' from 12/31/78. Bobby does his little rap shtick before the final rave-up, and when he sings "Just like a friend of mine used to say...without a little lovin' I don't know how you're gonna make through the night" there's Keith playing this absolutely beautiful run on the piano underneath Bobby's vocals. It fits the mood of the moment better than perfectly. Chills.
Score: 0
@abcde said:
Not a fan of his...but I like him better than Brent Mydland???
Score: 0
I wasn't around to see any dead shows myself but what got me into them was 10-21-71. It was only Brent's second show and it's one of my favorites. Consequently, a lot of the other dead i like is from the kieth time period; i dig keith's style and even enjoy the dead with just kreutzman on drums.
Score: 1
..get 'em Keith
somehow Keith pulled the hottest girl with a mustache in history
Score: 0
At least he could play St Stephen! Jk... Kind of.
Score: 3
@dscott said:
@BajaPhish said:I like it +1. I must be an old soul as I am only 35.@abcde said:Not strange at all. There are plenty of old-timers who don't care for much of anything after mid-'71. They like their Dead raw: feedback-drenched psychedelic warrior music meets hillbilly biker R&B, and sometimes there's a campfire & acoustic guitars. ...and gunpowder. You can't have a piano and gunpowder go together...especially once you start letting d#mn wives in the band! They long for the days when men were men, women were naked, and buses went furthur.Everyone has their opinion. You like the 80s, i cant stand that era or the early 90s.Can't stand half the Dead but you like the Dead? Interesting...
Score: 0
Brent> Pig> Keith> Hornsby> TC> WelnickI was at the annual movie meetup on the 19th and IMO, brent was really the star of the show. Its crazy and almost strange how much eye contact/connection there was between him and jerry, moreso than any other members of the band. Having never seen them, solely due to age, I never really appreciated fully how much of a leader Brent was in some respects. likewise, I think Brent's playing is by far the most present in the mix out of all the other keyboardists. I put Pig 2nd because while not the best on keys technically speaking, he is pig, and pig is the man. Next is Keith. I find his playing extremely skillful and tasteful, but not as present as Brent's. That being said, Keith did have his standout moments and is definitely awesome....Donna, less so. Hornsby is great and so is TC. TC was a great addition to the band during their most psychedelic phase. Welnick is the worst IMO, I am not a fan at all.
Score: 1
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