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Volume CXXXII, Number 3 |
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Playing the band
DAVIN MICHAELS
STAFF WRITER
On Thursday September 19th of last week, Bowdoin students had the privilege of having a very talented rock band come as entertainment for senior pub night: Liquid Dead. As their name implies, the band is a group that tours New England covering dozens of songs by the Grateful Dead. Being a first-year and a huge deadhead myself, I was very excited and eager to hear the band, and find out what kind of hippie population existed at Bowdoin.
The band opened a little after ten o'clock with the song, "Here Comes Sunshine," a classic concert opener. The crowd started off with an average of seven people, and by eleven-thirty, the place was so jammed that people were dancing outside of the pub as well. The crowd tried to request songs, especially Truckin', the Dead's popular hit that includes the famous line, "What a long strange trip it's been…". However, the band had a play list already selected, and quite a great one at that. Their sets included renowned classics such as, "I know you rider", "China Cat Sunflower" and "Beat it on down the line". Most of the songs that were chosen were actually very often selected by the Grateful Dead during their own live concerts.
The thing that made the concert so great was that not only were they playing the songs of one of the greatest rock bands in history, but they were very authentic and effective in imitating and projecting what the real band sounded like. Like the Grateful Dead, this band took exceptional liberties with their solos. Like Jerry Garcia, the lead guitarist of Liquid Dead, Toby Kniffin, played with a very authentic sound, and let his solos continue until he was finished leaving a lasting impression on the audience. Other members of the band include Larry, on rhythm guitar; Eric on Bass; Brian on Keyboards; Trevor and Kniff on drums, and 'Little Bri' on sound. Like the Grateful Dead, this band had two powerful drummers, and someone who managed the band's sound and acoustics. The band is originally from Burlington, Vermont, but they spend most of their time trucking around New England for concerts. Their fall tour includes destinations in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, Jeffersonville, Vermont, New York City and New London, Connecticut. For a full list of their tour dates, set lists and general information about the band, check out their website: www.liquiddead.com.
From the look of things, the seniors and other Bowdoin students who attended the concert had a great time. The band had someone constantly promoting them, and instituting a game of limbo in order to win Liquid Dead T-shirts, hats and bottle openers. Needless to say, everyone walked home with something that night, and we're very lucky to have an activities committee that can bring such talented shows to our campus. For the more hardcore Dead fans, it is great to know that bands that can be considered historical cornerstones in the history of music like the Grateful Dead will never die, but live on through the reverent music of bands like Liquid Dead.