Song Review: Dead & Company - “China Cat Sunflower” (Live, July 3, 2016) & Other Dead Miscellany
With vocals from Bob Weir & fancy fret work from both him & John Mayer, a newly released rendition of “China Cat Sunflower” again shows Dead & Company to be a band that’s in the pocket musically & off the mark vocally. It’s exhibit Z in a pile of evidence proving the band to be great fun in the moment & not so great to listen back to.
That said, this one is interesting because of bassist Oteil Burbridge, who bounces all around the music in the lead-bass style of Phil Lesh, & keyboardist Jeff Chimenti, who flits around the song’s signature rhythm on piano & adds colorful flourishes on organ. Together, & with the help of living Dead drummers Bill Kreutzmann & Mickey Hart, these musicians give the track the rhythmic bounce that makes Grateful Dead music so irresistible in the first place.
The July 3, 2016, performance video is the latest in a series the group’s released to gin up excitement for its third tour since its 2015 founding. The summer trek kicks off May 27 in Las Vegas.
Grade card: Dead & Company - “China Cat Sunflower” (Live - 7/3/16) - B-
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Speaking of Lesh, who hasn’t played with Kreutzmann & Hart since 2015’s Fare Thee Well shows, he spoke with Rolling Stone magazine about Dead & Company & his plans to play the Grateful Dead’s 1997 album Terrapin Station in its entirely with Weir at this year’s Lockn’ festival.
Lesh says he didn’t invite Hart &/or Kreutzmann to participate because “we have a drummer,” adding, “we don’t really communicate much at all, but that’s just the way of the world.”
Still, the 77-year-old Lesh, who’s essentially retired but for shows in California, greater New York & at festivals, has nothing but praise for what his former bandmates are up to.
“I think they’re doing a great job,” he said of Dead & Company.
“They’re bringing the music to the people just like we always wanted to do, & I commend them for it. I hope they’re having a good time. It’s not something I could do myself. I’m done with that kind of touring.”
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Finally, Rhino records has announced plans for a new compilation album titled Smiling on a Cloudy Day. Out July 11 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Summer of Love, the album takes its title from a lyric in “The Other One” and will feature early-Dead tracks like “St. Stephen,” “Morning Dew” and the aforementioned “China Cat.”
5/26/17
