What was the appeal of Brent Mydland?

Hahaha.

Derf thread

Second set here is a smoker

At the time, I wasn't a big fan of the midi sounds.  That didn't keep me from attending shows during this period. 

um amazing vocals, raw energy, psychedelic playing, interplay between jerry and him

good lovin'

hey pockey way

aiko

fantasy

stranger

women are

To my ears he elevated the entire band to their highest levels musically since euro 72. Tightened and expanded their sound exponentially. Killer voice perfect harmonies. Hot licks.  He left and they never reached those heights again.

What I miss the most was his mundfuck wizardry in Space. I was a huge fan of Brent Spaces, a lot of times it was my favorite part of the show.

I think it was Healy, and I think it went like this:

Monster chops, big ears, and no fear.

If anyone knows for sure, feel free to set that straight.

His voice can be grating at times, like a bad Michael McDonald, and a lot of his tunes were sheer cheese.

Dude rocked the keyboards though and his voice/energy worked well on Hey Pokey Way and Blow Away.

some of my fondest memories were watching the interplay vocally and instrumentally between garcia and him.

I loved Brent Mydland when he first joined on, and I was a big fan for a number of years after that, but...

IMO his last few years he was musically, like his life, out of control, hammering & over-playing into every possible empty space, always desperately/overtly trying to "answer" Jerry at every turn so Garcia would look over at him and smile. You can clearly see that in every video from that late time. Brent simply couldn't let a moment of open space lie without filling it with a mash of wailing notes.

Those last years his playing was as out of control as his life was, and increasingly for a number of years before that, and at least to me that was obvious, and sad.

He wasn't the only one from the mid to late '80s trying to compensate for Jerry's fade from the the front of "the sound", they all were, but in his last years Brent's playing was nothing short of desperate, and it was the number one thing I hated, and for me was the main thing holding them back from the floating open space I fell in love with a few years before.

You want to hear brilliant Brent, listen to '79 - '82. You want to hear really good Brent, listen to '83 - '86. After that, like all the others in the band he began to over-play, and it only got worse, as he got "worse".

I loved Brent Mydland, but I went to New York City in September of 1990 specifically to hear the band without him, and I cried for him during the shows at MSG, both for what was lost, and what was gained, and I knew I was right that they were better without him... at that point.

 I believe Hunter said it wasn't until Brent joined the band that he heard the harmonic mix of the vocals the way he'd imagined when he wrote his songs.  Brent usually wore his emotions on his sleeve, and brought a lot of energy when he was into it or pissed off.  I thought he was only getting better and was hitting his peak in the year before he died.  I remember being blown away by the Fantasy>Hey Jude pairing at Red Rocks in '85, and his contribution to tunes like Jack Straw, Cassidy, Let The Good Times Roll, and  Attics Of My Life put those tunes over the top.  Sure he might have looked like a coked out beach boy,  but have you looked at pictures of the late 80's crowds?  Brent was closer in age and disposition to most of us, and was a lot easier to relate to than the rest of the band.

One of my main memories from my first dead show was seeing Brent on a big screen singing Tennessee Jed and looking like the skeleton on MTV

Piano and B3

the B3 playing was way better then Pig, and the Piano was pretty strong, not Keith Strong but Keith was never the organ grinder that Brent was. Overall he brought great versatility to the band and some needed energy to the collective group.

Chimenti is Brent without the demons and voice would of loved to have seen him with the boys

Hornsby Dead did not much for me other than it was a great sit in at first, and the sound became too much Range sounding and not Dead enough for me

Everything positive said above.  But more than anything, it was his soul. I never got to see Pigpen, but Brent was far and away my second favorite member of the band(that I did see).

Love me some Brent. The best IMO. Brought the GD into 21st century.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvc-m0tUzuI

The guy seemed very genuine and humble. It wasn't easy jumping into the seat of an already world-famous/rabidly cultish band and "fitting in". 

His playing doesnt seem remarkable at all. What am I missing here?<<<

Most likely more than a few important chromosomes. 

http://www.brentmydland.net/

Interesting that folks are criticizing his voice. For me he was, by far, my favorite vocalist in the band.  Garcia's and Weir's vocals were adequate, at best. IMO. 

Brent provided energy and enthusiasm when the band, and the show, needed it.  

His vocals are top shelf, he was imo the best vocalist the band ever had. While I’m a big Keith fan, Brent’s keys were a tremendous addition to the sound and added a texture that defined the bands sound during his era. He rocked the b3 like no other and I can’t see a Leslie speaker without thinking of him

He wasn't Donna and he didn't do the H nod mid song. It was a basic value added addition by subtraction calculation. One salary for the price of two. Brent could sing the high harmonies and he could keep up with the band on the keys. It was a win-win all around.

On Vince's first tour, I was sitting in the side stage seats (MSG), eye level with him, as close as you could get to the stage without actually being on the stage. The band started to play Terrapin and Vince was completely lost. He had the presence of mind to know he didn't know the song, he sat back in his piano seat and listened. That was when I really missed Brent. There was a hole in the song where you really felt Brent's keys were missing.

Brent was The Man.

Case closed.

Brent made Jerry feel like a little girl again.

Their chemistry was undeniable.

>>>> On Vince's first tour, I was sitting in the side stage seats (MSG), eye level with him, as close as you could get to the stage without actually being on the stage. The band started to play Terrapin and Vince was completely lost. He had the presence of mind to know he didn't know the song, he sat back in his piano seat and listened. That was when I really missed Brent. There was a hole in the song where you really felt Brent's keys were missing.

the first night of the spectrum run, i was in about the spot during ramble on rose.  after vince's little solo, with jerry bob & phil watching, he sat on his hands.

"Brought the GD into 21st century."

Pretty impressive for a guy who died in 1990.

He added much needed color and texture to the bands sound.

< "Brought the GD into 21st century."

< Pretty impressive for a guy who died in 1990.

Fuckin' A Bro's  -  You Nailed It !

He was a head of his time. 

I knew someone would respond to that.  You guys get my drift that the GD were a 60's relic band and Brent modernized  their sound into the future of modern music at the time. I really don't have to explain it do I? Basically I mean't that he brought them into the modern music world and MTV generation. Can't imagine the GD with Keith and Donna on MTV in the 80's. You dig!

I wonder where Hendrix or Morrison would be today if they lived?

Brent really pushed the band into 'outside' spaces during jams in his later period (Playin' 7/29/88 is a good example, as well as those '89 -'90 Dark Stars). I can see how people might feel he's overplaying or taking the reins too heavily (or just bashing noise on the piano), but he brought the GD back to jazzy Coltrane-esque jamming at times, while taking it in new directions. I think they would've broken even newer sonic ground in Europe '90, had he lived.

Brent had the ability to lay down a musical staircase, to lift Garcia to beautiful musical heights. They def had mojo together. 

>my second favorite member of the band<

I know this is an unpopular opinion, and perhaps offensive to some, but Brent was my favorite member. 

Not comparing songwriting abilities, or musical versatility, just that he was my favorite member of that particular band... GD 1979-1990.

Does anyone really think the GD would be playing stadiums in the 90's with Pigpen or Keith and Donna!?

The times were a changin'!

ooo, trolly !

>>is voice to me was always a little too shrill. Listening to them play The Wheel right now and when I should hear Garcia clearly, Mydland's voice muddies that sound. Plus, he looks like a coked out beach boy playing Fantasy right now..

ooo, trolly & cunty !

#meow

did he fuck your favorite nanny or something?

not Keith Strong<

IMO, Any Brent solo on FOTD or TLEO puts that notion to rest.

>>What am I missing here?<<
 

Just a little sweetness....

Just a little light!

the modernization comments are interesting and i agree. he could incorporate not only the piano and B3, but all the other weirdo electronic synth deals were out there. 

while i agree with most of lance's take, and yeah late 79-80 is just incredible, i don't take it as overplay, it was clear jerry was digging what he was doing...the times i was actually able to see the interaction closely...but its all just like our opinion, maaannn.

even at his sloppy end, there was plenty of genius playing.

i saw the 1st vince show...and there was a smoking crater of a hole in the band and it's sound.... glad hornsby was able to fill in the gap for a year or 2...

>>Brent had the ability to lay down a musical staircase, to lift Garcia to beautiful musical heights. They def had mojo together. 

This 

Might as well close the thread, it requires no more explanation than this

His playing was great but voice could be grating in a cheesy 80's kinda way.  That's not to say he wasn't the man and back up vocals on songs like He's Gone weren't the bomb.  Unfortunately, I was too young to see any Brent shows - as Vince was absolutely awful. 

btw, the best fotd solos on keys the band ever had...

Loved Brett and his playing and both my wife and I were very sad when he passed. Never knew what the internal machinations were in the dead world, nor really cared but when they went right out and toured after his passing I could only scratch my head in wonder.

I totally enjoyed last night's show and the dear Mr fantasy, never heard one in person.

My first show was May 79 and 90% of the shows I saw were with Brent. For me the Dead and Brent were the same the thing. It wasn't until after he passed and  saw shows with Bruce and Vince that I started to understand all the complaints back in he early 80's from the people who knew the Dead as Donna and Keith. I remember people going off on Shakedown Street disco and the how Bobby and Brent had taken over the band, and to be fair those 79 Shakedowns and Dancing in the Streets were a completely different sound. Saw some decent shows post Brent, but for me nothing that really compared to when he was around. I guess the same way many of the the 70's dead heads never really connected with 80's dead. 

Anyway loved Brent, loved his voice, loved the B3, but mostly hated his songs. 

Playing Jam ->  Phil / Brent jam  (Cal Expo 6-9-84)

https://relisten.net/grateful-dead/1984/06/09/playing-jam?source=94422

Funky Brent / Bobby Jam;   (Boise 9-2-83)   

https://relisten.net/grateful-dead/1983/09/02/jam?source=94021

Fire on the Mountain (love his organ on this)  (Portland 8-26-83, never seen a soundboard from this show)

https://relisten.net/grateful-dead/1983/08/26/fire-on-the-mountain?sourc...

Noodler with the 84 Cal Expo jam I know you mentioned it before when I posted this pic I took. Was a good show but not epic.

If this doesn't convince you thar Brent had it nothing will.

https://relisten.net/grateful-dead/1982/04/03/17-never-trust-a-woman?sou...

Listen to this Playin'>UJB 84 and tell me the band sucked in 84! Never heard them play like this EVER!

https://relisten.net/grateful-dead/1984/04/07/playing-in-the-band?source...

Brent and a B3. Nuff said. 

One of the reasons Vince failed so badly was that Jerry did not let him play the B3. That was his forte. He was a great guy. I met him while he was playing with Cubensis. Tragic that demons led him to take his own life. Cut his own throat with a large knife. But I agree his time with the band was not good.

It is crazy and downright emabarrassing that this question even rises up to get asked on this board. Obviously, you were not there and did not experience that magic and how much Brent contributed to it and its continual elevation to new heights and some of the most interesting places that music (and vocals) could ever go. I am sorry that anybody could feel that way but to each their own. Apparently the band was done with B3 in the Vince era and it was what it was. Water under the bridge I suppose but I feel forever lucky and infinitely blessed to have seen and experienced some of the best shows that I could ever imagine with that magic set of 6 dudes Playin' in the Band!!

It is crazy and downright emabarrassing that this question even rises up to get asked on this board. Obviously, you were not there and did not experience that magic and how much Brent contributed to it and its continual elevation to new heights and some of the most interesting places that music (and vocals) could ever go. I am sorry that anybody could feel that way but to each their own. Apparently the band was done with B3 in the Vince era and it was what it was. Water under the bridge I suppose but I feel forever lucky and infinitely blessed to have seen and experienced some of the best shows that I could ever imagine with that magic set of 6 dudes Playin' in the Band!!

.

Where should I start... he was the only sexy band member. He played the B3 like it should be played, brought some kind of energy to whatever he sang, understood syncopation, the looks he and Jerry exchanged, knew how to weave his sounds into the fabric of a song, more? I pretty much lost interest in the band after he died.

Only shows I attended were 1980 - 1995. 

So my opinion is that Brent added excellent Keyboard skills,  which were lacking after His demise.

Sure I Wish that I got to attend GD shows in early 1970's at Fillmore East and Stanley Theatre,  but my parents were not Hippies and made me attend Kindergarten and such.

What a Drag.  We lived right near there and could have easily attended.

"Disco Stu,  finish your Kibble Cereal Cocoa Puffs.  We are attending 2/13/1970 right now !!"

Unfortunately,  they did not realize the importance at the time.

Maybe I should have said the sexiest, not the only sexy one. The twinkle in Jerry's eyes was pretty good.

For me, who loved the jazzy side of 1973/74 Dead, Brent was an adequate keyboard player and a reasonable background vocalist who brought the Grateful Dead the closest they ever came to The Doobie Brothers aesthetic. His original songs were mostly derivative and bland. He is the reason I saw less shows after 1980 than I saw before 1980. He is a main part of the reason that The Grateful Dead lost a ton of whatever jazz edge they had accumulated and became a straight ahead rock band in their last 15 years. Beloved by Touch Heads - he was still considered "the new guy" by many old heads I hung/hang out with. 

The old heads I hung/hang out with called him "Mr. Tinkles," on account of keyboard tone. Said they couldn't stand the sound of those Casio synths, and the B3 never appealed to them.

They started seeing the Dead in '76.

As for me, I acknowledge he may have been the keyboardist with the greatest chops - ironically, the jazziest chops? He shared plenty of studio space with the likes of fusion guys like Alphonso Johnson and Billy Cobham - but, I listen to 80s Dead the least. Like 6, I prefer the more free, single-drummer openness of early to mid 70s Dead. Yup, #sweetblahg #iNeversawJerry

Mr. Tinkles? Hmm. Never heard that one before.

The single drummer era is my favorite and his return to the band (and corruption thereof) is why I consider Mickey Hart to be the anti-christ of the Grateful Dead.

Yup. Mr. Tinkles.

These cats started late ('76), but they got cred. I know they traveled to the Halloween shows at RCMH. I assume they enjoyed the acoustic mini-grand sound a lot more than that grating, horribly dated 80s keyboard sound.

Their nickname; not mine.

"You know it's gonna get stranger....just listen to my casio tone..."

i feel like he got the band jamming again in 1979. 

I wonder if Latex  knows that Brent was in Weirs band when he did that "studio Jamming" with Billy Cobham and Alphonso Johnson?

I did know that. 

I even knew that you were wondering if I  knew that lol

Have you found enjoyment your morning yet, ahhhrrg?  

The Grateful Dead were not phenomenal musicians. Doesn't mean they weren't talented or unique musicians or that you don't love them. Brent was average at best. I love those years for sentimental reasons.

1979-1981, 1989-1990-my favorite brent years

1982-my least favorite brent year

speaking of iconic musicians we love but perhaps being held to musical scrutiny miss the mark, Pig Pen was a horrible singer and not a great organ player.

Anyone on here ever get to see Go Ahead?

They were fun. 

Pig Pen was an excellent mouth harp player, however.

"I really don't have to explain it do I?"

If I disagree with your basic premise (that the GD were a 60's relic band) then, yeah, you do.

"he brought them into the modern music world and MTV generation"

This isn't helping your argument.  MTV is a product of the 1980's.

There was nothing 21rst century about Brent.  He was a product of the 70's and 80's all the way (not a bad thing BTW).

Best quote about Dead's keyboard players:

It was Pigpen's house from the start.
TC and Ned Lagin were like visitors, stopping by on their way through.
Keith came a-knockin and we let him in.
Poor Brent didn't have a chance -- we grabbed him by the collar in the doorway, rushed him past the foyer, and sat his ass down in the living room,"Take a load off Mydland."
As for Vince, I'm not sure who invited him to the party. We auditioned him of course, along with a few other guys. I guess one of us, Jerry probably, said "Kick your shoes off and come on in," but the rest of us were like, "Hey, who's that guy in the kitchen over there?"

B Kreutzmann

Caught "Go Ahead" for both shows in a small club in Buffalo in that Fall of '86. It was cool having a table 3 feet from the stage. 

We see Billy roll into the bar between shows, and a buddy of mine claims he's going over for an autograph- of course I'm thinkin'-- I gotta see this. Kruetzmann is probably coked out of his tree, and just sorta' scoffs at him like he can't be serious bothering me now, and scribbles it on a napkin. Great moment's in GD history.

I saw Go Ahead. They were fun at the time.

>>Have you found enjoyment your morning yet

Have to say - this reads like a fortune cookie.

Did go ahead have the Doobie Bros aesthetic?

The Doobie Brothers had some jams.

It wasn't all Michael McDonald-led Yacht Rock.

sorry, brent was not an "average" musician.

maybe not herbie hancock, but check yourself.

It's just Lager, Turtle, don't get too worked up.

He's either being clueless or provocative, or both.   
 

>>Did go ahead have the Doobie Bros aesthetic?

No, but they owned too many houses and drove up real estate prices.

You kids just don't understand how easy to love the guy was...

Tralfamador Cafe, Earl?

I saw Hot Tuna there in '86. We had to scam our way in as we were underage.

"The Tralf", fer' sher' LCL. 

I was a white punk on dope from Williamsville back then.

Thom2 no offense but really?? I thought I was clear in my explanation. Maybe I wasn't enough! But not going to go on about it forever.

From Conversations with the Dead, Jerry Garcia interview, April 28, 1981 (pages 40-41):

Gans: Are you really happy with Brent, then?

Garcia: Oh, yeah. I think he's an excellent musician, and a great choice for the band. But like I say, you're not going to hear how this band goes - it's down the road a piece. I would say that it's a couple of years in the future.

Gans: I'm so glad you got a guy with a synthesizer - 

Garcia: That's what we wanted. What we always wanted was somebody that could provide color. The thing of having another percussion instrument in an all-percussion band was really too much of the same thing. The effect the piano had on the ensemble was something we could accomplish with the guitars, so what we were really looking for was that sustain - you know, we were all hungry for color. Real hungry.

What I never understood is why they picked Vince over Pete Sears for Brent's replacement.

High vocal harmonies.

Ding!