I recall those chic flats exactly. They were reminiscent of genie shoes, crafted of black velvet and adorned with colorful gems. Those kicks added a bit of sparkle and magic to any outfit, and I happened to be wearing them the night of my first Grateful Dead concert.
It was the late 1980s and the Dead were playing at Madison Square Garden. I joined my boyfriend and his buddies for a night out. Later, sometimes much later, we realize we had a front row seat to a special moment in time. Jerry Garcia was that kind of musician, the Dead were a phenomenon and NYC in the 1980s was a place of cultural transformation, innovation and experimentation.
Jerry Garcia was a quintessential maverick. He was an iconic guitarist who adopted an improvisational and eclectic style. And his Deadhead fans identified with his spirit of rebellion and nonconformity, his advocacy of peace and love, and his search for transcendence. The band was renowned for their unpredictable performances, with winding and extended riffs that have been likened to sonic enlightenment. In many ways their style changed music forever, and in the presence and interplay of those riffs, their fans discovered a spiritual connection to the possible.
The Grateful Dead were truly one of a kind. They didn’t pursue or achieve the conventional milestones of musical industry success. But more than 25 million people attended their concerts — more than any other band in history. From Jerry’s perspective, he would say, “There is a human drive to celebrate, and we provide ritual celebration in a society that doesn’t have much of it.” Amen.
Jerry left an artistic legacy. One of my personal favorites was his collaboration with Dave Grisman titled, Not for Kids Only. My own children were raised on those cheeky lyrics and bluegrass sound! Jerry designed the cover art on that album, which was one of his classic pen and ink drawings. As he approached 50, Jerry was at the zenith of his popularity. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and when he declined to attend the ceremony, his bandmates jokingly brought a cardboard cutout of him on stage. And it truly tickled Jerry when the ice cream Cherry Garcia was named after him. That’s dreams coming true right there!
Well, back to the shoes … I know, you thought I forgot about those chic flats, eh? Haha. As you might imagine we were all buzzing after the concert. We didn’t want the night to end, and so we made our way to the Red Lion in the Village. I loved that club. Such a vibe. Round after round, tales emerged and our laughter grew. Until someone spied my shoes — and as can only happen with a party of tipsy revelers — the shoes became our shared goblet. Yep. Every cocktail was ceremoniously concocted and gulped from the genie slippers. Magic, baby. Magic.
Coming up in a couple weeks is August 1, which was Jerry’s birthday. This year on his birthday I’ll be attending the opening and auction of The Art of Jerry Garcia. In fact, that’s our next Maverick Serendipity Dinner. So if any of these stories have reminded you of the inspiring legacy of Jerry Garcia, consider joining me in Sausalito, California. And I promise, no genie shoes this time. But maybe floral boots?? 😉