Easy Wind - Grateful Dead
2.21.71 - Capitol Theater, Port Chester, NY 

One of my favorite aspects of the Grateful Dead’s long and illustrious career is the early, blues-driven material.  Much of this holds a special place in my heart, largely because of Ron “Pigpen” McKernan, and his wonderful vocals, harmonica, and work on keyboards. A founding member of the Dead, Pigpen grew up with strong R&B and blues influences.  His father was a R&B disc jockey, a rare thing for a white guy from northern California in the late ‘60’s.

Pigpen quickly caught on to all aspects of the blues lifestyle, especially drinking hard. His last show with the Grateful Dead was in 1972, and he died of internal hemorrhaging due to his excessive drinking on March 8, 1973. Yet his desire for the Dead to be a rock and roll band is very much ingrained in the sound Jerry, Phil, Bobby, and Billy carried forward after his passing, and his playing on their late ‘60’s and early ‘70’s material is outstanding by any measure.  His vocals on this rather rare Dead tune (written by Robert Hunter) are stellar.