folks need to let go of other people's inability to recognize the supposed brilliance of their favorite band... c'mon folks, everyone has faults :roll: there is no such thing as an objectively great band - none, don't ever try coming up with a witty reply.
i generally don't get jam bands, and i definitely don't get the grandfathers of the scene: the grateful dead. to me, they're passable bluegrass & rockabilly, but nothing all that special - and only barely psychedelic. the only possible appeal that i can rationalize is that they were an excuse to run away from mommy and daddy and go do a lot of drugs. on the right substances, anything is psychedelic. i supposed the "scene" becomes one with the music (just like all of the participant's senses...) but on it's own, the dead's discography has never impressed me at all. and yes, i've heard a decent portion of it through friends.