The Grateful Dead had one of the longest runs in rock music history, but the band may have never been better than it was in 1972. And for those of us who may not remember, there’s film to prove it.
“Sunshine Daydream” was shot Aug. 27, 1972, on the Old Renaissance Faire Grounds in Veneta, Ore., just weeks after the Dead returned from their landmark tour of Europe. The live album of that tour, “Europe ’72,” is the Grateful Dead’s top-selling live release.
“Sunshine Daydream” will be shown tonight at Animas City Theatre followed by a concert by local band Red Eyed Djinn.
Originally shot on 16 mm film, the movie was restored to HD resolution, and that version has been shown only once on the big screen. Fathom Events screened the movie Aug. 1 at select theaters for a one-day-only event.
Special features include never-before-seen footage of the concert day as well as recently recorded interviews with some who can remember the good ol’ days, such as Merry Prankster Ken Babbs, who emceed the concert with Ken Kesey, as well as Sam Cutler, Wavy Gravy and Carolyn “Mountain Girl” Garcia. They provide insight about how the community came together for the concert to help raise money to keep the local town’s Springfield Creamery afloat.
The songs featured in “Sunshine Daydream” are “Promised Land,” “China Cat Sunflower,” “I Know You Rider,” “Jack Straw,” “Bird Song,” “Dark Star,” “El Paso,” “Sing Me Back Home” and “Greatest Story Ever Told,” with “Sugar Magnolia,” the song from which the film’s title is taken, conspicuously absent.
The Dead played well into the night back then, and for many at tonight’s screening, the movie will be a warm-up for the live music to follow. Red Eyed Djinn is not exactly a Grateful Dead cover band, but it is “Dead-friendly.” The band has a slew of originals and has released two albums full of them – its self-titled debut in 2010 and 2013’s “Ghost in the Trees” – but expect Red Eyed Djinn to stay truer to its Dead roots tonight. Its covers are tight and authentic, and band members like playing them, which is always fun.
Like their favorite band, Red Eyed Djinn is led by dual vocalists/guitarists in Matt Rupnow and Shaman Houpt. Art Cahill does his best Phil Lesh right down to the six-string bass, and the similarities continue with another duo on drums and percussion, Matt Knight and Howie Basley. There’s no one on keyboards, but given the Dead’s unfortunate history with those instrumentalists, it’s probably just as well that Red Eyed Djinn opted against filling the hot seat.
ted@durangoherald.com
If you go
Animas City Theatre will screen “Sunshine Daydream” at 8 p.m., today followed by a concert by Red Eyed Djinn at about 10:30 p.m. Tickets cost $12 for the movie and concert, $5 for the concert only (movie is all ages, concert 21-plus). For tickets and more information, visit www.animascitytheatre.com.
