Grateful Dead: Truckin Up to Buffalo

Sunshine Daydream is a concert film starring the Grateful Dead. On a blistering summer day in 1972, the Grateful Dead took the stage on the grounds of the Oregon Country Fair in Veneta, Oregon. for what would become one of the most legendary concerts of the band’s storied history. Considered to be the Merry Pranksters last "Acid Test", the concert offers a snapshot of the band at the peak of its playing prowess. The setlist that day included memorable performance of "Sugaree, " "Deal, " "Black-Throated Wind, " "Greatest Story Ever Told, " "Bird Song" and a mind-melting version of "Dark Star" that stretches over 30 minutes. The show, which was recorded and filmed but never released, has since become the most-requested live show in Grateful Dead history. A digitally remastered and reedited official version of the film was released on DVD and Blu-ray on September 17, 2013.

Covering 10 years, this 60 minute art documentary takes an inside look at the artisans, magicians, musicians, and lunatics that make up this cult of devotees, deadicated to a band that originated in 1965. Why these fans leave their schools, families and jobs to be part of these ritualistic tribal celebrations of dance, drugs and community, is a 20th century American cultural phenomenon captured here in this time capsuled video tape.

This project was done with humor, truth, and sarcasm. At the University of California, Santa Cruz, UCSC, where I went to college, there were many fans of The Grateful Dead. They called themselves Deadheads. I had not heard of the band before attending the school. I listened to the music, and I didn't understand why people felt so passionately about the band. I was intrigued. So in 1986, I decided to try and understand these people and the music they loved, and to create a video of my quest. This documentary project is the result. Enjoy.

Rarely seen unofficial Grateful Dead documentary short. Filmed on the road in Europe, 1990.

In 1993, Grateful Dead took the stage at Buckeye Lake Music Center in Hebron, OH. On hand that night was Peter Shapiro, at the time a Northwestern film student spending a month on summer tour alongside cameraman Philip Bruell. The Buckeye Lake show opens and the Heads document the swelling Dead scene.

1990 documentary by the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, featuring sociologist Rebecca Adams, PhD, who examines Deadhead subculture through a theoretical framework based on the ideas of social theorist Georg Simmel. Aired on PBS in the early 90s.

Set 1: Not Fade Away(The Crickets cover) (>) Shakedown Street(Grateful Dead cover) Cold Rain and Snow(Obray Ramsey cover) Ramble On Rose(Grateful Dead cover) Brown-Eyed Women(Grateful Dead cover) New Speedway Boogie(Grateful Dead cover) Wharf Rat(Grateful Dead cover) Don't Ease Me In(Henry Thomas cover) Set 2: China Cat Sunflower(Grateful Dead cover) (>) I Know You Rider([traditional] cover) (>) He's Gone(Grateful Dead cover) (>) Scarlet Begonias(Grateful Dead cover) (>) Fire on the Mountain(Grateful Dead cover) (>) Drums(Grateful Dead cover) (with a tease of the theme… more ) Space(Grateful Dead cover) (> “Dark Star on the Big… more ) Standing on the Moon(Grateful Dead cover) (>) Casey Jones(Grateful Dead cover) U.S. Blues(Grateful Dead cover) Knockin' on Heaven's Door(Bob Dylan cover)

Set 1: Good Times(Sam Cooke cover) (Cover of Grateful Dead's… more ) Hell in a Bucket(Grateful Dead cover) It Hurts Me Too(Tampa Red cover) Jack Straw(Grateful Dead cover) (>) Big Railroad Blues(Cannon’s Jug Stompers cover) (>) Cassidy(Bob Weir song) They Love Each Other(Jerry Garcia cover) (1973 version) (>) Turn On Your Love Light(Bobby “Blue” Bland cover) Set 2: Deal(Jerry Garcia cover) (>) Playing in the Band(Bob Weir song) (>) The Other One(Grateful Dead cover) (verse 1) (>) Terrapin Station(Grateful Dead cover) (>) Drums(Grateful Dead cover) (>) Space(Grateful Dead cover) (> 'Unusual Occurrences in… more ) Uncle John's Band(Grateful Dead cover) (> 'Playing in the Band'… more ) Morning Dew(Bonnie Dobson cover) Encore: Ripple(Grateful Dead cover)

Set 1: Bertha(Grateful Dead cover) (>) Good Lovin'(The Rascals cover) (>) Loser(Jerry Garcia cover) High Time(Grateful Dead cover) (Oteil vocals) Samson and Delilah([traditional] cover) Althea(Grateful Dead cover) Dear Mr. Fantasy(Traffic cover) (>) Hey Jude(The Beatles cover) (coda only) (>) Bird Song(Jerry Garcia cover) Set 2: Help on the Way(Grateful Dead cover) (>) Slipknot!(Grateful Dead cover) (>) Franklin's Tower(Grateful Dead cover) Estimated Prophet(Grateful Dead cover) (>) Eyes of the World(Grateful Dead cover) (>) Drums(Grateful Dead cover) (with Oteil on banjo bass and… more ) Space(Grateful Dead cover) (>) Days Between(Grateful Dead cover) (>) Cumberland Blues(Grateful Dead cover) (>) Sugar Magnolia(Grateful Dead cover) Encore: Truckin'(Grateful Dead cover) (>) Brokedown Palace(Grateful Dead cover) (>) Not Fade Away(The Crickets cover) (Reprise from 7/14)

Set 1: Hell in a Bucket(Grateful Dead cover) Alabama Getaway(Grateful Dead cover) Jack Straw(Grateful Dead cover) Big Boss Man(Jimmy Reed cover) Peggy-O([traditional] cover) Bertha(Grateful Dead cover) (>) Cassidy(Bob Weir song) Don't Ease Me In(Henry Thomas cover) Set 2: Viola Lee Blues(Cannon’s Jug Stompers cover) (>) Truckin'(Grateful Dead cover) (>) China Doll(Grateful Dead cover) (>) China Cat Sunflower(Grateful Dead cover) (>) I Know You Rider([traditional] cover) (>) Drums(Grateful Dead cover) (>) Space(Grateful Dead cover) (>) Althea(Grateful Dead cover) (>) Standing on the Moon(Grateful Dead cover) (>) Not Fade Away(The Crickets cover) Encore: The Weight(The Band cover)

Set 1: Truckin'(Grateful Dead cover) (>) Smokestack Lightning(Howlin’ Wolf cover) (with Truckin tag) Althea(Grateful Dead cover) Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo(Grateful Dead cover) High Time(Grateful Dead cover) (>) All Along the Watchtower(Bob Dylan cover) (>) Bertha(Grateful Dead cover) (>) Good Lovin'(The Rascals cover) Set 2: Help on the Way(Grateful Dead cover) (>) Slipknot!(Grateful Dead cover) (>) Franklin's Tower(Grateful Dead cover) St. Stephen(Grateful Dead cover) (>) Drums(Grateful Dead cover) (>) Space(Grateful Dead cover) (>) Uncle John's Band(Grateful Dead cover) (>) Cumberland Blues(Grateful Dead cover) (>) The Other One(Grateful Dead cover) (verse 2) Morning Dew(Bonnie Dobson cover) Encore: Brokedown Palace(Grateful Dead cover) (>) Playing in the Band(Bob Weir song) (Reprise) (>) One More Saturday Night(Bob Weir song)