Would it be heresy to suggest that Here's To Taking It Easy. the new Phosphorescent album, reminds me of the Grateful Dead? Not the Dead of endless 37 minute jams, not disco Dead, and certainly not "Space" Dead, but the Dead that created the dual americana landmarks Workingman's Dead and American Beauty. The thin, reedy but effective vocals, the reigned in playing, the gentle gallop that powers the songs - it's all 1970 Dead.
So check out Phosphorescent - are they Dead to you?
Phosphorescent - It's Hard to Be Humble (When You're From Alabama)
Phosphorescent - Heaven, Sittin' Down
Short concert note - I saw Phosphorescent a couple weeks ago and lead singer and major domo Matthew Houck had a real insouciant, swaggering stage presence that really helped put across these new songs. Plus he couldn't have been kinder to the beyond drunk college beard who stood right in front of his face and kept shouting stuff at him between songs. Houck must have given that kid 25 high fives, each one a high wire act of diplomacy.