Guess the Year

This week, author Ray Robertson curates the setlist as returning champ John is joined by Dylan and Brendan.

Ray is the author of multiple novels and nonfiction works, including All the Years Combine: The Grateful Dead in Fifty Shows, a journey through the Dead’s history via fifty iconic performances. Ray’s writing has appeared in The Globe and Mail, The Walrus, and Canadian Notes & Queries.

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This week, journalist, author, and music critic Joel Selvin curates the setlist as returning champ Phil is joined by Brian, John, and Paul.

Joel was the longtime pop music critic for the San Francisco Chronicle and has written about rock and roll for over 40 years. He’s the author of many books, including Fare Thee Well: The Final Chapter of the Grateful Dead’s Long, Strange Trip and Altamont: The Rolling Stones, the Hells Angels, and the Inside Story of Rock’s Darkest Day. His latest book, Drums & Demons: The Tragic Journey of Jim Gordon, is out everywhere now. It tells the story of Jim Gordon, the legendary drummer who laid down drums on classics like “Layla,” “God only Knows,” “Good Vibrations,” and many more— before a descent into undiagnosed schizophrenia led him to murder his mother and spend the rest of his life in prison.

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This week, Brian Anderson, author of the upcoming Loud and Clear: The Grateful Dead's Wall of Sound and the Quest for Audio Perfection, curates the setlist as returning champ Denis is joined by Matty, Michael, and Phil.

Brian Anderson has been a Webby Award-winning senior features editor, writer, and producer at VICE. More recently, he did a stint running the Science desk at The Atlantic, where he was part of the Pulitzer Prize-winning team for pandemic coverage, and was later a senior editor at Vox. Loud and Clear is available for pre-order now.

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This week, senior writer at Rolling Stone Angie Martoccio curates the setlist as returning champ Zak is joined by Jackson, Denis, and Josh.

Angie has written cover stories on Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo, and Boygenius, and interviewed icons like Stevie Nicks, Neil Young, and recently, Bob Weir. Her award-winning work often highlights overlooked women in music history.

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This week, Bob Bralove curates the setlist as returning champ Corey is joined by Zak, Dave, and Isaac.

Bob Bralove is a musician and producer who worked with Stevie Wonder and the Grateful Dead, helping pioneer the use of synthesizers in live performance. He has continued to release his own music, including his new album with violinist Patti Weiss, Acoustic Conversations. 

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This week, Parsons School of Design lecturer Annabelle Walsh curates the setlist as returning champ Pete is joined by Adam, Tomas, and Corey.

Annabelle investigates the intersections of subculture, fashion theory, and material culture. Her thesis project at Parsons was entitled Fashion is Dead: The Long Strange History of Deadhead Style. She has presented at the Dead Studies Association Conference.

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YouTube Link of Live Stream:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ene9kO-qj7Y

New Yorker staff writer Nick Paumgarten faces off against Mike (and Jay Faires from Jerry Tone Store, John Brackett, author of 'Live Dead', and everyone in attendance at The Bitter End) in guessing years of Grateful Dead live tracks curated by the winning contestant in GTY history, Steve Urbauer.

Five tracks. Whichever team is the least number of years off in aggregate wins. This live podcast was between two sets of Grateful Dead music from the amazing Trouble Junction: https://troublejunction.net/

Here's a link to their full set: https://volume.com/bitterend/v/s/4MCgcw/

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New Yorker staff writer Nick Paumgarten is very good at guessing the year of Grateful Dead live tracks. So I asked him to take on all of NYC at The Bitter End on Sunday, February 16th.

1. Live clip plays

2. Everyone in The Bitter End listens, collaborates on a year to guess.

3. We compare our collective guess to Nick Paumgarten's (who submitted his guess beforehand).

4. Whoever is fewer years off in aggregate over 5 live tracks wins.

We'll also be joined by Trouble Junction for two sets of Grateful Dead music. 

Please come on out and let any Deadheads you know that we need their help as well. Nick is good.

It should be a fun Sunday hang.

Tickets ($10)

Nick's piece 'Deadhead'

Promo video

Guess the Year is holding a live event in San Rafael, CA at the historic Belrose theater.

Four attendees (who choose to put their name in the hat) will be randomly selected to come on stage and guess the year of Grateful Dead live tracks chosen by Sirius XM's Rob Bleetstein. Whoever is furthest off is eliminated. Last Deadhead standing wins a prize!

Wednesday, December 11th

Limited tickets. Any leftovers will be sold at the door.

This week, author, historian, and Grateful Dead publicist Dennis McNally curates the setlist as former champs Steve, Pete, and Gavin face off in the Season 2 Tournament of Champions final.

Dennis wrote the introduction for The Silver Snarling Trumpet: The Birth of the Grateful Dead―The Lost Manuscript of Robert Hunter, which is available now.

Thanks to Ellisa for providing a beautiful painting of Jerry Garcia as the winner's prize, and Shelburne Farms for hooking up the second and third place finishers with prize packs as well. As always, thank you to 30k ft. for creating the show poster.

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• The Silver Snarling Trumpet