On February 19th, 1971, the Grateful Dead took the stage at the Capitol Theatre armed with a handful of newly composed songs. One such piece was “Bird Song,” and its legacy has flown tremendously in the 46 years since its debut. It’s no surprise that artists have been inspired by the songwriting creations of the Dead, including folk group T Sisters.
The Oakland based group chose to cover the song as part of a tribute to its release and its message, drawing inspiration from the song’s lyrics and progressions. Says the band, “We chose to cover ‘Bird Song’ because we were really drawn to Robert Hunter’s poetic lyrics, a touching homage to Janis Joplin, and the unique melody of the song. Because the melody covers such a large range, we had to take an interesting approach to adapt the song to our three-part harmony style. Captured in one take and recorded live to tape, this video honors the authentic and raw performance style of the Grateful Dead.”
It’s a masterful performance that really captures both the folk prowess of the T Sisters and the beautiful composition from the Dead. The video is the first installment of the group’s new series, recorded at Tiny Telephone Recording. Enjoy the premiere of this new song, streaming below.
For more on the T Sisters, be sure to head to their official website! The T Sisters are Chloe Tietjen, Rachel Tietjen, and Erika Tietjen, with Steve Height and Andy Allen-Fahlander. See their full tour schedule, below.
T Sisters Tour Dates
03.03: Crystal Bay, NV ~ Crystal Bay Casino
03.04: Auburn, CA ~ Auburn Event Center
03.12: Pismo Beach, CA ~ Cliffs Resort
03.19: Aromas, CA ~ Aromas Grange Hall
03.29: Philadelphia, PA ~ World Cafe Live
03.30: Takoma Park, MD ~ House Concert
03.31: Brooklyn, NY ~ Knitting Factory
04.01: Somerville, MA ~ Thunder Road
04.02: Northampton, MA ~ Parlor Room
04.05: Charlotte, NC ~ The Evening Muse
04.06: Raleigh, NC ~ Neptunes Parlour
04.07 & 04/8: Greer, SC ~ Albino Skunk Festival
04.09: Marietta, OH ~ Mountain Stage
04.21: Berkeley, CA ~ Freight & Salvage
07.13: Navarro, CA ~ Redwood Ramble
07.26: Floyd, VA ~ Floydfest
[Video by Matthew Fassberg, audio by Jacob Winik]