Tonight marks the second-ever performance of Dead & Company on national television, as the rockers will hit Jimmy Kimmel Live tonight to perform an outdoor concert. The show comes at an interesting political climate in California, as the state is voting on a proposition that could legalize recreational cannabis.
Naturally, the members of Dead & Company are planning to come out in full support of the new proposition. Their approach is subtle: instead of trying to say something, the band has invited 300 marijuana legalization activists to join them in the crowd. A handful of pro-legizalization groups, including California Cannabis Industry Assn and medical marijuana collective Buds & Roses have been instructed not only to wear t-shirts, but to bring signs and dress up as giant joints to reach a national audience.
“The folks it would be hitting on that broadcast would be outside our normal sphere of influence,” said Bob Weir in an interview with the LA Times. “We’re about music, but we’re about other stuff as well, and we always have been. We need to make our feelings on the subject as apparent as we can.”
Dead & Company made their feelings quite apparent when their fall 2015 tour landed in Denver, Colorado – a state where marijuana has been legalized. Check out some of these amazing photos from the band’s trip to the dispensaries from last fall.
While this approach by Dead & Company is pigeonholed by network restrictions, it’s still a smart and respectful way to get the message out in a pivotal election season. “They’re respectful advocates, and they’re very thoughtful in their approach to this entire industry,” said manager Bernie Cahill. “I don’t see that changing.”
Good luck Dead & Company! Maybe they’ll play “High Time” on Kimmel tonight…