Honoring the legacy of a band as timeless and celebrated as the Grateful Dead is just the task The National have been up to. The shadowy indie rockers have been hard at work unraveling the golden road of some of their most beloved Dead tunes, but they haven’t taken the entire album into their own hands.
Frontman Aaron Dessner confirmed with Relix that some collaborations will include Bon Iver, Kurt Vile & The Violators, Vampire Weekend, The Walkmen, and The War on Drugs. The incredibly diverse and prominently folky lineup will be sure to offer a poignant and new perspective on the Dead’s music. As of today, the album’s beginning were reported back in April 2011, and it’s release date is still up in the air.
The National performed as guests on Bob Weir’s weekly webcast on Weir Here from TRI Studios. Check out a clip of the session below, and try to releive some anticipation for the record!