Watch Grateful Dawg

Grateful Dawg is a documentary film that chronicles the musical partnership of Jerry Garcia and David Grisman, two of the most prominent and influential musicians in the history of American folk and bluegrass. Directed by Gillian Grisman, David Grisman's daughter, the film provides a window into the intimate and unique relationship between the two artists, who formed a lifelong friendship and collaborative bond that spanned more than two decades.

The film begins with a brief overview of the early days of Garcia and Grisman's friendship, tracing their roots back to the 1960s when they first met at a folk festival in San Francisco. From there, the film dives deep into the music that the two created together, highlighting their shared love of traditional bluegrass and folk songs, as well as their willingness to experiment and push boundaries. Through a mix of interviews with the two men themselves, as well as archival footage and live performances, the film provides a rich and detailed portrait of their musical journey together.

One of the most striking aspects of Grateful Dawg is the way it captures the sheer joy and energy of the duo's music. Whether they are performing onstage in front of thousands of fans or simply jamming together in Grisman's living room, there is a sense of playfulness and spontaneity that infuses everything they do. This is especially evident in the extensive musical sequences that make up a large portion of the film, which showcase Garcia and Grisman's incredible chemistry and musicianship.

At the same time, the film also delves into the more personal aspects of their friendship, exploring the ways in which they supported and inspired each other both musically and emotionally. Through candid interviews with both men, we get a sense of the deep mutual respect and affection that underpinned their relationship, as well as the sense of loss that was felt by Grisman and many others when Garcia passed away in 1995.

Despite the bittersweet note on which the film ends, there is a sense of celebration and gratitude that permeates the entire project. Grateful Dawg does an excellent job of capturing the essence of both Jerry Garcia and David Grisman, as well as the music that they created together. By the end of the film, audiences will undoubtedly come away with a newfound appreciation for the artistry and passion that drove these two legends of American music.

Grateful Dawg is a 2000 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 21 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.2 and a MetaScore of 64.