Alex Bleeker and the Freaks go all in for the Dead sound on ‘Country Agenda’
Grateful Dead fans are so devoted that they not only followed them around town to town, but even earned the first fan nickname. And they pop up in the least likely of places—even in the music world, where they include Jane’s Addiction’s Perry Farrell, Sonic Youth’s Lee Ranaldo, and Real Estate’s Alex Bleeker.
The Dead’s influence isn’t all that apparent in any of these groups, but it’s unmistakable in Bleeker’s solo work, which is far removed from Real Estate’s dream-pop sound. When he started recording solo in 2009, the Dead influence was there, but the blown-out production, combined with a Crazy Horse energy, disguised the full extent of Bleeker’s Grateful Dead fandom. Things became quite a bit clearer when he penned a heartfelt essay for Stereogum about his experience at all three of the Dead’s farewell shows.
This is all important to keep in mind when listening to Bleeker’s third record, Country Agenda, which was released in October. He’s gone all in and let his Grateful Dead flag fly high and proudly.
But Country Agenda is very specific in the inspiration it takes from the Dead. It brings to mind their two 1970 albums, a highlight in their recording career (and the only period some non-Deadheads consider listenable). These two records, The Workingman’s Dead and American Beauty, are gorgeous breezy mixtures of country, folk and bluegrass that keep the wandering solos to a minimum.
The same is true of Country Agenda. This is a feel-good, country-inspired record in literally the same vein. Real Estate fans might run screaming at the mere mention of the Grateful Dead as the record’s primary influence, but if they give it a shot, they might be surprised to find themselves liking these lighthearted folk tunes (and maybe even find themselves digging into the Dead’s discography). Alt-rockers may feel an affinity to the music, too, as this era of the Dead influenced ’90s groups like Wilco.
This is the first album by the Freaks that’s a full-band collaborative affair. On Bleeker’s self-titled debut, he enlisted mostly fellow Real Estate bandmates to back him (which produced a record that was a little disjointed and jolting), but now he’s got a band of like-minded souls, and the chemistry is fantastic. On Country Agenda, Bleeker and the Freaks play with confidence and sound like they’re having a lot of fun in the process.
The record was recorded at a studio on the coast of Stinson Beach, which seems to be perfectly captured in the music. Whether or not Bleeker was trying to make a record inspired by the California coast, he did—it has a gentle, breezy sound, and laid-back groove. Even the lyrics fit the theme, as in “California” (“California, California, you’re set free”).
Deadheads will get a kick out of their rendition of the traditional tune “Turtle Dove,” which Jerry Garcia covered frequently. Overall, the record’s only real problem is that Bleeker may have succeeded a little too well in bringing his influences to the fore—I’m not exaggerating when I say that Country Agenda literally sounds like the Grateful Dead circa 1970. A lot of Deadheads will just listen to the real thing.
INFO: 8 p.m., Dec. 10, Don Quixote’s, 6275 Hwy. 9, Felton. $15. 335-2800.
OUT COME THE FREAKS Alex Bleeker and the Freaks play Don Quixote’s on Thursday, Dec. 10.
