Courtney Barnett, the War on Drugs, More Cover the Grateful Dead for ‘Day of the Dead’ Tribute
Last week, after several years in the works, the National announced Day of the Dead – their upcoming all-star tribute to the Grateful Dead. Now we've got a batch of amazing covers from the 59-track, six-hour box set due out May 20 via 4AD.
Below, listen to the National's take on "Morning Dew" along with covers by Courtney Barnett ("New Speedway Boogie"); the War on Drugs ("Touch of Grey"), Phosphorescent, Jenny Lewis and Friends ("Sugaree"); and Bruce Hornsby with DeYarmond Edison – a group featuring Justin Vernon of Bon Iver ("Black Muddy River").
The compilation was produced by Aaron Dessner and co-produced by Bryce Dessner and Josh Kaufman. Several songs (including the "Sugaree" cover_ feature the house band: the Dessners, Scott and Bryan Devendorf (also of the National), Kaufman, Conrad Doucette, Sam Cohen, and Walter Martin (the Walkmen).
Day of the Dead will be available digitally, as a 5xCD set, and as a limited edition vinyl box set. Check out the complete track list below.
An all-star Day of the Dead set will take place at Justin Vernon's Eaux Claires Music and Arts Festival in August where the Bon Iver singer-songwriter will be joined by the National, Jenny Lewis, Phosphorescent's Matthew Houck, Will Oldham, Sam Amidon, Richard Reed Parry, Lucius, Bruce Hornsby and UMO's Ruban Nielson.
Thunder (Vol. 1):
1 The War on Drugs: "Touch of Grey"
2 Phosphorescent, Jenny Lewis & Friends: "Sugaree"
3 Jim James & Friends: "Candyman"
4 Moses Sumney, Jenny Lewis & Friends: "Cassidy"
5 Bruce Hornsby and DeYarmond Edison: "Black Muddy River"
6 Ed Droste, Binki Shapiro & Friends: "Loser"
7 The National: "Peggy-O"
8 Kurt Vile and the Violators: "Box of Rain" [ft. J Mascis]
9 Bonnie "Prince" Billy and Friends: "Rubin and Cherise"
10 Perfume Genius, Sharon Van Etten & Friends: "To Lay Me Down"
11 Courtney Barnett: "New Speedway Boogie"
12 Mumford & Sons: "Friend of the Devil"
13 Lucius: "Uncle John's Band"
14 The Lone Bellow & Friends: "Me and My Uncle"
15 Lee Ranaldo, Lisa Hannigan & Friends: "Mountains of the Moon"
16 Anohni and yMusic: "Black Peter"
17 Bryce Dessner: "Garcia Counterpoint"
18 Daniel Rossen, Christopher Bear and the National: "Terrapin Station (Suite)" [ft. Josh Kaufman, Conrad Doucette, So Percussion and Brooklyn Youth Chorus]
19 Angel Olsen: "Attics of My Life"
20 Wilco with Bob Weir: "St. Stephen (Live)"
Lightning (Vol. 2):
1 Bonnie "Prince" Billy: "If I Had the World to Give"
2 Phosphorescent & Friends: "Standing on the Moon"
3 Charles Bradley and Menahan Street Band: "Cumberland Blues"
4 Tallest Man on Earth & Friends: "Ship of Fools"
5 Bonnie "Prince" Billy & Friends: "Bird Song"
6 The National: "Morning Dew"
7 Marijuana Deathsquads: "Truckin'"
8 Cass McCombs & Joe Russo: "Dark Star"
9 Nightfall of Diamonds: "Nightfall of Diamonds"
10 Tim Hecker: "Transitive Refraction Axis for John Oswald"
11 Lucinda Williams & Friends: "Going Down the Road Feeling Bad"
12 Tunde Adebimpe, Lee Ranaldo & Friends: "Playing in the Band"
13 Local Natives: "Stella Blue"
14 Tal National: "Eyes of the World"
15 Bela Fleck: "Help on the Way"
16 Orchestra Baobab: "Franklin's Tower"
17 Luluc With Xylouris White: "Till the Morning Comes"
18 The Walkmen: "Ripple"
19 Richard Reed Parry with Caroline Shaw and Little Scream: "Brokedown Palace" [ft. Garth Hudson]
Sunshine (Vol. 3):
1 Real Estate: "Here Comes Sunshine"
2 Unknown Mortal Orchestra: "Shakedown Street"
3 Hiss Golden Messenger: "Brown Eyed Woman"
4 This Is the Kit: "Jack-a-Roe"
5 Daniel Rossen and Christopher Bear: "High Time"
6 The Lone Bellow & Friends: "Dire Wolf"
7 Winston Marshall, Kodiak Blue and Shura: "Althea"
8 Orchestra Baobab: "Clementine Jam"
9 Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks: "China Cat Sunflower - I Know You Rider"
10 Bill Callahan: "Easy Wind"
11 Ira Kaplan & Friends: "Wharf Rat"
12 The Rileys (Terry and Gyan Riley): "Estimated Prophet"
13 Man Forever, So Percussion and Oneida: "Drums - Space"
14 Fucked Up: "Cream Puff War"
15 The Flaming Lips: "Dark Star"
16 s t a r g a z e: "What's Become of the Baby"
17 Vijay Iyer: "King Solomon's Marbles"
18 Mina Tindle & Friends: "Rosemary"
19 Sam Amidon: "And We Bid You Goodnight"
20 The National With Bob Weir: "I Know You Rider (live)"