Music

The National to curate a Grateful Dead covers album that will maybe feature Crystal Castles

by Nicole Villeneuve

The National‘s Dessner bros (Aaron and Bryce) once curated a compilation (and concert) for AIDS charity Red Hot that was so terrific it’s a wonder we’re not still listening to it right now. Okay, actually, now we are. It’s still so good!

It was called Dark Was the Night and featured just about anyone you listened to in the indie rock/folk sphere in the past few years, from Bon Iver to Arcade Fire and the Decemberists to David Byrne, Yo La Tengo, and Cat Power. You could spend the afternoon with this open in your browser if you don’t have this album already and be very happy.

With the success of the last, it makes sense they would do it again, so they are—National bassist Scott Devendorf told Spinner at Coachella this weekend that they’re starting to get together preliminary plans for a Grateful Dead tribute record. Artists said to be interested so far are Fleet Foxes and Bon Iver, and, as Devendorf said, mentioned Crystal Castles in trying to think of “unusual acts” that could be involved. We think it’s time for their jam band phase anyway.