Drifter Merch’s blog features news, events, tour dates and vendor spotlights to music and album reviews.
The Wall of Sound: How the Grateful Dead Hauled 75 Tons of Audio Perfection Around in 1974
Imagine standing in front of a three-story wall of speakers, surrounded by thousands of Deadheads, hearing Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead in a way no concert audience had ever experienced before. In 1974, the Grateful Dead did something almost unthinkable when they took a 75-ton sound system on tour. Known as the Wall of Sound, this massive engineering experiment wasn't simply about being louder. It was about changing the live music experience, delivering incredible clarity across an entire concert field, and pushing the boundaries of what a touring band could do.
It was ambitious, expensive, complicated, and completely legendary. More than 50 years later, the Wall of Sound remains one of the most fascinating chapters in Grateful Dead history. Here's how the band built it, hauled it, and brought it to life.
A wall built for the whole field
Photo courtesy: RELIX
The Wall wasn’t just about making a concert louder. The band wanted the music to reach the crowd with remarkable clarity and consistency, so people across the field could share a more even listening experience.
The system made its debut at the Cow Palace on March 23, 1974, at a show billed “The Sound Test.” At its peak, the towering setup stood more than three stories high and used around 600 speakers. “Same volume” captures the Wall’s big idea, to make the sound feel more even across the field, rather than blasting the folks up front and leaving everyone else straining to hear. It wasn’t literally identical decibels at every spot. But the goal was bold, generous, and very Dead in order to make the show feel like it belonged to everybody.
The sound crew deserves a standing ovation
A mountain of speakers doesn’t set itself up. The Wall depended on a crew of engineers and roadies who hauled, assembled, tuned, and managed the system from stop to stop. It was a massive undertaking, and the people behind the boards were every bit as essential to the experience as the musicians onstage. So next time the mix sounds sweet from the back of the lawn, raise a grateful thought to the people making it happen.
A legendary sound, with a legendary footprint
The Wall traveled with the Dead through 1974, including the band’s October farewell shows at Winterland. But that kind of scale came with a price: hauling and setting up the system was expensive and demanding. The Dead eventually retired the Wall, but its story kept rolling, through fan memories, old recordings, and the continuing fascination with what a band can build when it follows a big idea all the way. Know your history, wear the history
The Wall of Sound was more than an impressive piece of concert history. It represented the Grateful Dead's willingness to push boundaries, experiment, and create something fans had never experienced before. That same spirit is what keeps the music, the memories, and the community alive today. Because being a Deadhead isn't just about the shows you've seen. It's about the music, the people, and being part of something that never really ends.
Port City Jerry Day
The 5th Annual Port City Jerry Day is a charitable event presented by the City of Wilmington in support of the United Way of the Cape Fear Area. The event, celebrating the life and music of the Grateful Dead’s Jerry Garcia, will be held on Saturday, August 19th from 6pm-10pm at Greenfield Lake Amphitheater. The successful event last year raised $20k for local charity with 100% of proceeds again going to the non-profit. Get ready for an unforgettable evening filled with fantastic music by The Garcia Project with Maria Muldaur & Buzz Buchanen (original Jerry Garcia Band members). Additionally, local Dead cover band The Possums will start at 5:30pm. Mayor Mike Purzycki and the Peguin’s Beau Gunn with also make a special appearance singing on stage. Doors open at 5 pm, allowing patrons to explore the offerings of live artists and vendors. Artists include Nugget, Brandon Besecker, Kaichica Loca, Kosmic Kev, The Tying Alchemist and Bee Jones while craft vendors are Drifter Merch, Viola Lee Tees, Nothing Too Fancy Designs, Love That Baby, Hopkins Creative Group, T-Shaw Designs, Tink-A-Belle, Cosmic Carolina Dyes, Mountain Soul Designs, Homegrown Market, Settle Down Easy Goods, Barefoot and Brazen and more. Don’t miss the $5 raffle with items from various vendors raising additional funds.
100% of the proceeds will directly benefit the United Way of the Cape Fear Area that works with its community to leverage resources and improve the lives of local people. By partnering with local agencies across the Cape Fear region, the non-profit is able to continue to fight for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in its community. United Way of the Cape Fear Area empowers its neighborhoods by building strong foundations to have a stronger, united, more resilient community.
Come be a part of this meaningful event and help make a positive impact. Get your $10 tax deductible tickets now to enjoy a night of incredible music, charity, and community spirit!
Port City Jerry Day poster by T. Shaw Designs
Drifter Fest: The Inaugural Bert Griggs Memorial Jam
Drifter Fest: The Inaugural Bert Griggs Memorial Jam
We invite you to Charleston on March 6-8th to celebrate Drifter Merch Co-Founder Bert Griggs' life.
In addition to Bert’s passion for designing and creating music-inspired and custom goods for his Drifter Merch customers, Bert was an amazing father, husband, son, brother, and friend. Bert had an innate ability to make everyone he met feel like they were the most important person in the room. He never met a stranger. In fact, he was everyone’s best friend. He had the sweetest soul and a tender heart that loved hard and deeply. Bert had a unique sense of humor with an infectious laugh and smile that could light up the darkest room. He is intensely missed.
We hope you can join us for a weekend of fun events complete with great company, stories and lots of live music.
FRIDAY, MARCH 6TH:
Drifter Fest: Pre-Jam at Home Team BBQ Downtown (126 Williman Street) from 8pm-11pm with live music featuring our friends SHONUFF.
SATURDAY, MARCH 7TH
Doors for the Drifter Fest: The Inaugural Bert Griggs Memorial Jam open at 8pm at the Charleston Pour House (1977 Maybank Hwy.). Inside the venue from 8:30pm-1am, guests will enjoy a collaboration of Bert's favorite tunes from many of his friends including Reid Stone and bands Gaslight Street, The Travelin' Kine, SHONUFF, Solid Country Gold and more.
SUNDAY, MARCH 8TH:
Drifter Merch will be vending at Reckoning in the Park, a family friendly event featuring The Reckoning, an awesome Grateful Dead cover band from 2pm-5pm in the meadow at James Island County Park.
Drifter Merch will be available for sale on Saturday and Sunday as well as the awesome event poster created by TRiPPs Prints and Bert's portrait by artist Jason Moore.
Please email info@driftermerch.com for additional information or questions. Read more about Bert Griggs here or search the social networks for these hashtags: #bertgriggs #driftermerch #driftergriggs #ripdriftergriggs #DrifterFest #BertGriggsJam #RememberBertGriggs
