HEADIEST

IT’S like FANTASY FOOTBALL – FOR DEAD SHOWS

I’VE BEEN LISTENING TO THE DEAD SINCE I WAS IN THE WOMB. NOT BECAUSE MY PARENTS ARE HIPPIES, BUT BECAUSE MY OLDER BROTHER WOULD PLAY IT THAT LOUD. SO WHEN IT COMES TO THE MUSIC OF THE GRATEFUL DEAD, I KNOW THE SONGS AS WELL AS ANY NURSERY RHYME.

Though I’M NOT OLD ENOUGH TO HAVE SEEN JERRY (OR, MORE IMPORTANTLY, FOR JERRY TO HAVE SEEN ME) WHEN BOB WEIR TEAMED UP WITH JOHN MAYER to start DEAD AND COMPANY, I HIT THE ROAD, SEEING AS MANY SHOWS AS possible.

ONE NIGHT at a show, AS A JOKE BETWEEN FRIENDS, WE STARTED TAKING BETS ON WHAT THE OPENING SONG WOULD BE.
That’s when headiest was born.

Headiest is a points-based game where players earn their place on a leaderboard by correctly predicting the songs at each show. Inherent band knowledge and tour-based strategy is used to score high (pun intended), but the game can be won by even the most novice fan. AT THE END OF TOUR, the player on top of the leaderboard IS CROWNED “HEADIEST.”

Working with a few of my closest lot buddies, we created the game, along with an online and IRL promotional campaign, that lived for 3 full years of tour – until the pandemic came in and closed shakedown street.

we didn't sell enough grilled cheese sandwiches TO build AN APP, But THE SITE ran just like ONE – with hundreds of people playing each night FROM around the country. the Instagram ALSO gained a great following of die-hards WHO KNEW THAT EVEN IF THEY DIDN’T PLAY, THEY COULD FOLLOW ALONG FOR LAST night's SET LIST AND LOTS OF DEAD HISTORY.

And, of course, it wouldn’t be tour without a super heady shirt to accompany it. we used the headiest shirt as the winning prize.