Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell testifies during a House Financial Services Committee hearing titled “Federal Reserve Semiannual Monetary Policy Report,” Wednesday, June 21, 2023, at the Rayburn Building.
Tom Williams | CQ-Roll Name Company | Getty Images
Let people know: The leader of the world’s most important central bank, the Federal Reserve, is a best friend.
No one is likely to confuse Jerome Powell with Jerry Garcia, but policymakers apparently like to stop and smell “scarlet begonias” when they can.
In fact, Powell was photographed on June 3 at the Dead & Company show in Bristol, Virginia. Subsequent Twitter posts caused a bit of a stir on social media.
At last week’s post-meeting news conference, no one dared to ask Powell about his excursions. But he finally brought up the topic on Wednesday when he addressed lawmakers before the House Financial Services Committee.
Rep. Wiley Nickel (D-N.C.) said he was “excited” to hear Powell was on the show and asked him what he thought.
“Amazing. What can I say? Awesome,” Powell replied. “I’ve been a Grateful Dead fan for 50 years.”
(LR) John Mayer, Jay Lane and Bob Weir of Dead and Company perform during the 2023 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds Race Course on May 6, 2023 in New Orleans, LA.
Erica Goldring | Getty Images
online report Shows that it must be fun: The band played hits like “Brown-Eyed Women,” “Uncle John’s Band” and “Deal,” while debuting “One More Saturday Night” and the Beatles’ “Dear Prudence” on this trip.
Wednesday’s questioning provided some kinship for Powell, Nickel and several other committee members who expressed Dead fanaticism.
“I like people who like the Grateful Dead,” Nickel said.