Bob Weir spoke to The Guardian prior to his solo acoustic gig in Toronto (that featured an appearance from Justin Bieber musical director Dan Kanter) about his future plans, which includes a summer tour with Dead & Company as well as, as Weir puts it, work with Stanford University’s music director Giancarlo Aquilanti to bring the Grateful Dead’s music to the orchestral world. “I’m also doing a TV show, I’m writing a book and I’ve got a solo record coming out,” he adds. “It ain’t easy.”

Weir once again touches on Fare Thee Well, calling it an “adventure.” He goes on, “If we had a little more rehearsal, the music may have been a little tighter, but I think we delivered the goods.” When asked if his forthcoming Dead & Company plans undercut the finality of Fare Thee Well, Weir says “of course it does” while adding, “I’m nowhere near done with that heritage and legacy, and this is a new way of approaching it.”

The guitarist also compliments his Dead & Co sidekick John Mayer, saying Mayer’s listening impresses him the most. “He doesn’t play a lot like Jerry, and I hope he doesn’t,” he says. “I can still hear Jerry when we’re playing anyway.”

Weir also touches on bandmate Phil Lesh, his thoughts on politics (“If Trump wins, I think the whole thing is going to blow up”), the massive Desert Trip Festival (“There wouldn’t have been room for our presentation”) and his plans for the remainder of his musical career as he succinctly stated, “Whatever I’m going to be doing, a lot of it will be furthering this heritage, this legacy. I’m not the guy who was saying it was the last show. I’m good to play.”