Adam and Heather Mahler live in Maumee, Ohio and are big fans of Raising The Dead.  When planning their 25th anniversary party, their dream was to have us come and play in their back yard for family and friends, and that's just what we did!  The Mahler's really know how to throw a party, with a big selection of beverages, hors d'oeuvres, Grateful Dead stickers, and a food truck.  Making the evening even more special, we were joined by our friend Mickey Toop, a traveling guitarist with a very successful YouTube channel where he demonstrates and teaches the Bob Weir parts of dozens of Grateful Dead songs.  He happened to be in the area, and our lead guitarist, Matthew Cole, invited him to sit in.  Our other guitarist, Dave Martin, was fanboying because Mickey's videos are a must-watch for him.  

We gave the Mahler's a great show, joined by our friend Justin Lee on keyboards.  Check it out, and if you want to wish the Mahler's a happy anniversary in the video comments, go for it! 

9-9-2022 Maumee, OH  Mahler Anniversary Party
I: Truckin > Deep Elum Blues, Second That Emotion, Black Throated Wind, Eyes of the World > When I Paint My Masterpiece*, Tangled Up In Blue, The Music Never Stopped
II: Lady With A Fan > Just A Little Light# > Terrapin Station > Playing In The Band > Drums & Space > Here There and Everywhere, Scarlet Begonias > Sugar Magnolia/Sunshine Daydream, Help On The Way > Slipknot > Franklin's Tower, Shakedown Street#, Uncle John's Band, Ripple

*=Mickey Toop on vocals
​#=Justin Lee on vocals

Raising The Dead made their (public) West Side debut at the Park Theater in Holland on Saturday, September 17.  Grand Rapids based drummer Tom Taylor and RTD rhythm guitarist Dave Martin have looked for an opportunity to bring our band West for some time, and we finally found the perfect venue.  Tom brought his new Joe Cocker tribute, the excellent English Joe and The Mad Dogs to open for us, and we played a 2 hour set that you can see above. 

This gig was a nod to 1971 Dead, a year when they consistently played without a keyboard player, as documented on the Skull & Roses album.  We exclusively played repertoire from that year.  Highlights included Loser, our debuts of Me & Bobby McGee, and Turn On Your Lovelight.  Lovelight was joined by English Joe's Stephen Boersma on Saxophone, and it was an amazing way to cap the evening.  The band and audience were all smiles all night, and that comes through the performance captured.  We will return to the West side of the state in January, stay tuned for details! 

9-17-2022 Holland, Michigan  Park Theater
Chinatown Shuffle, Bertha, Me & My Uncle, Next Time You See Me, Playing in the Band > Uncle John's Band, Loser, Me & Bobby McGee, Cumberland Blues, Mr. Charlie, Truckin > Drums & Space > The Other One > Wharf Rat > Not Fade Away > Going Down the Road Feeling Bad > Not Fade Away, Turn on Your Lovelight.

One year ago, Raising the Dead released our debut album, Terrapin Stations and Other Ones.  The album was an extraordinary performance captured at the Cadieux Cafe on August 21.  Here's what we said about it at the time: 

On August 21, Raising the Dead performed an epic show for the patrons of the Cadieux Cafe in Detroit.  Our second set was so special, we decided it deserved to become our first official album release.  Starting today, “Terrapin Stations & Other Ones: Live at the Cadieux Cafe” is available to stream on all major services (links below), and available for download purchase on platforms that support it (We will actually make some money on this, so please consider purchasing it!)

The album consists of our second set from that night, conceived by our keyboardist Max Katz (with a little help from his friends), who took some of the Dead’s most commonly played song segues and mixed them up inside each other, and then wrapped them in the Terrapin Suite, which we’d premiered Hippies at the Village on July 31, and played again at the Cabbage Patch on August 1st. 

Help>Slip>Frank, Dark Star>St. Stephen>The Eleven, and Cryptical Envelopment>The Other One are all encompassed in this set, but not in the way you might assume a typical Dead tribute would play them.  

We open with Lady With A Fan, and as soon as the first solo section comes in, we segue into Help On the Way.  Help gives way to Slipknot, as you would expect, but we don’t finish the jam, saving the return for later.  Instead, Dave plays the familiar chords of Dark Star, and we take a long detour through space, landing on St. Stephen.  We nest the musical matryoshka once again, and Matt leads us into Cryptical>The Other One.  (If you listen to just one song, we recommend The Other One!)  Next, we slide back into Terrapin Station to finish the song - or so you think.  Once the refrain has built and released (and built and released), Joe stabs his cymbal for the second half of the Suite.  Terrapin Transit and At a Siding are interrupted by Bill's bass bombs harkening “The Eleven” and then, finally, Slipknot finishes, and Laurie's harmonies roll away the dew at Franklin’s Tower.  Our next Terrapin station is the completion of At A Siding and Terrapin Flyer featuring insane drum breaks and frantic back and forth soloing between Max and Matt, finally returning home for the Refrain and the end of a one hour, thirty-nine minute psychedelic voyage.  

Rhythm guitarist Dave Martin took the multitrack soundboard recordings and lovingly mixed and mastered the show, making sure you wouldn’t miss a note of Deadly goodness.  The band is self-financing this release, and has purchased the rights to publish these songs from the copyright holders.  We’re very excited to give you this snapshot of our state of the band, and we hope you’ll be inspired to share it with Deadheads from Detroit and beyond. 

There's a bit of "lore" around the cover art, which you can read about on the comments of our YouTube video of the show.  Celebrate the release anniversary by calling it up on your streaming service of choice or purchasing the download, using the links below.  Happy Anniversary, Hunter!

That's right fans, we're playing Saturday, September 17 at the Park Theater in Holland along with the Joe Cocker tribute, English Joe and The Mad Dogs.  Get your tickets now! 

This weekend, Raising the Dead performed at two festivals, with a combined 8 hours of travel - but the music included so many inspired moments of improvisation and rehearsed sparkle that it was worth it!  

We started on Friday at the Clio Cultivation festival, our debut after 12 years.  We were scheduled from 7:30-9:30, but sound check ran over and we began at 8 with an a capella opening to Here Comes Sunshine.  We were happy to have our frequent collaborator Justin Lee on keyboards, and he sang Friend of the Devil as well.  Help on the Way was a standout version, and Slipknot! gave way to drums and space, Joseph showing off his new oak drum kit, Solomon, while grooving with Chaim in the distinctive style only our rhythm devils can do.  After a remarkable Unbroken Chain, we debuted a smoking Lazy Lighting>Supplication, and closed with Fire on the Mountain.  Matt shredded expertly throughout the performance.  We ended the night and got ready for the travel to the Michigan/Ohio border. 

Saturday was a magical night, the vibe was super thicc and psychedelic.  Tye Dye artists from around the country converged and slung their trippy wares.  On the stage, a top-notch sound system was met with top-tier talent and the results were remarkable.  We started with a Good Loving tease and exploded into One More Saturday Night.  We played "Dark Box of Viola," starting with the first two verses of Box of Rain, melting into Dark Star verse 1, sliding back into Box of Rain, left-turning into Viola Lee Blues, and finally finishing Dark Star.  Wow!  Chicago's Mike Krieglstein joined us on keyboards for the evening-what a pro!  James Waldecker joined us on vocals and acoustic guitar for A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall, and Dave took the wheel for Estimated Prophet.  The full Terrapin suite was interrupted by drums and space, and we ended with a joyous Not Fade Away, including Mike's partner Katelynn Tomney filling in the Donna part with expertise and vim.  

We've got a few weeks before our next gig (a party in the Toledo area) and then in Holland at the Park theater on September 17.  We'll see you in the fall! 

8.26.2022 Clio, MI Clio Cannabis Cultivation Festival

Here Comes Sunshine, Cassidy, Friend of the Devil, Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Drums > Slipknot!, Unbroken Chain, Tennessee Jed, Lazy Lightning*> Supplication*, Fire on the Mountain
*= first time played

8.27.2022 Pioneer, OH Tye Dye Jamboree

One More Saturday Night, Cold Rain and Snow, Box of Rain > Dark Star > Box of Rain > Viola Lee Blues > Dark Star, A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall#, Estimated Prophet > Terrapin Station > Drums > Space > Terrapin Suite, Not Fade Away
# = James Waldecker on acoustic guitar and vocals 

This weekend, you have two great opportunities to see Raising The Dead play headliner gigs:
 
On Friday from 7:30-9:30pm, we play in Clio at their Cultivation Festival which is free.  
On Saturday, we play at the Tye Dye Jamboree, a 3-day camp out festival with a $75 presale and $100 day of ticket price. Our set will be from 9-11pm.  
​
We've got big things in store for both shows.  Hope to see you there! 

Jessica Long contacted us back in January to arrange a surprise 50th birthday party for her husband, Greg.  She wanted to book the 6th, but since we were playing at Hippies at the Village, we booked Tuesday, Greg's actual birthday.  On Saturday, Jessica had what she called a "lame" party for Greg, with friends, family, and pizza.  Little did he know that Jessica was listening a few years back when he said he wanted Raising The Dead to play his party!  Greg was surprised, food was plentiful, and drinks were flowing, and we even brought our artist friend Jody Bauman to paint for the birthday boy.  We had a great time on the new stage and played to an appreciative audience.  Happy birthday, Greg! 

8-9-2022 Casco, MI
I: Mississippi Half Step Toodeloo, Jack Straw, New Speedway Boogie, Me and My Uncle>Mexicali Blues*, The Love Each Other>Uncle John's Band
II: Shakedown Street > Help On The Way > Slipknot > Greatest Story Ever Told > Scarlet Begonias > Fire on the Mountain > Let it Grow > Cumberland Blues
Encore: Terrapin Suite
*First Time Played

This marks our fourth year playing Hippies at the Village, and our second at their Burton location.  Thanks to Tina Wolley for booking us again! 

Our first set started with a debut of Might As Well, made a detour in the JGB catalog for Stop That Train, and finished with an excellent Touch of Grey.  Set II appropriately began with One More Saturday Night and made a search for Mason's Children.  Pride, Half Step, Easy Wind, all instant classic versions! We ended with an energetic Around and Around, ready to make another circle around the sun before next year's festival.  Hope to see you there! 

8-6-2022 Burton, MI
I: Might As Well*, Bertha, Mama Tried, Stop That Train, Me and My Uncle, New Minglewood Blues, Touch of Grey
II: One More Saturday Night, Mason's Children, Pride of Cucamonga, Half Step Mississippi Uptown Toodeloo, Easy Wind, King Soloman's Marbles, Brown Eyed Women > Black Peter > Around and Around
*first time played

Our Ann Arbor debut was an auspicious one! After setting up, Matt Cole, Richard Rickman and Colin Murphy played an awesome set of Jerry Garcia Band tunes on acoustic instruments.  Richard was a boss on the string bass and vocals, and Colin (only 23!) played a mean fiddle and sung up a storm all night.  At 10, the acoustic band bid us goodnight and we prepared for Raising The Dead. 

Raising the Dead took the stage with a jam that melted into Althea.  First set highlights included Bill leading us through Tom Thumb's Blues, and Joe nailing Next Time You See Me.  The second set was a Dave vocal heavy set, he sang Stranger, Prophet, The Other One, and Samson with aplomb. The drums segment highlighted our percussionists, Joe and Chaim, as they played off each other (and on each other's kits).  The night ended at 1:30 with a satisfied crowd and happily tired band. 

Relive the music below with our Archive and YouTube links. 

Matt Cole & Friends 8-4-2022, Ann Arbor, MI
Ain't it Crazy, Stealin', Jackaroe, Me & My Uncle > Maggie's Farm, Friend of the Devil, Shady Grove, Midnight Moonlight, Birdsong >New Speedway > Wang Dang Doodle > Good Night Irene > Ripple

Raising The Dead 8-4-2022, Ann Arbor, MI
I: Althea, El Paso, Loser, Just Like Thom Thumb's Blues, Looks Like Rain, West L.A. Fadeaway, Next Time You See Me, Greatest Story Ever Told
II: Feel Like A Stranger, Estimated Prophet > He's Gone > Eyes of the World '73 > Drums > The Other One > Stella Blue, Sampson and Delilah

Raising The Dead has 3 gigs in early August, Here's some links to the Facebook events.  Join us!  Setlists will avoid repeats so you can come see us both nights! 

Thursday, August 4:  The Blind Pig in Ann Arbor, MI 8:30p-1a, $10
Saturday, August 6: Hippies at the Village in Burton, MI
Tuesday, August 9: Private party