We kept the love for Bobby flowing with another set featuring many of his songs for a packed Grateful Brunch on January 24 (note: we will not be playing on the 31st).  Jody Bauman painted the extraordinary "Estimated Prophet" while we rolled away the dew, and for perhaps the first time in world history, a singer/guitarst swept the rug for a drummer(see proof in the photo above!)  Also, we debuted Bobby's Ashes and Glass and sang "All I know is something like a bird within him sang." 

Join us next month on February 28 at the Sardine Room, and on March 14 at The Blind Pig in Ann Arbor. 

1/24/2026 The Sardine Room, Plymouth, MI
I: Playing in the Band Jam > Ashes and Glass*, He's Gone > Greatest Story Ever Told, Built To Last, Looks Like Rain, Tennessee Jed, Promised Land, One More Saturday Night
II: Playing Jam > Lazy Lightning > Supplication, Bird Song > Bird Song Jam > Jack Straw > Bird Song Reprise > Weather Report Suite, El Paso, Estimated Prophet > Terrapin Station > Playing Reprise > Cassidy > The Other One > Cassidy Reprise > Brokedown Palace
E: Good Loving

Thank you Bobby!  Raising the Dead dedicated our 5th Grateful Dead night to the memory of Bobby Weir, who died just one week ahead of our scheduled performance.  The sold out crowd and the band were ready for some catharsis, and we did our best to deliver a musical performance worthy of "the kid's" memory.  

We opened our set with the Bobby staple Playin in the Band which segued into China Cat Sunflower. We took a left turn into a RTD debut, the rowdy Corinna, which then resolved into the expected I Know You Rider.  The newest member of RTD, Shannon Lee, took the Sugaree by the horns with a soulful performance of the Dead classic, and Bill took Black Throated Wind all the way home, digging in to the delight of the crowd. Alex took a turn testifying on Half Step, and Matt crushed the Jerry ballad It Must Have Been The Roses.  The psychedelic triptych Help>Slip>Frank gave the crowd a chance to dance with abandon. We brought the mood way down with our tribute to Bobby, playing Only A River from his last studio album Blue Mountain (we played the Wolf Bros arrangement, tho).  The on stage screens showed photos of Bobby while we performed, Dave trying to keep the tears from flowing while singing.  After the emotional sendoff, we quickly shifted into a full on rocker, Sugar Magnolia.  Shannon and Dave ended the show singing Sunshine Daydream, sending the crowd off with energy to bring a Red Wings victory - which they did with a goal in overtime!  

We were joined by our friends Jodi Bauman (@artofjody), who live painted a beautiful scene of Phil, Bobby, and Jerry meeting on a bear-laden cloudscape, and our Erica Gallagher (@GratefulHoopMama) who flowed with our performance in front of the stage.  We captured the whole scene with a multi-camera shoot by Yorg Kerasiotis, (@YorgDetroit) featuring art by Andrew Johnson (@beepboopbopart) and a multi-channel recording of the sound presented live through OnSite75's state of the art line array rig.  We will release the show on YouTube and all streaming music services for all to experience in a few months. 

We can't wait to come back for the next Red Wings Grateful Dead Night, and we will continue the Bobby memorial tour at The Sardine Room on Saturday January 24. 

1-18-2026 Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
Playing in the Band > China Cat Sunflower > Corinna* > I Know You Rider, Sugaree, Black Throated Wind, Mississippi Half Step Toodeloo, It Must Have Been The Roses, Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower, Only A River > Sugar Magnolia
* = first time played

The Grateful Brunch event at the Sardine Room that typically takes place on the last Saturday of the month has been moved up a week due to the Downtown Plymouth Ice Festival on the weekend of 1/31.  We'll see you a week earlier! 

It was the 4th anniversary of Raising The Dead Acoustic Quartet playing at the Sardine Room, and the place was packed! Dave, Bill, Matt, and Joseph played 2 sets of the best music amidst the hair of the dog and the best damn brunch around.  Jody Bauman joined us and painted "Turn On Your Love Light." 

1.1.2026 The Sardine Room, Plymouth MI
I: Let the Good Times Roll > Touch of Grey, Jack Straw, Cold Rain and Snow, Black Throated Wind, US Blues, Uncle John’s Band > Dark Star Jam
II: Samson & Delilah, Big Boss Man, Playing in The Band > Terrapin Station > Throwing Stones > Stella Blue > Turn on Your Lovelight

That evening, Jerry's tone featuring Matt, Joseph, Shannon, John, and Dave on Keys with special guest Dave Martin played the best of JGB for a free show at Royal Oak's Bowlero.  Inspiration moved Jody brightly, as he painted the extraordinary "Tangled Up In Blue." 

1.1.2026 Bowlero, Royal Oak, MI Jerry's Tone
I: I Second That Emotion. Sugaree > Cats Down Under The Stars, Sitting Here in Limbo, Chinatown Shuffle, Stop that Train, Deal
II: Roadrunner, I’ll Take a Melody, New Speedway Boogie > Hypnotize > Breadbox > My Sisters and Brothers > Tangled up in Blue
E: The Weight

Dave pulled up to Bill's place at 9am, and we returned there at 1am!  A full day of making Grateful Dead music, what a way to spend our time on this bright blue ball! 

We started with a rockin' Grateful Brunch at The Sardine Room, where Dave was surprised to look out at the choir and see his fellow WMU Music Ed major and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia brother, Brad Wright in the audience!  Brad said it was the first time in Downtown Plymouth for he and his wife, and the happened upon the Sardine Room and noticed the live band.  It wasn't until they sat down that he recognized Dave was in the band!  He especially dug when we played Scarlet Begonias (a predictable request, we've learned!) which he arranged for his choir students after Jimmy Buffet's death.  

12/27/25 The Sardine Room, Plymouth, MI 
I: How Sweet It Is, Happy Xmas (war is over) > Run Run Rudolph, Run for the Roses, Big Bad Blues, Candyman, Beat it on Down The Line, Box of Rain
II: China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Easy Wind > Bertha, It Must Have Been the Roses, So Many Roads, Gomorrah, Playing Jam > Scarlet Begonias > St of Circumstance > Playing Jam > Dark Star Jam > Promised Land, One More Saturday Night, Brokedown Palace

The band arrived at HUB for a great sound check thanks to Tim and Tim from Hyperman Sound.  The joint was rockin' as the music played the band all night long - we all agreed this was a really grate show, and Shannon Lee once again proved a great addition to the band.  Thanks to all our fans - old an new - who came out to see the show.  We hope to return to HUB Novi soon.  

12/27/2025 HUB Stadium, Novi, MI
I: Bertha > Sugaree, Ramble on Rose, Loser, Cassidy, Estimated Prophet > Shakedown Street
II: Help on the Way > Slipknot > Franklin’s Tower, Truckin > He’s Gone > Drums > St Stephen > The Eleven > Going Down the Road Feeling Bad > Not Fade Away > The Music Never Stopped
E: Sugar Magnolia > Sunshine Daydream

​Join us on New Year's Day for our Sardine Room Pajama Brunch and Jerry's Tone that night at Bowlero, and get your Red Wings Grateful Dead Night tickets while they last! 
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Thanks for joining Dave, Bill, Joseph and our special guest Adam Bodeep at the Sardine Room! Our next gigs both on December 27, Grateful Brunch and an evening show at HUB Novi!

11.29.2025 Grateful Brunch Plymouth, MI
I: Feel Like A Stranger, Ramble on Rose, Jack Straw, They Love Each Other, Mama Tried > Me and My Uncle, Big Boss Man, Cassidy, China Cat Sunflower >I Know You Rider
II: Scarlet Begonias, Shakedown Street, Mississippi Half Step Toodeloo, Estimated Prophet > Touch of Grey, Samson and Delilah, Eyes of the World > Throwing Stones, Brokedown Palace, Deal

RTD said goodbye to Stefanie Renee doing what she loved best: playing Grateful Dead music.  Bill, Matt, Alex, Dave, and Chaim were joined by singer Shannon Lee, who made a big splash in the Donna slot (also, RIP).  The place was packed and the band was beyond description.  Groove Monkey Trio were great as our opening act, as always.  

You can stream this show on William Morgan's Mixlr channel.

11.15.2025 The Blind Pig, Ann Arbor, MI

I: Bertha, Mr. Charlie, Cassidy, Loser, Me & Bobby McGee, A Moment of Silence for Stefanie > Bird Song, Help on the Way > Slipknot > Feel Like a Stranger
II: Sugaree > China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider > Dancing in the Streets > Eyes of the World > Drums > Comes a Time > The Other One > Sugar Magnolia > Sunshine Daydrem
E: Scarlet Begonias > Touch of Grey

Join RTD as we play at the legendary Ann Arbor porcine-named club again.  We will celebrate the life our fallen friend Stefanie, and do so by foisting joy into the universe, despite the darkness all around.  Please join us!   Groove Monkey Trio hits at 8, with RTD shortly thereafter. 

Dave and Bill were joined by Chaim and Joe Odell for another fantastic acoustic shakedown brunch.  Fun was had by all, especially during our request set that featured the RTD debut of "Hurts Me Too." Brunch was, as always, super tasty! Join Bill, Dave, Matt, and Joseph Waldecker on October 25.

I: Alabama Getaway, New Speedway Boogie, Midnight Moonlight, He's Gone, They Love Each Other, Eyes of the World, Bird Song
II: Man Smart, Women Smarter, Sugaree, Hurts Me Too*, Scarlet Begonias, My Sisters and Brothers, Box of Rain, I Second That Emotion, Not Fade Away, Shakedown Street.
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