2-25-2023 RTD Plays Otus Supply's Final Show Ever

photos: Michael Chojnowski

RTD had an amazing Saturday, playing four sets of music in all.  For Saturday night, we were joined by keyboardist extraordinaire Alex Gauthier for a debut of the new 5-piece Raising The Dead.  The show was really amazing, with reworked harmonies and a strangely roomy stage (that's what happens with only 1 drum kit!)  Little did we know this would be the final performance ever at the hallowed Parliament Room stage. Here's a statement from the band:

Raising The Dead is deeply saddened by the unexpected closing of Otus Supply.  Founding members Bill Butler and Dave Martin remember attending shows at The Parliament Room as members of a fledgeling band, wishing that we, too could perform on that iconic stage.  Our first chance came at the memorial celebration for Theron Hein on 9-11-2019.  This was when the band included guitarist Jake Vasquez, keyboardist Max Katz, and drummer Brent Nagy.  That night we were very nervous when we took the stage, but we had a great show featuring a sit in with Philip Nathan from Dead Again. 

Once Jake and Brent had left and Joseph Waldecker and Matthew Cole joined us, we became practically the house band.  In fact, over the last 4 years Raising The Dead has played at Otus 25 times, including shows outside in the parking lot tent as owners Thom Bloom and Scott Myrick worked to keep live music alive during the pandemic. The staff at Otus Supply always treated us like kings (thanks Danann, Corey, Chris, Jay, Justin, Stephanie, to name a few) and we've played some of our most iconic shows there.  This includes recreating two Grateful Dead albums, Without A Net on 11-29-2019 and Blues For Allah with Colorado drummer Jake Wolf as part of a two-night run on 2-4 & 2-5/2022.  

For that reason, it is fitting that the final performance in The Parliament Room was Raising The Dead, now featuring Bill Butler, Matthew Cole, Alex Gauthier, Dave Martin, and Chaim Tolwin.  We are forever grateful for the jam band scene that was manifested at Otus and the many acts whose shows we attended and shared the stage with.

We wish Thom and Scott all the best in their future endeavors.  

2-25-2023 The Parliament Room at Otus Supply, Ferndale, MI
I: Aiko Aiko, Playin' In The Band > Uncle John's Band > Althea, Cold Rain and Snow, Touch of Grey, My Brother Esau, Ruben and Cerise > Playin' In The Band
II: Mississippi Half Step Toodeloo, Franklin's Tower, Feel Like A Stranger, Standing On The Moon, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider > Drum > Space > Dark Star > Saint Stephen > The Eleven > Not Fade Away, Sugar Magnolia
​E: It's All Over Now Baby Blue