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

photos: William Morgan

One more Saturday Brunch!  We were thrilled that Julia from the Sardine Room asked us to return for another Saturday brunch gig. In fact, this is going to become a tradition: she's asked for our acoustic quartet to play on the last Saturday of every month.  That means you'll have many more chances to come out and have the most incredible food while grooving to the most incredible music.  What could be better! 

2-25-2023 The Sardine Room Plymouth, MI
I: Golden Road (To Unlimited Devotion), Sugaree, Passenger, Row Jimmy, Lost Sailor > Saint of Circumstance, Dire Wolf, Liberty
II: Liberty, Estimated Prophet, He's Gone > New Minglewood Blues > Wharf Rat > Dark Star* > Throwing Stones, Broken Arrow, One More Saturday Night
* = Instrumental, one verse. 

Born and raised in Grand Rapids, MI, Alex began his lifelong love of piano and music at the age of 4. Alex attended Michigan State University and at 18 began playing professionally in the local  and statewide music scene, focusing on blues, funk, jam and rock. Playing often with many jazz and classical music students also imparted those influences on his playing style early on. Alex writes and produces original music, and is a passionate audio engineer and collector of vintage studio recording equipment. Over the last two decades Alex has performed as a member of more than a dozen bands of multiple genres, both cover and original, with a special passion for the Jam community and The Dead.

Alex is not just taking over keys, but as a pro audio producer, he will be mixing our soundboard recordings, audible on our YouTube channel.  

Never ones to rest on our laurels, Raising The Dead announces two shows on Saturday, February 25!  From 11-2 we play at The Sardine Room in Plymouth for a super tasty acoustic brunch.  That night, we return to The Parliament Room at Otus Supply for an electric show featuring Bill Butler, Matthew Cole, Dave Martin and Chaim Tolwin, joined by one of our favorite keyboardists, Alex Gauthier.  Don't miss this chance to spend a whole day with the new Raising The Dead!

photos: William Morgan

"We are, have been, and will continue to be... Raising The Dead"

Dave first spoke this impromptu benediction at the Cadieux cafe on February 28, 2020.  It happened to be the first show for Joseph Waldecker and Matthew Cole, and Joe remarked that he loved it.  From that day, it has been our catch phrase, spoken at the end of every show.  Laurie joined us in summer of 2020, and together we have played larger and larger gigs, culminating with the Red Wings and Grand Rapids Griffins shows in January of 2023.  

For their final shows, Joe and Laurie collaborated on writing setlists that furthur stretched our repertoire and echoed their first Grateful Dead-related shows.  Our 2-11-2023 Otus show was inspired by Laurie's experience on 10-17-1994 at Madison Square Garden.  This show was inspired by Joe's first Ratdog 2-28-2008 at Royal Oak Music Theater.  Go ahead and look up the setlists! 

Dedicated's Woody Rose joined us on keyboards for this show, we really love playing with Woody!

This show wasn't just Joe and Laurie's final show, it was the end of an era, as well as a satisfying and exhausting weekend of incredible music.  Fare Thee Well, Laurie and Joe!

We can't wait to show you what will come next with remaining members Bill Butler, Matthew Cole, Dave Martin, and Chaim Tolwin.  Stay tuned, the music never stops. 

2-12-2023 Tangent Gallery Detroit, MI
Set I: Here Comes Sunshine > Drums > Dark Star > Let It Grow, Must've Been The Roses*, King Solomon's Marbles, Ruben and Cerise*, Lady With A Fan > Slipknot! > Lazy Lightning > Supplication
Set II: Looks Like Rain, Blow Away, The Other One > Deep Elum Blues, Terrapin Station > Blues For Allah > Terrapin Transit > At A Siding > Terrapin Flyer > Terrapin Reprise, Fire On The Mountain
E: Brokedown Palace, Turn On Your Love Light
*=First Time Played

Photos: Michael Chojnowski and William Morgan

What an amazing, beautiful, joyful night! The Parliament Room was totally packed for Joe and Laurie's last performance there with Raising The Dead. Words cannot describe the immense contributions Joe and Laurie have made to our group over the last 3 years - so we won't try, letting the music do the talking for us.  You know our love will not fade away!

Saturday, February 11, Ferndale, MI
I: In The Midnight Hour, Shakedown Street, Hell In A Bucket, Peggy O*, Samson and Delilah, Big Boss Man, Scarlet Begonias, Passenger, Built To Last
II: Let The Good Times Roll^, Morning Dew, New Speedway Boogie, Box of Rain > Saint of Circumstance, Help On The Way > Slipknot > Drums > Space > Mountains of the Moon^ > All Along The Watchtower^, Cassidy, Easy To Love You^
E: Unbroken Chain 
* = Sung by Chaim Tolwin
^ = RTD Debut

Join us on the weekend of February 11-12 for Laurie and Joe's swan song with Raising The Dead!  Tickets are on sale now, get them before they sell out! 

​Saturday February 11 at Otus Supply doors at 7:30 $15/20
​Sunday, February 12 at Tangent Gallery, Flying Caterpillar at 2pm $15/20

It was a typical Tuesday, until a message from Matt notifying the band of an Instagram post by @GratefulDead highlighting our contribution to the #DeadCoversProject.  Every February, Dead.net solicits videos of Grateful Dead songs, and we submitted one as we have the last few years.  This year's submission was Laurie singing New Speedway Boogie, and a fantastic group effort from the whole band.  Further investigation showed that Raising The Dead was published across all channels of the Grateful Dead social media!  We are flabbergasted and super honored for the shout out and video share.  Our video had about 250 views before they published it, and now, just 24 hours later, 1.2k views.  Check out the video below, and don't forget to get your advance tickets for our Otus Supply and Tangent Gallery shows on February 11-12.