What a night!  Raising The Dead helped Dave celebrate his retirement from 25 years of teaching middle school choir by performing a long evening of music, including guest musicians, unexpected song selections, and an epic rain storm to remember! 

It just so happens that the best people play bass - and Bill gave up his amp for two players: Dave's brother Jeff Martin, from the Salt Lake City based jam bands Mokie and The Pranksters, and Dave's best friend Matt Fouts, from the Grand Rapids based Domestic Problems and Soul Syndicate.  Both were former bass players in the 90s jam band Karmic. Jeff was the first to guest, playing Jack Straw, and then Matt took over and slapped da bass on Shakedown.  Matt returned in the first set with West LA Fadeaway, and Jeff tore down with Help>Slip>Frank in the second set.  After Jeff left the bandstand, Miko Steinberg joined us again on percussion for The Other One through the end of the set.  

The unexpected songs were all school related: Another Brick in the Wall, pt II ("We don't need no education!), and Alice Cooper's School's Out.  Laurie's Big Boss Man also kept the theme of the night going.  Dave threw in two of his favorite JGB song - Gomorrah and My Sisters and Brothers, and Playin' in the Band spanned the two sets, ending after an awesome Estimated>Eyes.  This show is a must listen, so check it out now! 

(About that rain storm - most highways across Metro Detroit were shut down as the city received over 6 inches of rain, and cars were abandoned in viaducts everywhere!)

6-25-2021 Otus Supply, Ferndale, MI 
Set I: They Love Each Other, Gomorrah, Jack Straw*, Another Brick In The Wall, Part 2**>Shakedown Street***, Playin' In The Band>El Paso, West LA Fadeaway***, Big Boss Man

Set II: Estimated Prophet>Eyes of the World>Playin' Reprise, Help on the Way*>Slipknot*>Franklin's Tower*, The Other One #>Wharf Rat #>My Sisters and Brothers #, School's Out** #

E: China Cat Sunflower #>I Know You Rider #

*=with Jeff Martin on bass
**=first time played
***=with Matt Fouts on bass
#=with Miko Steinberg on percussion

Last weekend was a busy one for Raising The Dead!  On Friday, we headlined the Soaring Eagle stage at Rock N Rides in Royal Oak.  A ton of Deadheads came out, including lots of new fans we hadn't played for before, and we regaled them with a country-flavored jamfest. This show was the debut of two classic Dead songs, Box of Rain with it's intricate, stacked harmonies, and Tennessee Jed.  We also funked a big Shakedown, and rocked out Saint of Circumstance.  With a hard curfew at 10pm, Ripple was unfortunately cut short about 2/3 into the song.  Maybe we will finish it this weekend at Otus! 

The next night, Dave and Matt had the pleasure of playing an acoustic duet, opening for the jaw-dropping guitar work of Marcus Rezak and his amazing band, Shred is Dead.  We got spacey and sang in harmony, and you can hear the show below.   All in all, it was a helluva weekend for us and the Detroit Deadheads we got to play for.  See you at Otus on Friday 6-25-2021 for Dave's teaching retirement show! 

6-18-2021 Rock N Rides Royal Oak, MI 
Box of Rain*, Mama Tried>Cumberland Blues, Tennessee Jed*, Shakedown Street, Saint of Circumstance, Ripple#
*=First time played
#=unfinished

6-19-2021 Dave & Matt Acoustic Otus Supply, Ferndale, MI
Sugar Magnolia>Scarlet Begonias>El Paso, Jack A Roe, Terrapin Station, Tangled Up In Blue

Come on out to see some live Grateful Dead at Rock N Rides Royal Oak tonight.  We take the stage in the headliner spot at 9pm.  See you then!

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Joseph Waldecker is not just the skins man for Raising The Dead, he also tubthumps for the great Nina & The Buffalo Riders.  Yesterday, they had a party for the release of their 3rd EP at the Tangent Gallery, and brought Act Casual, The Giving Moon, and Raising The Dead along for the ride.  

It was HOT and Sunny, but a beautiful day for music at the Tangent.  RTD took the stage at 4 and delivered an 80-minute set featuring stand-out versions of every song.  Of note is the inclusion of 2 Phil Lesh rarities, Pride of Cucamonga and Unbroken Chain, both led by Bassman Bill.  We encourage you to check out the whole show, and come out to see us next weekend at Rock n Rides in Royal Oak, headlining Friday night at 9. 

Oh, one more thing - Warren Nelson brought his 360-degree camera and shot the show with amazing detail and some mind-bending footage of fans from the back of the garden to the front.  Check out his video of Stranger!

6-12-2021 Tangent Gallery 

Pride of Cucamonga
Feel Like A Stranger
Throwing Stones>
Not Fade Away>
New Speedway Boogie
Uncle John's Band
Unbroken Chain
​Tangled Up In Blue

The original idea was for Raising The Dead's Matt Cole and Hell in a Bucket's Alex Gauthier to do a set inspired by Holly Bowling and Tom Hamilton.  That expanded to adding drums (Joe), bass (Bill), rhythm guitar (Dave), vocals (Laurie), and what resulted was what we called "Raising Hell."  And we did. 

The warm up gig for Chicago's Terrapin Flyer happened under the big top at Otus, and we made sure to coordinate setlists with TF.  The results, as you can see and hear, were pretty awesome.  Check it out, and return to Otus when we do on June 25, or at the Tangent Gallery on 6/12, or at Rock N Rides in Royal Oak on 6/18. 

Raising Hell, 6-6-2021 Otus Supply, Ferndale, MI 
The Music Never Stopped
The Way You Do The Things You Do
Ramble On Rose
Throwing Stones
Hell in a Bucket
Scarlet Begonias>
Althea>
Fire On The Mountain