Red Wings Grateful Dead Night 1-18-2026

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