Celebrated for balancing their sun-soaked reinventions of Grateful Dead classics with a punk rock ethos, Grateful Shred flips the Grateful Dead’s unfinished studio business into a tight and personal indie manifesto on their first-ever studio album, Might As Well. Set for release June 6 via their own independent imprint Liberty Hair Farm Records, Might As Well will be available via vinyl and digital formats, with pre-orders live now. The announcement arrives alongside the release of the band’s blues-drenched single “Sweet Baby”, a fiery preview of the band’s mission to reimagine songs the Dead never committed to tape.
A kinetic collective of West Coast roots chemists, Grateful Shred have taken these eight songs, and put their own unique patina on them, showcasing with otherworldly fluidity, channeling 1970’s Los Angeles ~ Laurel Canyon magic. Might As Well marks a milestone for this canon of material: a full-length studio effort reimagining songs the Grateful Dead never recorded in-studio. Might As Well was recorded at UHF Studio in Glendale, CA, and the album shines with the band’s signature communal energy, combining deep-cut Dead gems like “Lazy River Road” and “Sitting In Limbo” (a Jerry Garcia Band staple), and rugged classic like “Cassidy” and “Jack A Roe” with fresh Shred twists.
“Shred has tossed around the idea of recording a LP for a while now, and let’s face it, making records is fun! So we thought we Might as Well,” laughs bassist/producer Dan Horne (Circles Around the Sun, Cass McCombs). “We wanted to highlight some of the tunes we’ve worked up into our own vibe that shows off the essence of Shred. We tried to unearth some deeper cuts and rare gems. The concept we ended up going with were songs that the Dead never recorded in the studio.”
“Sweet Baby”, the album’s fiery lead single, written by Donna-Jean Godchaux. Though never officially recorded by the Dead in the studio, the song became a surprise favorite during their mid-seventies tours. Grateful Shred’s rendition honors the original’s gritty Americana spirit while injecting their own loose-limbed groove. “We’re exploring the endlessly inspiring Grateful Dead songbook, ” adds Horne. “We hope you love it!”
Joining Grateful Shred’s core lineup— Austin McCutchen (guitar/vocals), Dan Horne (bass/pedal steel), Adam MacDougall (keys), Alex Koford (drums/vocals), Austin Beede (drums), and John Lee Shannon (guitar/vocals)—is Mikaela Davis. The acclaimed harpist/vocalist, a veteran who has collaborated with the likes of Bon Iver and Lake Street Dive, has frequently performed with the Shred camp over the years. Davis graced several tracks with haunting vocal contributions including shimmering harmonies and also takes the lead on “Sweet Baby”, and “To Lay Me Down”
Fresh off of a jam-packed three night residency in Nashville, Grateful Shred will road test the tracks from Might As Well on a 20+ date spring/summer tour kicking off April 29 in Portland, ME. Expect fiery improvisation, fan favorites, and debuts from the new LP, including a two-night album release run at SF’s The Independent (June 6-7) and a hometown throwdown at The Fonda Theatre (June 13).
Grateful Shred – Spring / Summer Tour Dates
April 29 – Portland, ME – Portland House of Music
April 30 – Boston, MA – The Sinclair
May 1 – Fairfield, CT – Warehouse FTC
May 2 – Philadelphia, PA – Ardmore Music Hall
May 3 – Baltimore, MD – Union Craft Brewing
May 4 – Raleigh, NC – Lincoln Theatre
May 6 – Charlotte, NC – Neighborhood Theatre
May 7 – Knoxville, TN – Bijou Theatre
May 8 – Asheville, NC – Asheville Music Hall
May 9 – Atlanta, GA – Terminal West
May 10 + 11 – Charleston, SC – Pour House
June 5 – Crystal Bay, NV – Crystal Bay Casino Ballroom
June 6 + 7 – San Francisco, CA – The Independent
June 13 – Los Angeles, CA – The Fonda Theatre
June 14 – San Diego, CA – The Observatory NP
June 15 – San Luis Obispo, CA – Live Oak Music Festival
August 1 – Oklahoma City, OK – The Zoo Amphitheatre
Tickets for all tour dates are on sale now at gratefulshredmusic.com
Might As Well Tracklist:
Jack Straw
Sweet Baby
Sitting In Limbo
Next Time You See Me
Cassidy
Jack A Roe
To Lay Me Down
Lazy River Road
