Defying conventional tribute-band boundaries, Grateful Shred delivers their first studio statement, Might As Well, out today via their Liberty Hair Farm Records imprint. The album resurrects eight Grateful Dead compositions that never received formal studio treatments, reengineering them through Shred’s lens of sun-bleached harmonies and freewheeling improvisation. Featuring vocals from acclaimed multi-instrumentalist Mikaela Davis, the project transforms archival blueprints into an indie-Americana odyssey.
The swampy strut of “Sweet Baby”—a Donna Jean Godchaux-penned rarity once relegated to mid-’70s Dead setlists—anchors the album with visceral immediacy. Mikaela Davis’ lead vocals smolder over a buoyant groove, while the band locks into a sweat-soaked Southern rock swing.
Elsewhere, the album’s revelatory take on “Jack Straw” emerges as a standout moment, blending crisp vocal harmonies with the band’s signature loose-tight chemistry. Opening with a breezy, American Beauty-era shuffle, the track builds into a whirlwind of symbiotic groove, with guitarists Austin McCutchen and John Lee Shannon delivering a masterclass in controlled chaos, capturing Shred’s lightning-in-a-bottle musicianship.
LISTEN | Grateful Shred - MIGHT AS WELL
The project, spearheaded by bassist/producer Dan Horne, was recorded at Glendale’s UHF Studio. Unfurling like a kaleidoscope of reimagined Dead lore, each additional track honors the Grateful Dead’s artistry while injecting Shred’s DNA– telepathic cohesion, pedal steel sheen, and an ironclad swinging rhythm section. “Sitting In Limbo” drips with dubby basslines and hazy organ textures, while “Jack A Roe” leans into ragged cowboy-ballad authenticity. “Cassidy” becomes a jangly, harmony-drenched anthem, and “Lazy River Road” floats on Laurel Canyon-inspired vocal layers.
The release ignites the next leg of Grateful Shred’s Spring/Summer 2025 Tour, featuring this weekend’s two night album launch at San Francisco’s The Independent (June 6 + 7) and a homecoming finale at LA’s Fonda Theatre (June 13). Limited tickets remain at gratefulshredmusic.com.
Grateful Shred - Spring / Summer Tour Dates
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
October 16 – The Belly Up – Aspen, CO
October 17 – Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom – Denver, CO
October 18 – Washington’s – Ft. Collins, CO
October 31 – The Capitol Theatre – Port Chester, NY
** More dates to be announced soon!
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
