Grateful Shred, a L.A. based Grateful Dead tribute band has been making waves lately with sold out East and West Coast shows. Yes, they sold out the Troubadour in L.A. twice this week.

Grateful Shred is aware that the world doesn’t need another Dead tribute band. Their About Us page reads:

Wait – I know what you’re thinking. Another fucking Grateful Dead cover band?

Really?

The thing is, Los Angeles-based Grateful Shred manage to channel that elusive Dead vibe: wide-open guitar tones, effortless three-part vocal harmonies, choogling beats, and yes, plenty of tripped out, Shredded solos. The look, the sound, the atmosphere. It’s uncanny. “It’s more of a ‘take’ on the Dead than a tribute band,” says bassist Dan Horne. “We end up sounding almost more like the Dead because we approach it in this free-spirited way.”

The Grateful Dead’s YouTube channel even got on the bus, sharing this video of “China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Ryder” saying “Check out this groovy China/Rider our friends Grateful Shred just posted 🐱🌻🏇 Have you seen these guys live yet?”

Grateful Shred is Dan Horne on bass, Austin McCutchen on guitar and vocals, Sam Blasucci on guitar and vocals, Clay Finch on guitar and vocals, Jerry Borge on keys and Alex Koford on drums.

In September, the Shred were spreading the gospel at Pappy & Harriet’s in Pioneertown, CA. Some awesome footage of “China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Ryder” was sprinkled with some animations courtesy of Rob Fidel and released on the Liberty Hair Farm YouTube channel.

If you’re on the West Coast, check out the Grateful Shred on tour.