Grateful Shred’s ‘Sweet Baby’ Sets Tone For Debut Studio Album ‘Might As Well’

Grateful Shred put their inventive spin on eight songs from the Grateful Dead orbit for Might As Well, their debut studio album, which is due on June 6 via their Liberty Hair Farm Records label. Out today from the West Coast ensemble is “Sweet Baby” featuring Mikaela Davis on lead vocals, the first taste of the forthcoming LP.

Each of the eight songs on Might As Well was never released by the Grateful Dead on a formal studio album. Grateful Shred assembled at UHF Studio in Glendale, California to record an album that includes their takes on such classics as “Cassidy,” “Jack Straw,” “Lazy River Road” and “Jack A Roe” along with a few deep cuts.

“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,” exclaimed Grateful Shred bassist/producer Dan Horne. “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.”

Horne is joined in the core Grateful Shred lineup by guitarists Austin McCutchen and John Lee Shannon, keyboardist Adam MacDougall and drummers Alex Koford and Austin Beebe. The band enlisted longtime collaborator Mikaela Davis to add her vocals to Might As Well.

Davis takes the lead on “Sweet Baby,” a song penned by Keith and Donna Godchaux. The pair recorded the cut with their Grateful Dead bandmate at the time, guitarist Jerry Garcia, for 1975’s Keith & Donna. “Sweet Baby” was a staple for the Keith & Donna Band in 1975, while the Dead were on hiatus.

“We’re exploring the endlessly inspiring Grateful Dead songbook,” added Horne. “We hope you love it!”

Stream Grateful Shred’s “Sweet Baby” featuring Mikaela Davis below:

Grateful Shred resumes their spring tour tonight, April 29 in Portland (Maine). The trek runs through May 11. Scroll below for a current list of Grateful Shred tour dates.

Might As Well Tracklist

1. Jack Straw
2. Sweet Baby
3. Sitting In Limbo
4. Next Time You See Me
5. Cassidy
6. Jack A Roe
7. To Lay Me Down
8. Lazy River Road