"What do you do if you see a bear in the woods? PLAY SHRED!"
By Hannah Truby
Not all tribute bands are created equal. Some aim for accuracy — wigs, note-for-note solos, carbon-copy nostalgia. Others? They chase a feeling.
Grateful Shred falls squarely in the second camp. The Los Angeles–based Dead tribute band has earned a loyal following not by replicating the Grateful Dead’s sound, but by tapping into its spirit: jammy, harmony-driven, a little cosmic around the edges. Their shows aren’t re-enactments — they’re portals. And on Thursday, June 5, Grateful Shred is bringing that portal to Lake Tahoe for a special Mountain Gazette–presented show at the Crystal Bay Club.
When we first heard about the Shred, we knew it was a crossover our readers — and the Tahoe community — would love. The harmony-rich jams, the laid-back energy, the mix of reverence and improvisation? It felt like a show made for the Sierras.
The Crystal Bay performance also lands one day before the release of Might As Well, Grateful Shred’s first-ever studio album — a milestone for a band that’s long been rooted in the live-show world.
“The concept we ended up going with were songs that the Dead never recorded in the studio,” says co-founder and bassist 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 leaned into songs that don’t really have definitive studio versions,” adds lead singer Austin McCutchen, “and also songs that we just felt confident with — that we felt we could do justice.”
Grateful Shred was never meant to be a tribute act in the traditional sense. Formed in 2016 by McCutchen and Horne, the band grew from backyard jams into a national touring act. With a rotating cast that includes members of Dawes, Mapache, and the Growlers, Shred’s strength lies in its variety — and its intentional looseness.
“You can totally go down the rabbit hole of trying to do it exactly the way the Dead sounded,” McCutchen says. “But we try to just play from the heart. Everyone in the band is really talented, and we make a concerted effort to let each person’s musical voice shine through. I think that’s why people connect with it — because it feels authentic.”
That authenticity has earned them fans across generations — from newer listeners to longtime Deadheads. McCutchen sees the band’s rise as part of a larger revival of the Dead’s ethos. “I think the songs have stood the test of time,” he says. “The spirit of the Dead is deeply rooted in songwriting, and that’s what drew me in — especially the folk and acoustic side of things. From there, I got to explore the bigger catalog. But it starts with the songs.”
For us at Mountain Gazette, we’re especially stoked to be hosting the Shred. More than a concert, it’s a chance to gather — and to celebrate some dang good tunes, both new and old.
And it makes sense that Tahoe would be the setting for this particular show. “For me personally, it kind of strikes a chord,” McCutchen adds. “I’ve spent a lot of time in the Sierra Nevadas, and Tahoe’s a super rad place. We’re excited to be teaming up with Mountain Gazette for this one — it just feels like a great fit.”
See you in the Crown Room.
P.S. We'll be selling these rad posters at the show--artwork by the one and only, The Dead Dirtbag.
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