Lettuce checks out what’s shaking down on “Shakedown Street” in a new studio recording of the Grateful Dead classic. The standalone track arrives on streaming services as the band prepares for its set at Dead Ahead in Mexico in January.
This recording of “Shakedown Street” comes from a 2015 studio session, with the band’s lineup consisting of Adam Deitch (drums), Erick “Jesus” Coomes (bass), Ryan Zoidis (saxophone), Sam Kininger (saxophone), Adam “Shmeans” Smirnoff (guitar), and Eric Krasno (guitar). Jesus handles the vocals on this one, as Lettuce winds the song down to a slow jam sashay down the streets of New Orleans. Steering away from the disco-Dead influence found on the title track to the band’s 1978 album, Lettuce tells the story in its own voice with coalescing saxophones, a bouncy beat from the lock-step rhythm section, and intertwined wah-wah and reverberated guitar leads.
“It’s Shakedown Street mixed with Frenchmen Street,” Deitch said of the cover. “There’s a New Orleans feel on there that we felt worked well with the melody. Erick ‘Jesus’ Coomes did a great job channeling Jerry on the vocals.”
The Dead scholar in the group, Coomes said of the band’s decision to cover the song, “Whenever Shakedown comes on the whole crowd goes crazy and it’s one of the biggest dance songs in their catalog. Since Lettuce specializes in dance and funk music we thought we would do our best to make you bust a move and get into the groove. Enjoy!”
To celebrate the release and energize the run-up to Dead Ahead, Jesus will serve as a guest DJ on the SiriusXM Grateful Dead channel. Listeners can tune in to hear the bassist spin his favorite Grateful Dead songs on channel 23 at the times listed below.
Set to make its debut at Moon Palace Resort in Riviera Cancún, Mexico from January 12th–15th, Dead Ahead will host headline performances from Bob Weir, Mickey Hart, Don Was, Jeff Chimenti, Oteil Burbridge, and Jay Lane with a string of collaborators including Tedeschi Trucks Band’s Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi, Goose’s Rick Mitarotonda, Margo Price, and “very special guest” Sturgill Simpson. Lettuce will perform a celebration of the Jerry Garcia Band, in addition to a JGB set from Oteil & Friends.
Check out the Lettuce cover of “Shakedown Street”, paired with a lyric video featuring archival footage of the Shakedown Street bazaars that popped up outside Dead shows. Additionally, the album artwork hosts a photo from celebrated Dead photographer Jay Blakesberg. Following the band’s appearance at Dead Ahead, Lettuce will head out on the monthlong VIBE tour in February, named after the 48-minute improvisational album the band recently released. For tickets and a full list of tour dates visit Lettuce’s website.
Lettuce – “Shakedown Street” (Grateful Dead) [Lyric Video]
Erick “Jesus” Coomes Grateful Dead Radio Guest DJ Times:
Tues 12/12 @ 10am ET
Thur 12/14 @ Midnight ET
Fri 12/15 @ 5pm ET
Sun 12/17 @ 9am ET
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