Dead Floyd Brought the House Down at the Mishawaka Amphitheatre, leave it to the creative minds of Dead Floyd to keep a few surprises up their sleeves. Last night, they delivered with not one but three powerhouse guest vocalists—Kelly MF Keeler, Elise Wunder, and Thalia Stevenson—who joined full-time band member Laniece Schleicher on vocal duties. Together, these four incredible voices ignited the night, filling the amphitheatre with soaring harmonies and diverse vocal ranges. Their voices intertwined, creating a lush, psychedelic atmosphere that swept through the audience, taking everyone on a wild sonic adventure.
Dead Floyd is no stranger to pushing musical boundaries, blending the legacy of two of the most experimental bands ever—The Grateful Dead and Pink Floyd. It's a gift to share this earth with such monumental artists, and when a band like Dead Floyd, who’ve been honing their craft for 15 years, takes the stage, it’s impossible not to notice. Their audience spans generations, attracting both die-hard Deadheads like myself, who've seen the Grateful Dead countless times, and younger, adventure-seeking fans eager to explore these vast musical landscapes.
Among the fans, I spoke with a father and his two sons—a tie-dyed trio fully embracing the hippie ethos from head to toe. The boys, born long after Jerry Garcia’s passing, had been raised in a house full of peace, love, and music. Their father’s pride was evident, and the gratitude his sons showed for the musical culture they inherited was heartwarming. How cool is it for a father to share his love for this music with his sons, and how cool is it for Dead Floyd to honor and preserve the essence of these two iconic catalogs?
The backdrop for this incredible evening was perfect—the cool, early fall air mingling with the gentle flow of the Poudre River, mere feet behind the stage. Dead Floyd—comprised of Charlie Humphreys (guitar/vocals), Stu Crair (drums), Matthew Goldberg (keyboards), Dana Giove (bass/vocals), Andrew Vogt (saxophone), and Laniece Schleicher (vocals)—opened the show with Pink Floyd’s "Have a Cigar," showcasing Schleicher’s raw emotional power and vocal range right off the bat. The first set included "Hell In a Bucket," "Fearless," and "Uncle John’s Band," with the band feeding off the vibrant energy of the hometown crowd. The three guest singers joined in for Pink Floyd’s "What Do You Want From Me," sending chills through the audience with their angelic harmonies. Giove, who not only laid down crushing bass grooves but also impressed with his vocals, delivered a stunning rendition of the Grateful Dead’s "Box of Rain." The first set wrapped up with "Coming Back to Life," "China Cat Sunflower," and "I Know You Rider," leaving the crowd buzzing. The three guest vocalists returned for the entire second set, further elevating the performance with their impeccable harmonies.
Humphreys was absolutely on fire throughout the night. His guitar work, stage presence, and vocal abilities were nothing short of otherworldly. How this guy manages to improve every time he plays is beyond me. He’s even taught himself pedal steel, a skill he flawlessly incorporated into several Pink Floyd tracks. Crair was locked in behind the drums, intricate and precise, while Goldberg’s fluid keyboard work breathed life into every song, his improvisations adding both class and flair. Vogt on saxophone was a force to be reckoned with, each note tearing through the air like a steam locomotive, blending jazz, funk, and rock in a way that bent minds and elevated the performance. His musical sparring with Humphreys during their guitar-sax solos was nothing short of transcendent. Giove’s bass lines weren’t just the foundation—they were a flavor explosion, pushing well beyond the basic song structures into imaginative, groove-laden territory.
Typically, Dead Floyd weaves together songs from different eras of Pink Floyd and the Grateful Dead, but last night was a bit different. For the second set, every Pink Floyd song was from Dark Side of the Moon, played in the exact order as the 1973 album. The audience was treated to the entire album, mixed with a few select Grateful Dead songs. It was a clever and rare move for the band, made all the more magical by the presence of the four vocalists who elevated the entire performance.
Dead Floyd delivered a high-energy display of musicianship, camaraderie, and pure joy, taking their love for live performance to new heights. For 15 years, they’ve delighted fans across the country with their unique twists on classic tunes while respecting the original melodies. If I were a betting man, I’d wager that they’ll keep doing this for another 15 years, and I can’t wait to see where they go next.
Opening the night was Grateful Dead tribute band Tumbledown Shack, who set the tone with a fiery rendition of "Greatest Story Ever Told." The band—Luke Hahn-Zollo (guitar/vocals), Chris Bell (keyboards/vocals), Cragon Sims (bass/vocals), Tony Bellucci (guitar), and Joel Zeiner (drums)—covered the Dead’s music from every era, from the late 60s to the mid-90s. Hahn-Zollo and Bellucci had the Garcia-Weir guitar dynamic down pat, with Hahn-Zollo taking lead and Bellucci handling rhythmic duties.
Bell on keyboards had great feel and timing with his instrument and his vocal abilities were super strong projecting crystal clear delivery. Zollo also also shared the vocal duties with the same strength and ambition. Sims on bass and Zeiner on drums created a rock solid platform for the music to explode from. Their foundation was rich and thick and full of heart pounding backbone. ’Turn on Your Lovelight’, ’Scarlet Begonias’, ‘Estimated Prophet’, ‘Bluesky’ by the "Allman Brothers Band”, ‘Deal’, ‘ Feel Like A Stranger’, ‘Midnight Moonlight’ and ’Sampson And Delilah’ closed out the wonderful set.
Big thanks to all the bands, special guests, and the incredible Mishawaka staff for a night we won’t soon forget!
