The ‘Days Between’ mark the nine days that separate Jerry Garcia’s birthday, August 1, and his death date, August 9. Doug Hagman, frontman for Terrapin Flyer, felt compelled earlier this year to do something to commemorate this special time. "I was in Italy, and I just had to play to celebrate," Hagman told me. "So I called up Martyrs and asked, 'What dates do you have open?'" And so, this year's celebration began to take shape. Split between Martyrs in Chicago and Shoreline Brewery in Michigan City, IN, the ‘Days Between’ celebration became an unforgettable tribute to life, music, and the enduring spirit of Jerry Garcia. I was fortunate enough to attend the final night of the event at Shoreline Brewery.
I found myself stuck in traffic on the way to the show, arriving late. Navigating through work zones, feeling the weight of a week's work, and stressing over writing three articles this weekend—it all had me on edge. But as I pulled into the parking lot, the sweet strains of ‘Bertha’ floated through the air, and my stress began to melt away. Walking toward the door, I heard a familiar voice call out to me. An old friend jumped out of his car and gave me a bear hug. Yup, this is family. Some might call Terrapin Flyer a cover band. Others, a tribute band. But to me, they’re an experience band. A Terrapin Flyer concert isn’t just about the music—it’s about the people, the food, and the whole atmosphere.
This was the band's first time playing at Shoreline Brewery, and they were more than pleased. The brewery had gone above and beyond to create that perfect backyard vibe. The covered stage sat in a cozy corner of the yard, with a grassy area in front, framed by shrubs. A patio with a fire pit completed the outdoor space. Inside, a wall of doors opened onto a long bar serving food and drink. The staff at Shoreline welcomed everyone with that warm Midwestern charm, making you feel instantly at home. The menu was full of comfort food, and the beer was cold and refreshing. I grabbed a pint and some mac and cheese as the band played a spot-on rendition of ‘Brown-Eyed Women.’
As the sun sank and stars dotted the sky, I wandered toward the back corner, hoping to soak in the band’s music and the overall vibe in solitude. But solitude wasn’t to be found here. People I knew, people I hadn’t seen in years, and even people I’d never met stopped to shake my hand, to chat. Here, everyone is family, and the good feeling is contagious. We all settled in, letting the music carry us away.
Terrapin Flyer, together for 25 years, plays the crowd as well as they play their instruments. Their set is both meticulously crafted and beautifully spontaneous, allowing the band to groove with the audience. The musicians’ deep knowledge of the Grateful Dead’s catalog is astounding, yet each time they play, they breathe new life into the music. Close your eyes, and you are at a Dead show. Doug Hagman’s voice drives this illusion—velvety and warm, with just the right touch of gravel, much like Jerry Garcia’s voice in the ‘80s. Wavy Dave (bassist) and Jon Reed (drums) lay down a solid foundation of funk, while Doug Hagman (rhythm guitar) supplies vocals, and Michael Cole (keyboard) and Josh Olken (lead guitar) deliver the smoky sound that defines the band.
I caught up with Hagman and Wavy Dave during the set break. Fans approached them with requests: “Can you play ‘Scarlet Begonias’?” “How about ‘Tennessee Jed’?” “Althea!” they all asked. The affable Hagman smiled and replied, “We’ll see.” I threw a curveball: “How about ‘Monkey and the Engineer’?” Wavy Dave chuckled and said, “Yeah, we know that one.” He knew I was just teasing, but honestly, the Dead’s anthology is endless, and so are the requests that come with it.
How do you recreate the feeling of the Dead? A great backyard, a roaring fire, good food, friends to share it with, and a band that nails the Dead’s quintessential sound. Terrapin Flyer has it down to a science. I originally planned to stay for just the first set, but three hours later, I found myself chatting with Ryan, the soundman, as he packed up. The time flew by without notice. We didn’t care what the clock said—late night in 2024 Michigan City felt like it could have been 1967 in La Honda. That’s the magic: they don’t just bring you the music of the Grateful Dead; they bring you the experience.
Without even singing a word of the song, Terrapin Flyer and Shoreline Brewery had teamed up to transport us to a back porch in Indiana, beneath a crescent moon in the sky.
