Closing yet another year stacked with tour dates, festival plays, and continual music releases, psychedelic funk maestros Lettuce will release their rendition of 1978 Grateful Dead classic “Shakedown Street” ahead of the band’s upcoming performance at Dead Ahead in Riviera Cancún, Mexico. Summoning the atmosphere and vibrancy of lot gatherings prior to Grateful Dead concerts that would come to be known as “Shakedown Street,” named after the song, the group has released a lyric video of vintage footage showcasing the spirit and community that continues to extend throughout the music scene today. The video was created by Sunbronx and can be viewed HERE.

Recorded in 2007 during the Rage! sessions, the track possesses a laid back, in-the-pocket groove locked in by the rhythm section of Adam Deitch (drums) and Erick “Jesus” Coomes (bass), the unmistakable interlocking horn work between Ryan Zoidis (saxophone) and Sam Kininger (saxophone), and an astute balance of reverberant guitar picking and tasteful wah leads from Adam “Shmeans” Smirnoff and Eric Krasno making Lettuce's take on "Shakedown Street" unmistakable them. Coomes is also featured on vocals throughout the track. Speaking to the band’s arrangement, Deitch details, “It's Shakedown Street mixed with Frenchmen Street. 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.”

Being versed in the vast catalog of The Grateful Dead, Coomes elaborates on 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 gearing up for Dead Ahead, Coomes will be guest DJ-ing on Sirius’ Grateful Dead Channel sharing his favorite Grateful Dead songs. Listeners can tune in during the dates and times below and on-demand on the Sirius app:

Tues 12/12 @ 10am ET

Thur 12/14 @ Midnight ET

Fri 12/15 @ 5pm ET

Sun 12/17 @ 9am ET

Following Dead Ahead, Lettuce will embark on their month-long VIBE tour that comes off the heels of the bands first digital release of their 48-minute improvisational album VIBE that was previously only available on a limited run of vinyl. The full list of tour dates can be found HERE.

For more information and to learn more, please visit lettucefunk.com.

TOUR DATES

Jan 12 - 15 - Riviera Cancún, Mexico - Dead Ahead

Feb 1 - Las Vegas, NV - Brooklyn Bowl

Feb 2 - Crystal Bay, NV - Crystal Bay Casino

Feb 3 - Los Angeles, CA - The Novo

Feb 4 - Tucson, AZ - Gem & Jam Festival

Feb 7 - Santa Fe, NM - Meow Wolf

Feb 8 - Fort Collins, CO - Washington’s

Feb 9 - La Vista, NE - The Astro

Feb 10 - Lawrence, KS - Liberty Hall

Feb 13 - Fayetteville, AR - George’s Majestic Lounge

Feb 14 - Oklahoma City, OK - Tower Theatre

Feb 15 - Dallas, TX - Granada Theater

Feb 16 - Austin, TX - Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater

Feb 17 - Houston, TX - The Heights Theater

Feb 20 - Winston Salem, NC - The Ramkat *

Feb 21 - Roanoke, VA - Jefferson Center *

Feb 22 - Columbia, SC - The Senate

Feb 23 - Orlando, FL - The Plaza Live *

Feb 24 - St. Petersburg, FL - Jannus Live

Feb 25 - Mar 1 - Miami FL - Jam Cruise

May 2 - 5 - Ponce de Leon, FL - Sol Fest

Jun 20 - 23 - Rothbury, MI - Electric Forest

Jul 18 - Stuttgart, Germany - Altes Schloss - Jazz Open

*with support from Cimafunk