Editorial Reviews
Wake the Dead: A Celtic Celebration of the Songs of the Grateful Dead
Music Review:
Music Review
Sessions at West 54th [Live] [Import]
Live Recordings 1 (In Memoriam of Andrew De Grado)
Music: Super Eurobeat V.132 [Import]
Amazon.com
The malleability and durability of the Grateful Dead's songs are proven once again with these pleasant though hardly riveting Celtic-tinged readings. The highlight here is the way Danny Carnahan and his cadre of musicians seamlessly fuse traditional Irish jigs and reels with familiar Dead favorites, as bouzouki, mandolin, harp, uilleann pipes, and whistle all contribute to the mix. Yet, this collection is a bit too pristine and even-keeled to be a truly satisfying listen, lacking the adventurousness, vibrancy, and emotional bite that made the Dead special. While Deadheads may not find much to savor here, fans of New Age, Celtic string bands, and hushed folk music may enjoy these lovely versions and may be surprised at how lovely many of the Dead's melodies are. --Marc Greilsamer
About the Artist
Wake the Dead bands together seven of the best-known and most respected players in the west. Harper Maureen Brennan has performed nationally for over 20 years. Bassist Cindy Browne, enlisted from the eclectic world ensemble Next Village, has toured from Jordan to Japan. Singer, fiddler and fretman Danny Carnahan is an award-winning songwriter whose Irish-tinged songs (including a collaboration with Robert Hunter) are popular worldwide, Kevin Carr is a musical triple-threat, renowned in the US... read more
Album Description
Debut CD of the world's only Celtic All-Star Grateful Dead jam band. Bay Area festival favorite Wake the Dead weaves together sizzling Irish jigs, reels, and airs with the most singable songs of the Grateful Dead. The band's unique takes on favorites like Sugaree in waltz-time or the bagpipe romp through Bertha have been critically acclaimed worldwide. Combining fiddle, pipes, guitar, mandolin, bass, Celtic harp, and percussion, this is pure, toe-tapping, all-acoustic joy.