Welcome back to Dead Set Live, where every song is played live, just as it should be. This week’s edition celebrates not just the music of the Grateful Dead, but the living, breathing movement of musicians and fans who keep the spirit alive long after the original band stopped touring together. From minor league ballparks to iconic Jersey venues, to national touring tribute acts, the Dead’s musical universe is still expanding. And tonight, we also tune into The Music Plays The Band Radio Show—the radio hour dedicated to the live music of Grateful Dead cover bands, where the setlist always grooves and the jams never repeat the same way twice.

The Grateful Dead’s Enduring Legacy

The Grateful Dead remain a cultural touchstone unlike any other American band. Their improvisational spirit, kaleidoscopic sound, and fiercely loyal fan base created something that wasn’t just about music—it was a lifestyle, a community, and a shared journey. While Jerry Garcia and company are no longer all on stage together, the Dead’s essence continues through the countless tribute bands, local players, and national touring acts that keep those magical improvisations going.

And that’s what makes Dead Set Live and shows like The Music Plays The Band Radio Show so vital: they don’t just revisit the music, they relive it, reimagine it, and breathe new life into the Grateful Dead’s ever-evolving songbook.

BlueClaws Grateful Dead Night: Baseball, Music, and Charity Collide

On Saturday, August 23, 2025, the Jersey Shore BlueClaws turned the ballpark into a playground for both Deadheads and baseball fans. The BlueClaws hosted their annual Grateful Dead Night, highlighted by special edition Dead-themed jerseys worn on the field. Those jerseys are now up for auction through Sunday, with proceeds benefiting BlueClaws Charities.

The game itself was a win for the home team, as the BlueClaws beat the Hudson Valley Renegades 8–3. The turning point came in the third inning, when the BlueClaws exploded for five runs, sparked by Kehden Hettiger’s two-run triple. RBI singles from Joel Dragoo and Avery Owusu-Asiedu kept the rally going, while Zach Arnold put the game out of reach with his ninth home run of the season in the fifth. Starting pitcher Luke Gabrysh picked up his first win of the year, going five innings while giving up three runs (two earned).

But as much as fans loved the baseball, the real cherry on top was the live music. Philadelphia-based tribute band Splintered Sunlight set up in the Sand Bar as part of the Farro’s Tees Summer Concert Series, delivering a blistering set of Dead tunes to a packed crowd of fans. After the final out, fireworks capped the night—baseball, jams, charity, and community, all tied together by the Dead’s music.

David Krumholtz and Her Angels in Flame

One of the most fascinating stories to emerge from New Jersey’s Grateful Dead scene this summer involves actor David Krumholtz, known for his roles in The Santa Clause films, Oppenheimer, and the cult-favorite TV series Numb3rs. As revealed in an August 2025 interview with New Jersey Monthly, Krumholtz has been spending his free time playing bongos and singing in a Dead cover band called Her Angels in Flame.

The group also features Brian Purwin, Pietro Ciliberto, and Mike Manuele, and they’ve already carved out a niche with shows at Alias Brew Works in Vernon, NJ, as part of the brewery’s Grateful Dead Night series. For Krumholtz, who lives in Wyckoff, New Jersey, the band is more than a hobby—it’s a way of connecting with the music and the local scene in a deeply personal way. His story is just another example of how the Grateful Dead’s music bridges generations, backgrounds, and even Hollywood careers.

Upcoming Grateful Dead Tribute Shows in New Jersey

If you’re in New Jersey and want to catch the music live, you’re in luck. The state continues to be a hotbed for tribute bands keeping the vibe alive:

Dead On Live

• October 11: Shea Center for Performing Arts, Wayne, NJ
• October 23 & 24: The Vogel at Count Basie Center for the Arts, Red Bank, NJ

Splintered Sunlight

• October 31: The Stone Pony, Asbury Park, NJ

Dead To The Core

• September 20: Asbury Park-Wall Elks Lodge, Neptune City, NJ

Grateful Dub & Sister Nancy

• September 13: Beachcomber Bar & Grill, Seaside Heights, NJ

Other Active New Jersey Tribute Bands

• Big Foot County – Based in Morristown, often playing wineries and local festivals
• The Dead Reckoning – North Jersey regulars, playing taverns and small stages
• Touch of Grey – Active since 2014, specializing in a wide range of Dead eras
• Trouble Ahead – Focusing on early “Pigpen-era” Dead
• Strangers Stopping Strangers – Hoboken-based, heavy in the Hudson County scene
• Diamond Eye Jack – Another active New Jersey tribute outfit keeping busy statewide

Nationally Touring Tribute Acts

Beyond New Jersey, the world of Grateful Dead cover bands has exploded across the U.S., with some acts drawing massive crowds and developing their own cult-like followings:

• Dark Star Orchestra (DSO): Recreates classic Grateful Dead setlists with precision and passion. Playing The Amp Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater in Vail, CO on August 30, 2025.
• Joe Russo’s Almost Dead (JRAD): Known for their fiery improvisations and reinterpretations of the Dead catalog. A must-see for any modern Deadhead.
• Splintered Sunlight: Touring beyond New Jersey with dates in Bethlehem, King of Prussia, and Ardmore, PA this fall.
• Dead On Live: In addition to their New Jersey shows, they hit Penn’s Peak in Jim Thorpe, PA on September 6.
• The Englishtown Project: Appearing at StageOne in Fairfield, CT on September 5 and the Dead Ahead Festival in Chester, NY on August 30.
• Steal Your Peach: A unique fusion of the Allman Brothers Band and Grateful Dead, with a September 26 show at The Newtown Theatre in Newtown, PA.

Other names like Terrapin Flyer, Hyryder, Playing Dead, Cats On The Bus, DEAL, Cosmic Charlie, Shakedown Citi, and more continue to tour coast-to-coast, showing the sheer scale of the Dead’s living legacy.

Tonight: The Music Plays The Band Radio Show

And to cap it all off, don’t forget to tune in tonight for another edition of The Music Plays The Band Radio Show—a full set dedicated to the live sounds of Grateful Dead tribute bands. Every note is live, every jam is authentic, and the spirit of Jerry and the boys shines through every broadcast. For fans who can’t get to the shows, it’s the next best thing to being there.

The Music Never Stops

Whether it’s a packed stadium show by JRAD, a local brewery gig by Her Angels in Flame, or a charity night at a minor league ballpark, the Grateful Dead’s legacy lives and breathes in 2025. Every jam is new, every cover band adds its own twist, and every night brings the music to new ears.

That’s the beauty of the Dead: they were never about endings—they were always about keeping the music playing. And thanks to the thriving cover band scene, that music will never stop.