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🎶 "It's a rainbow full of sound, It's fireworks, calliopes and clowns, Everybody's dancing..."

~ “The Music Never Stopped", first played live August 13, 1975 at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco. The words were written by John Perry Barlow, while the music is credited to Bob Weir. A fitting line for this issue — even though the Grateful Dead aren’t on stage and longer, the music never stops. Tribute bands and offshoot projects are proof that the river keeps flowing.

🌹⚡❤️ Tribute Bands & Why They Matter

When the Grateful Dead wound down in 1995, the music wasn’t silenced for long. From Phil Lesh’s rotating ensemble of Friends to Bob Weir’s RatDog and Wolf Bros, and Mickey Hart’s projects, Deadheads found ways to keep the songs alive. Tribute bands aren’t just nostalgia acts — they’re gatherings, celebrations, and invitations for new listeners to fall into the music. And a special shoutout to a couple of Texas favorites we’ve loved seeing in person: DeadEye and Forgotten Space.

​➡️ Read the rest of the story on the China Cat Chat site​

🎨 Poster Spotlight: DeadEye at Last Concert Cafe, Houston

This vibrant poster for DeadEye captures the playful, psychedelic spirit of a live Grateful Dead experience. Bold rainbows, electrifying lightning bolts, and striking red roses swirl around a central skull — a nod to the iconography Deadheads know and love.

The poster also reminds us that tribute bands aren’t just about music; they’re about community, celebration, and keeping the spirit of the Dead alive. Every note, every jam, and every fan contributes to the ongoing story of the music we love.

🎸 Dead Gear: From Wolf to Dire Wolf

Jerry Garcia’s legendary Wolf guitar, built by luthier Doug Irwin in 1973, is one of the most iconic instruments in Dead history. Its exotic woods, custom inlays, and groundbreaking electronics made it instantly recognizable.

This summer, that legacy took a new turn when bassist Oteil Burbridge (Dead & Company) received a custom-built “Dire Wolf” bass—crafted from the very same batch of wood as Garcia’s original Wolf. Designed by Bill Asher with Irwin’s blessing, the bass was gifted to Oteil by the Grateful Guitars Foundation.

Oteil debuted the Dire Wolf at Red Rocks in July, and then brought it to the Dead’s 60th anniversary shows at Golden Gate Park. The result? A living bridge between past and present, carrying Garcia’s spirit into new songs and new hands.

​➡️ Read the full story on the China Cat Chat site​

🎶 The Music Never Stopped (Playlist Edition) 🎶

Think of this one as a magic bus ride through the Deadhead universe. We’ve got Dead & Company steering into big, beautiful jams, JRAD flooring it with turbo-charged takes, and Grateful Shred sprinkling in some West Coast sunshine. Bob Weir & Wolf Bros. keep things cowboy-cosmic, Phil Lesh & Friends gather the tribe for ever-changing adventures, and Dark Star Orchestra rewinds the reel to full-show glory days. Different roads, same destination: the music is alive and well, and it just keeps on truckin’.

Listen to the Music Play

🌊 Ripple Moment: The "Setlist" of Your Daily Life

🌀 Just like tribute bands carry the music forward, we all have the chance to carry forward kindness. Think about the “setlist” of your daily life — what can you play today that uplifts someone else? Maybe it’s checking in on a neighbor, giving a local artist some love, or planting something that will bloom later. The music never stopped, and neither does the ripple of small good things. NFA 🌹🌻

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More soon. Stay kind...

Todd & Michelle

​China Cat Chat​

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💌 Got a Story to Share?

We want your tales from the trail! Whether it’s a recipe from Shakedown Street, a memory from the lot, your all-time favorite show, or just a lyric that’s stayed with you—we’d love to hear it. China Cat Chat is for Deadheads, by Deadheads, and your voice makes this community what it is.

We’re also always looking for folks to interview in upcoming issues. If the music has touched your life in a special way, or you’ve got a perspective to share, drop us a line!

Tell Us Your Story | Be Interviewed