Concert Review: Playing Dead at The Met in Pawtucket, RI

Joanna Gleason
2 hours ago
1 min read

I love the music of The Grateful Dead. Playing Dead, a very good tribute band performed at The Met on April 11, 2026. The Met is an intimate, old style music venue with great sound. The band's sets featured music from the entire Grateful Dead catalog along with fantastic inspired improvisational jams.

Playing Dead delivered an excellent performance and the group demonstrated that Grateful Dead music is still alive despite the absence on earth of Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir. The room was packed with enthusiastic deadheads. They were singing, dancing, and wearing Playing Dead’s T-shirts or Grateful Dead T-shirts.

Playing Dead’s show was impressive, skillful entertainment, and it was also an emotional moment to remember all those who contributed to live music, especially Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir.

Playing Dead members are Vic Derobertis (lead guitar, vocals), Jim Harris (rhythm guitar, vocals and looks like Bob Weir), Mark Munzer (keyboards, vocals), Dave Olson (bass vocals) and Brian Epstein (drums).

During their marathon set they faithfully recreated the experience of a live Grateful Dead concert, where the set lists are a complex stew of different styles of music including rock, blues, jazz, folk, bluegrass and more. Every Playing Dead show is equally unique featuring different setlists each night and the excitement of the improvisational jams.

It was an exceptional night of music and everyone at the venue loved this extraordinary performance.