Dent May covers The Dead, has Bay Area shows 6/29/12 & 6/30/12

“They say this town ain’t got no heart,” but Oxford, Mississippi native Dent May certainly does. Shortly after the release of his new album, Do Things, Dent May paid tribute to the Grateful Dead with a cover of their disco-infused classic “Shakedown Street.”

Dent May sticks to his Good Feeling Music vibes but drops the ukulele on Do Things, out now on Paw Tracks. With all the instruments played entirely by himself, May recorded the bulk of the album at his Cats Purring Dude Ranch in Oxford, MS. Self-described as a “wedding reception band on acid,” Dent May’s ear for harmonies and devotion to classic pop structure recalls nostalgic imagery of all-American dance parties and lovers’ lanes.

The nostalgia vibes are ever apparent in his magnanimous cover of “Shakedown Street,” a song made famous by Haight-Ashbury psych-rock legends the Grateful Dead. May drops some of the twang and ramps up the disco beat, revealing that this classic folk-dance tune is more alive than ever.

Dent May has two Bay Area tour dates scheduled at the end of June. On June 29th, he will be playing at The New Parish in Oakland with Quintron and Miss Pussycat. The following night, he’ll be playing at Elbo Room with Quintron and Miss Pussycat as well as Shannon and the Clams. Don’t miss it.