Dire Wolf from Athens, Georgia is our interview for this month. This group is a Grateful Dead tribute band. They are a working band performing occasional concerts. Let’s get to know Dire Wolf. Thank you for doing this interview with Harbinger Magazine.
First off, tell us about your name and how did you choose Dire Wolf?
Sure–Dire Wolf is a song off of The Grateful Dead’s studio album ‘Workingman’s Dead’ from 1970. This album is important to us as it represents the connection between the Dead’s jam/rock voice and their country voice. This connection would help define the band for years as the Dead consistently offered a few country driven tunes at their live shows, usually early in the first set. Dire Wolf is one of those songs that is heavy on the country side of things and one that we enjoy.
You have a lot of very colorful Wolf art. Who is the artist?
Our artist is Scott Runels. He started coming to see us early on in our gigging days and we found out his art was amazing. He has done some great work for us and we are thankful to have him as a friend.
What are the names of the members and the instruments they play?
Amber Ducote–Vocals; Andre Ducote–GuitarBryson; Blumenstock–Bass; Cannon Rogers–Guitar and Pedal Steel; Joe Kendrick-Holmes–Keyboard; Mark Gavron–Harmonica; Matthew Baker–Guitar and Vocals; Michael Meadow–Drums
How long have you been together?
We started making music together right after the Covid pandemic. All of us were in different facets of life moving through this strange time, but the common ground was music–specifically The Grateful Dead. Some of us this is our first band, some of us are seasoned veterans in the music world. We played our first show in May of 2022. We have been able to play some amazing venues in Athens, GA–playing our first show at the 40 Watt club in January of 2023 and our first show at the Georgia Theatre in April of 2025. Athens is such a hotbed for music, we are very lucky to have been given opportunities at great venues in our hometown.
Have you composed any songs?
We all have composed our own songs in some capacity over the years, many of us playing in locally and regionally successful original groups before Dire Wolf. Our band is currently about continuing to bring the music of the Grateful Dead to willing listeners through our own lens–basically using their template to fuel our own creativity.
How can we find you online?
We are on instagram and on Facebook.
What are your goals for the future?
Our goals are to keep the tunes of The Grateful Dead alive by offering our interpretations to folks that have heard the tunes before and folks that are new to the music of the Dead. The Grateful Dead has played a large role in our lives–we have kids and pets that are named after their lyrics and songs. People comment about how much we love the band–which we definitely do. It has really become more of a consistent portion of our daily lives than a hobby. We want to try and bring that passion and that energy to anyone and everyone that wants to hear our music.
Is there anything you would like to say to our readers?
The main message that The Grateful Dead seemingly tried to instill in their listeners was to be kind and open minded to everyone that we, as humans, encounter in life. It seems like the world needs more of that and we aim to spread that love to our listeners. We also want to continue the tradition of The Grateful Dead by keeping the music alive for seasoned listeners and newcomers to the scene.
– David Anthony
Dave Bixby 