Groove Doctors 3 Bring Healing Rhythms to the Soul on ‘Live and Let Live’

Groove Doctors 3 have prescribed the perfect remedy for modern musical malaise — and it comes in the form of a rich, soul-nourishing debut album: Live and Let Live. Released on May 23, 2025, via the independent imprint Maintain Zen Music, this record is more than just a collection of songs — it’s a masterclass in genre fusion, artistic authenticity, and the healing power of groove.

Formed in 2023 in East Lansing, MI, Groove Doctors 3 is no ordinary band. These aren’t starry-eyed teens hoping to make it big — they’re professors by profession and musicians by passion. Guitarist and vocalist Michael Lawrence (Seattle, WA), drummer David Stowe (Newton, MA), bassist Glenn Chambers (Houston, TX), and keyboardist Dick Bourgault are all faculty at Michigan State University, where their day jobs span subjects like law, religious studies, history, and administration. But when the books close and the campus quiets, these four scholars become a tight-knit, genre-defying musical unit — bound by friendship, experience, and a deep, mutual love of rhythm.

From the first note, Live and Let Live pulses with purpose. It’s an album that doesn’t demand attention through overproduction or ego — it earns it with soul, intelligence, and a rare kind of warmth that’s only possible when the music comes from a place of joy. This is music made not to impress, but to connect.

And connect it does — both through its original compositions and its loving reimaginings of timeless classics. The band’s originals are the beating heart of the album: poignant, philosophical, and full of groove. The track, “Behold The Duke”, is a swirling, almost mystical invocation of hope and resilience. The titular “Duke” — whether an archetype, a leader, or a metaphor for salvation — becomes a symbol of optimism. “Behold the Duke and things’ll work out fine,” sings Lawrence, not just as refrain, but as an incantation.

The title track, “Live and Let Live”, is both anthem and ethos. With its singalong chorus — “Live and let live / Love and let love” — the song distills the album’s entire philosophy into one timeless couplet. It’s the kind of track that feels destined to become a live staple, not because it’s flashy, but because it feels true. The lyrics are a straightforward yet deeply felt appeal for a more understanding and unified world, sharply contrasting the prevalent divisiveness seen today.

Elsewhere, the introspective “Ashes To Dust” examines mortality without falling into melancholy. It’s a meditation on life’s impermanence that offers not despair, but liberation — a call to savor the now, and an acceptance of the transient nature of all things. “Love Is The Way” continues that theme of grounded optimism, celebrating the transformative power of love with lyrical sincerity and a rich, swaying groove, along with deeply felt belief in love as a fundamental truth, a compass for the soul.

With “Peace Within”, Groove Doctors 3 tackle the spiritual toll of materialism, offering a rhythmic balm for the restless soul. This track serves as a poignant exploration of the disconnect between material success and genuine contentment, ultimately championing the indispensable value of inner tranquility over all outward accomplishments. It encourages listeners to look beyond superficial markers and to prioritize the elusive, yet ultimately invaluable, state of “Peace Within.”

And then there’s “Nothing At All”, a stark, haunting ballad that strips away the rhythm and shine, laying bare the ache of profound loss. Its inclusion — along with a remixed version later in the album — proves the band’s emotional range. Groove Doctors 3 aren’t afraid to go deep, even dark, when the truth calls for it. The lyrics here are direct, devoid of elaborate metaphors, which amplifies their raw emotional impact.

Threaded between these originals are eight gorgeously rendered covers — each selected with intention, each reimagined with reverence and flair. The band’s take on Bobby Hebb’s “Sunny” beams with a crisp yet cozy energy, while their version of King Floyd’s “Groove Me” oozes vintage swagger, updated with buttery basslines and nimble percussion and brass. “Tres Palabras”, penned by Osvaldo Farrés in 1943, is given a tender, organically-infused reading that floats with a subtle Latin elegance.

From Antonio Carlos Jobim’s “Wave” to Al Green’s “Take Me To The River”, Donovan’s “Sunshine Superman”, and Leon Russell’s “This Masquerade”, each cover is less a copy and more a dialogue — a way for Groove Doctors 3 to converse with the past, to add their voices to the continuum of musical storytelling. Their rendition of Jimi Hendrix’s “The Wind Cries Mary” is particularly striking — stripped of psychedelic theatrics, it becomes a slow-burning meditation, every note a whisper, every pause a sigh.

What makes Live and Let Live so compelling is not just the musicianship — though that is faultless — but the intention behind every note. The chemistry between Lawrence, Stowe, Chambers, and Bourgault isn’t just audible — it’s palpable. These are musicians who listen to each other. You hear it in the subtle interplay of guitar and keys, the supple push-and-pull of rhythm, the instinctive syncopation. It’s not just a band playing together — it’s a band breathing together.

There’s no ego here. No flashy solos for the sake of ego. No bombastic arrangements designed to dazzle. Instead, Groove Doctors 3 embrace a musical humility that is, paradoxically, profoundly powerful. They groove with a rare ease, inviting the listener not just to hear, but to feel.

In a musical landscape often dominated by algorithms and auto-tune, Live and Let Live is refreshingly, defiantly human. It’s an album that doesn’t chase trends — it chooses truth. And in doing so, it offers something that feels increasingly rare in contemporary music: comfort without complacency, wisdom without weariness, depth without pretension.

If you’re looking for an album that grooves as hard as it heals — that dances between eras and genres with grace and heart — Groove Doctors 3 have just written you the prescription. Live and Let Live isn’t just a debut. It’s a declaration. And it’s one that deserves to be heard, savored, and shared. Recommended dose: listen often. Side effects may include head nodding, heart opening, and spontaneous bursts of deep emotion.