Hey Now on the High Seas: Jam Cruise Day Four [A Recap]

February 18, 2025

Photo Credit: Jesse Faatz

Monday, Feb. 17, was the fourth day of near-nonstop music aboard the MSC Divina. Jam Cruise’s schedule picked up in the afternoon, allowing passengers to hop off the ship and take a tender to Belize City.

With the stage set and music lovers flocking to the surrounding area, Tank and the Bangas welcomed attendees back with a blend of songs, ranging from originals like 2013’s Think Tank contribution “Boxes and Squares” to Steve Wonders’ acclaimed “Sir Duke.” Tarriona “Tank” Ball bubbled excitedly, grooving across the stage, often with a tambourine.

A small window of time separated the aforementioned act’s finale from the start of MarchFourth, bringing the spirit of celebration to the forefront with its high-energy display. Elsewhere on the boat, Hot Buttered Rum demonstrated its musical dexterity, tapping Chali 2na for a take on the Jurassic 5 classic, “Concrete Schoolyard.”

Meanwhile, Pink Talking Fish’s Richard James tapped friends for his key-heavy frame in the Atrium, which featured a take on the Grateful Dead’s “Jack Straw,” setting the tone for what was to come on a historic day in the San Francisco band’s history, a motif that was further extracted during BERTHA: Grateful Drag’s Pool Deck appearance.

After tapping Hot Buttered Rum member Erik Yates for a drag-clad take on “Dire Wolf” on night two, it was time to pass the baton and recruit a new face to BERTHA’s world of Grateful Drag: Ms. Donna Jean Kimock.

Steve Kimock stepped on stage in a long, black wig and two hours’ worth of makeup. The scene caused a mass eruption from the crowd, coupled with a take on “Iko Iko.” As first reported by Relix, Kimock wore Donna Jean Godchaux’s original dress, worn during the Grateful Dead’s historic 1978 trip to Egypt and one of their concerts at the foot of the Great Pyramid.

As an added note of significance, Feb. 17, 1979, represented Godchaux’s final appearance with the Grateful Dead, adding another historical layer to the presentation.

ALO brought their California cool to the Pantheon Theatre. With assistance from the Cool Cool Cool horn section, Greg Sanderson and Chris Brouwers, the band struck improvisational gold with instrumental back-and-forth.

Also feeling the spirit of the Dead, LP Giobbi kept the audience dancing during her Dead House set, which included “Shakedown Street” and others.

Snarky Puppy brought in various special guests, including Glaspie, the Cool Cool Cool horns, and Chali 2na, at separate points. League then spoke about the importance of Texans’ representation in the music scene, prompting a break into a Bobby Sparks original, with added help from Skerik, Amy Bellamy, and Alex Wasily.

During lespecial’s set, they referenced plans to release their new LP in the spring before bringing out “the hardest working guys in show business,” the Cool Cool Cool horns, who assisted on “Cannibal Holocaust.”