Just a Little Light: Bill Kreutzmann’s Mahalo Dead Pay Tribute to Phil Lesh, Perform Rarities “Mind Left Body Jam” and More During Kauai Run
Credit: Michael Weintrob
Bill Kreutzmann’s cross-generational Mahalo Dead project debuted over the weekend. For the three-concert slate, which rolled out nightly, November 22-24, the original Grateful Dead backbeat enlisted an all-star assembly of players to hone in on material from the great American Songbook, culling songs from the Dead’s massive web of originals and associated covers, as well as other thoughtful additions that poked the drummer’s own influences and musical interests.
Before the onset of publicly facing concerts, Kreutzmann bonded with the chosen members of the first-ever Mahalo Dead ensemble, sharing photos of Reed Mathis, Jason Hann, Adam MacDougall, Daniel Donato, Jake Brownstein, and Kanika Moore participating in preliminary activities, such as goat yoga. See below. Kreutzmann even noted that the group capped the night with a beach bonfire, adding to the nexus of island activities.
From sand to stage, Mahalo Dead transitioned from leisurely fun to a jam-centric delivery on Friday, Nov. 22, at Porter Pavilion on Kauai. The concert represented Kreutzmann’s first live appearance since the passing of his Grateful Dead bandmate Phil Lesh on Oct. 25, 2024. Thus, the backbeat seized the show’s opening to pay tribute to the late bassist by reprising the latter’s “Box of Rain.”
The combo worked through sister tunes “Help on the Way” into “Slipknot!” before finding their footing on the Garcia favorite, “Run for the Roses.” Holding tight to the expressive nature of the performance, the band coalesced a delicate “China Doll,” which merged into a Dead rarity, a feature on 2000’s Dick’s Picks Volume 19, “Mind Left Body Jam.” “Morning Dew” went on to serve as the final song of the frame.
Returning to the stage, the band pulled a great feature from the Jerry Garcia Band archive, “Shining Star.” From the love-soaked proclamation, they dipped their toes into “China Cat,” pairing the tune with Vampire Weekend’s “Sunflower” jam, sans the expected “I Know You Rider,” which did land just after Dylan’s “The Man in Me,” and “Estimated Prophet.”
Before closing out night one, Mahalo Dead treated their sold-out audience to “It Must Have Been the Roses,” “US Blues,” and just a “Touch of Grey.”
Opening night two, the band moved away from the expected Dead cover and instead opted for Paul Simon’s “The Obvious Child” before unleashing a wave of funk via “Shakedown Street.” Much of the music chosen for night two surfaced as highly-regarded fan favorites. Still, the second set’s opener, “Just a Little Light,” proved an exception, considering it was played with less frequency than other tunes from the band’s Built to Last LP and has remained a rare return since the Dead’s last concert in 1995.
The group proceeded with “Bird Song,” adding remnants of Miles Davis’ “So What,” a nod toward Kreutzmann’s affinity for jazz. The second set takes on “Eyes of the World,” “Brokedown Palace,” “Me and Bobby McGee,” and “Ramble on Rose” added dimension with every lyrical and instrumental pick-up.
Much like Phil’s mission, Kreutzmann has also carved time to share the Dead’s songs [and covers] with a younger generation, an act that will keep the music present and effervescent for decades.
This story is still developing. Once information becomes available, we will recap night three, Sunday, November 24, 2024.
Mahalo Dead
Porter Pavilion – Kauai, Hawaii
Nov. 22, 2024
Set I: Box of Rain, Help on the Way -> Slipknot, Run for the Roses, China Doll -> Mind Left Body Jam ->
Morning Dew
Set II: Shining Star, China Cat -> Sunflower* jam -> The Man In Me** Estimated Prophet, I Know You Rider, It Must Have Been The Roses, US Blues, Touch of Grey
Notes/covers:
*Vampire Weekend
**Bob Dylan
Mahalo Dead
Porter Pavilion – Kauai, Hawaii
Nov. 23, 2024
Set I: The Obvious Child*, Shakedown Street, Reuben and Cherise, Deep Elum Blues, Mama Tried, Cassidy, Ship of Fools
Set II: Just a Little Light, Bird Song** -> Slipknot > Eyes of the World, Brokedown Palace, Me and Bobby McGee, Ramble on Rose
Notes/covers:
*Paul Simon
**w/ “So What” jam
