Two generations of San Francisco musicians paid tribute to the Grateful Dead on the third night of Jam Cruise. After spending the day at the Turks and Caicos, San Franciscos current crop of buzz bands, Tea Leaf Green, Hot Buttered Rum, and ALO, split into a number of configurations for an evening of the Deads best known songs. Throughout the night, the expanded ensemble was joined by Grateful Dead luminaries like Donna Jean Godchaux and Steve Kimock, capping off with an extended jam based around Turn on Your Lovelight. Other highlights included a version of Slipknot led by ALO bassist Steve Adams. Earlier in the evening ALO also invited out a number of Jam Cruise performers during its set in Caruso Lounge, including Jeff Austin, Tea Leaf Greens Trevor Garrod, and Railroad Earths Carbone. Referencing ALOs days as a horn-enhanced ensemble, keyboardist Zach Gill said from the stage, We kind of dropped the whole orchestra thing a few years ago and became a quartet, but tonight we are building it back up. Hot Buttered Rums Aaron Redner also made an extracurricular appearance with the duo of Fuzz and Carrie, including a cover of the Beatles Rocky Raccoon.
Showing off his virtuosity, Luther Dickinson joined Patterson Hood on both guitar and drums, playing both instruments simultaneously on Lookout Mountain. A bit later another well-known drummer, Stanton Moore, performed songs from his recent solo album III with Will Bernard and Robert Walter. Throughout the evening he also enlisted the help of George Porter Jr. Skerik, Mike Dillon, fellow Galactic member Robert Mercurio, and Ivan Neville, he scooted downstairs from the pool deck after jamming with Umphreys McGee. The Disco Biscuits allowed a fan to select its setlist and preceded to offer a set of ocean songs, including Magellan and Above the Waves. A number of unique collaborations also took place in the Jam Room, including an intriguing group consisting of Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks Bands Yonrico Scott, and guitarist Seth Winters and a jam session hosted by Perpetual Grooves Brock Butler.
For addition details visit the Jam Cruise blog on Relix.com.