Mickey Hart previewed his latest project in California this past weekend. Though Hart plans to choose a formal name for the band via fan submissions, the drummer’s shows are currently simply billed as Mickey Hart Band. The new Mickey Hart Band’s first show took place at Napa, CA’s Napa Valley Opera House on Friday night. In addition to Hart, the group features Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s Tim Hockenberry, singer Crystal Monee Hall, drummer Gawain Mathews and bassist Vir McCoy, as well as percussionists Greg Ellis, Ian “Inkx” Herman and Sikiru Adepoju. In a recent interview with Jambands.com/Relix, Hart also said that some additional musicians will join the ensemble at various stops on the road when their schedules permit, including Widespread Panic bassist Dave Schools.

Friday’s show in Napa and Saturday’s Mickey Hart Band gig at San Francisco’s The Independent featured some new material Hart is working on for a 2012 studio album. The percussion-heavy songs were inspired by light waves Hart worked with a team of scientists to capture, turn into sound waves and eventually songs. The drummer began collecting the light waves during The Dead’s 2009 tour and has been working on the project ever since. Robert Hunter also recently wrote a series of lyrics for some of the new songs. Mickey Hart Band’s weekend setlists also featured material from the Grateful Dead repertoire such as “Scarlet Begonias,” “Fire on the Mountain,” “Casey Jones,” “Iko Iko” and “Brokedown Palace” as well as Hart originals like “Down The Road.”

Hart will perform with Bill Walton during the 7th Inning Stretch of the Giants game at San Francisco, CA’s AT&T Park tonight. Mickey Hart Band will perform at Brooklyn, NY’s Brooklyn Bowl on August 18.