Billy & The Kids, Brad Barr + Andrew Barr Show ‘The Kids Are Alright’ At Capitol Theatre
Watch the Grateful Dead drummer’s ensemble, Andrew Barr and Brad Barr kick off both shows with The Who covers.
By Scott Bernstein Oct 23, 2023 • 9:48 am PDT
Billy & The Kids returned to The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, New York this past Friday and Saturday nights for the first part of the ensemble’s Daze Of The Dead concert series. Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann and his core band of bassist Reed Mathis, keyboardist Aron Magner and guitarist Tom Hamilton were joined by The Slip/The Barr Brothers guitarist Brad Barr and drummer Andrew Barr for the two-night stand, which fittingly began with a debut cover of The Who‘s “The Kids Are Alright.”
Brad Barr handled vocals on the song penned by Pete Townshend that he performed with his brother in a video teasing their appearance at the shows. The band then launched into a seamless run connecting Grateful Dead classics “St. Stephen” and “Eyes Of The World” with a take on “She Belongs To Me.” Reed Mathis sang the Bob Dylan cover which like “The Kids Are Alright” was a Billy & The Kids debut. Brad Barr then fronted a rollicking “Beat It On Down The Line” before Mathis helmed “Mama Tried” and Reed, Tommy and Brad led an emotion-laden “Jack Straw.” The first set of the weekend closed with Billy & The Kids debuts of the Grateful Dead’s “Row Jimmy” and The Rolling Stones’ “Let’s Spend The Night Together.”
Bill Kreutzmann and Andrew Barr engaged in a “Drums” duet that opened the second set and gave way to a “Space” jam that birthed “Scarlet Begonias.” The ensemble showed off their improvisational prowess on an adventurous excursion which led into a “Friend Of The Devil” sung by Brad Barr. Brad also fronted the ensuing “Ramble On Rose” that was followed by Billy & The Kids’ first rendition of “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall.” Reed Mathis handled lead vocals as completely revamped version of the Bob Dylan tune. “Fire On The Mountain” capped the closing stanza. Billy & The Kids had obe more more debut in store by opening their encore with Eric Clapton’s “Lay Down Sally” before saying farewell for the night with beloved GD favorite “Ripple.”
Watch pro-shot footage of “The Kids Are Alright” and “St. Stephen” below:
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Billy & The Kids came out of the gates on Saturday with yet another The Who cover fronted by Brad Barr in “Join Together.” The holy triumvariate of “Help On The Way”/”Slipknot!” and “Franklin’s Tower” followed along with Grateful Dead first set staples “Peggy-O” and “Brown Eyed Women.” Hamilton and Brad Barr then shared vocal duties on The Band’s version of “Don’t Do It,” the evening’s first debut. A gorgeous “Sugaree” sung by Reed Mathis was up next before Brad Barr channeled Ron “Pigpen” McKernan on the blues standard “It Hurts Me Too.” The ensemble wrapped Saturday’s first set with their first performance of The Rolling Stones’ “The Last Time.”
Another “Drums”/”Space” interlude paved the way for the final set of the weekend. Brad Barr, on acoustic, then belted out “Morning Dew.” Billy & The Kids jammed “Dew” into a powerful “Uncle John’s Band” that they segued into a beautiful “The Wheel.” The seamless start to the frame concluded with a Mathis-sung “Crazy Fingers” and a rousing take on “Cassidy.” Next was the ensemble’s debut cover of Stephen Stills’ “Love The One You’re With” featuring Hamilton on lead vocals and outstanding work on organ by Magner. An extended “I Know You Rider” brought the set to a close. The group returned to encore with “Brokedown Palace” and “Touch Of Grey.”
Check out pro-shot video of the first three songs from Saturday below:
Billy & The Kids head to California to conclude the Daze Of The Dead series. The band will play Saratoga on October 31 (Halloween) and Santa Barbara on November 2 (Day Of The Dead).
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Setlists, Photos & Audio
Friday, October 20 (Audience Recording by Cam Keough)
Set One: The Kids Are Alright, St. Stephen > Eyes Of The World > She Belongs To Me, Beat It On Down The Line, Mama Tried, Jack Straw, Row Jimmy, Let’s Spend The Night Together
Set Two: Drums > Space > Scarlet Begonias > Friend Of The Devil, Ramble On Rose, A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall, Fire On The Mountain
Encore: Lay Down Sally > Ripple
Saturday, October 21 (Audience Recording by Cam Keogh)
Set One: Join Together, Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin’s Tower, Peggy-O, Brown Eyed Women, Don’t Do It, Sugaree, It Hurts Me Too, The Last Time
Set Two: Drums > Space > Morning Dew > Uncle John’s Band > The Wheel > Crazy Fingers > Cassidy, Love The One You’re With, I Know You Rider
Encore: Brokedown Palace, Touch Of Grey
