Billy & The Kids Dedicate Pier To Pier Run Opener In Baltimore To James Casey

Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann assembled Billy & The Kids to kick off a two-show Pier To Pier run which began at Baltimore’s Pier Six Pavilion on Wednesday. Good thoughts for member James Casey, who was unable to attend due to health issues, came throughout a concert dedicated to the saxophonist.

Kreutzmann and the core “Kids” lineup of bassist Reed Mathis, keyboardist Aron Magner and guitarist Tom Hamilton — along with guest “Kids” guitarist Daniel Donato and drummer Jeff Franca — took the stage while James Casey’s “New Bloom” played over the PA. James was diagnosed with colon cancer following Billy & The Kids’ performance at Red Rocks in 2021.

Billy & The Kids remained still as “New Bloom” aired on the speakers and then got the show going with a rollicking “Bertha.” The most recently announced “Kid,” dynamic vocalist Kanika Moore, then joined in for “Touch Of Grey,” a song Casey has handled in the past, before Donato stepped to the mic for “Beat It On Down The Line.” Moore then took back over for a rousing rendition of the Jerry Garcia Band-covered Little Milton tune, “That’s What Love Will Make You Do.”

The beloved companions “Help On The Way” and “Slipknot!” then prefaced “The Wheel,” which saw Donato adding some cosmic country shred. Kanika then delivered lead vocals on “They Love Each Other” before Billy & The Kids brought the first frame to a close with the disco Dead favorite, “Shakedown Street.”

The nugs.net livestream saw Bill Kreutzmann and writer/manager Benjy Eisen on camera at setbreak. Billy addressed the devastating fires on the Hawaiian island of Maui — Kreutzmann calls Kauai home — and asked fans to help out if they can. Billy also noted James’ absence and said “In my heart, all this music is for him. All this music we’re playing is for James to get better.” Visibly emotional, Billy added that James’ musicianship reminded him a lot of Jerry Garcia’s and asked for good thoughts to help James with a “speedy recovery.” A GoFundMe campaign has been established to support Casey.

The second set got going with Kreutzmann and Franca on a galloping, locked-in “Drums” session before the rest of the band returned for “Space.” Daniel Donato then helmed a cover of The Beatles’ “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds” which led into the Dead epic “Terrapin Station” sung by Hamilton who also handled the following “Foolish Heart,” which boasted synth stylings from Magner. Moore then belted out “Scarlet Begonias” and stuck around for Stevie Wonder’s “Boogie On Reggae Woman” ahead of an explosive set-closing “Deal.”

Billy & The Kids returned for the encore with Hamilton first introducing the band including “the man, the myth, the legend…William Kreutzmann.” Tom added, “We also wanna send our love to James Casey, who’s at home watching…we love you James, you’ll be back up here before you know it.” Kanika then led the group through the ballad favorite “Ship Of Fools” as well as evening closer, a cover of the Bruce Springsteen-penned Patti Smith number, “Because The Night.”

Billy & The Kids head to The Rooftop at Pier 17 in New York City on Friday to close out “Dead On The Water” on Friday. Livestreams are available via nugs.net.