LOS ANGELES (AP) — Colourful dancing bears throughout cocktails. Tie-dye clothes combined with black-tie. Oh yeah, the Grateful Useless was in the home to kick off Grammy weekend.
The legendary jam band was honored for its musical achievements and philanthropic efforts as MusiCares Individuals of the 12 months on Friday evening, two days earlier than the Grammy Awards.
The band’s iconic cranium brand was outstanding within the ever-changing graphics on stage. Their well-known dancing bears posed for images with attendees.
Devoted Deadhead Andy Cohen hosted the two 1/2-hour present on the Los Angeles Conference Middle. He recounted convincing his mother and father to let him drive from St. Louis to Wisconsin to catch his first Useless live performance as a teen.
“I venture to say they are the great American band,” Cohen stated. “What a wonder they are.”
So what if the Useless owns simply two Grammys, for lifetime achievement in 2007 and greatest music movie in 2018. They made their mark with a singular fashion and lengthy improvisations mixing such genres as rock, blues, jazz, people and psychedelia.
“Longevity was never a major concern of ours,” 77-year-old guitarist Bob Weir stated, drawing laughs. “Spreading joy through the music was all we ever really had in mind and we got plenty of that done.”
Drummer Mickey Hart paid homage to the band’s free-spirited followers.
“The Deadheads have kept the dream alive for 60 years now and continue to take this music into the next century,” he stated. “Before the world even knew what to make of us, our community lifted us up and kept us going. Without support there would be no Grateful Dead.”
Actor Woody Harrelson instructed just a few long-winded tales about his adventures with the band, together with “going drugless to Thailand with Bobby, which is not easy for either of us.”
Weir and Hart had been joined onstage to simply accept the award by three of their bandmates’ offspring: Grahame Lesh, Trixie Garcia and Justin Kreutzmann.
Lesh’s father, Phil, died in October at age 84. Garcia’s father, Jerry, died in 1995 at age 53. Kreutzmann’s father, Invoice, didn’t attend and as a substitute gave his thanks in a video message.
“I can feel his spirit in the house,” the 81-year-old Hart stated of Invoice Kreutzmann. “He’s in the music, he’s in the rhythm, the heartbeat of everything we built together all these years.”
Grahame Lesh was busy all evening enjoying guitar as a part of the backing band led by musical director Don Was. He sang with The Struggle on Medication throughout “Box of Rain,” composed by his father.
Weir opened the present on guitar backed by an orchestra. They quickly gave technique to The Struggle and Treaty performing “Samson and Delilah” with Stewart Copeland and Mick Fleetwood taking activates drum solos.
Technical difficulties briefly affected performances by My Morning Jacket and John Mayer, who rebounded for an prolonged jam with Was and Jeff Chimenti on “Terrapin Station.” Hart stored trying offstage as he drummed throughout Useless & Firm’s finale of “Sugar Magnolia” and “Touch of Grey” till a technician appeared to convey him in-ear displays.
Eaerlier, Hart was on his ft pumping his proper arm to Sammy Hagar’s model of “Loose Lucy.”
“Bobby, Mick, love you brothers,” Hagar stated.
Two of the quieter moments had been in-the-round performances by Norah Jones on “Ripple” and Bruce Hornsby doing “Standing on the Moon.”
Wynonna Judd carried out “Ramble On Rose.”
“I love you Robert Weir,” she stated from the stage. “You are my family of choice. You showed up when my momma died.”
Carrying a crown of crimson roses, Grammy nominee Sierra Ferrell teamed with Lukas Nelson on “It Must Have Been the Roses.”
Dwight Yoakam had the group on its ft dancing throughout “Truckin.’” Grammy nominee Noah Kahan sang “Friend of the Devil” that includes three guitars, banjo and bass.
Weir’s spouse, Natascha, and their daughters, Shala and Chloe, spent a lot of the evening out of their seats dancing at their desk close to the stage.
Now in its thirty fifth yr, the dinner and public sale raised cash for packages and companies supporting musicians in want with an emphasis this yr on serving to these affected by the current wildfires in Los Angeles.
“What we have here in Southern California these days is a rebuild that’s going to take some time and effort and an immense amount of teamwork,” Weir stated. “My guess is it’s going to take a few years, but SoCal will be back stronger and shinier.”
MusiCares Government Director Laura Segura stated $9.3 million was raised with one other $5.2 million in pledges throughout the dinner.
“It’s unheard of for this gala,” she stated.
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