On Tuesday, Oct. 31, Billy & the Kids brought their Daze of the Dead run to the West Coast for a stop at The Mountain Winery in Saratoga, Calif. During the concert, the Grateful Dead’s original backbeat, Bill Kreutzmann, led his bandmates–Tom Hamilton, Aron Magner, Reed Mathis, and special guests, Brad and Andrew Barr–through the attics of his life, pulling in first time material and offering debuts of classic and a couple of obscurities during the first and second set.

Set one started with a first-time cover of The Beatles’ “Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” led by Brad Barr. Whereas the group’s follow-up has long been associated as a second set staple, allowing for elongated instrumentation and experimental jams, this group positioned “Terrapin Station” in the second slot of the night and, in time, continued with the locationally fitting “Estimated Prophet,” guided by Mathis. 

Another debut occurred next in the form of an Aoxomoxoa cut, “Dupree’s Diamond Blues,” which saw Brad Barr pick up the Jerry Garcia-associated lyrics and the ensuing number: A high-energy take on the Talking Heads’ “Psycho Killer.” Before closing out the first set, they added “Bird Song” and a debut of the Grateful Dead’s Built to Last tune, “Blow Away.” Upon their return from set break, the band revisited Kreutzmanns’ San Francisco roots on “Shakedown Street” paired with a “Thriller” jam, for holiday flair.

From the favored Dead cut, the band visited Garcia’s solo archive, performing “To Lay Me Down” before Little Feat’s “Spanish Moon.” “Drums” came next and saw energy propel from Kreutzmann and his partner behind the kit, Andrew Barr–running over into the ensuing song, “The Other One.” Once again, pulling from the Built to Last catalog, only this time the title track, leading to the final song of the main frame: Chuck Berry’s classic, “Promise Land.” 

For their encore, the band ascended up an instrumental staircase to a room full of Kreutzmann’s acid-soaked memories. The sweet and subtle strums propelled “Attics of My Life” and made for a special finale in Saratoga, Calif. After last night’s concert, the ensemble will take tonight off before picking up their final West Coast date on Thursday, Nov. 2, at the Santa Barbara Bowl in Santa Barbara, Calif. Tickets remain on sale, visit this link for more information.

Watch fan-shot video from last night’s concert below.

Billy & the Kids

The Mountain Winery – Saratoga, Calif.

Oct. 31, 2023 

Set I: Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band+, Terrapin Station, Estimated Prophet, Dupree’s Diamond Blues+, Psycho Killer+, Bird Song, Blow Away+

Set II: Shakedown Street > Thriller Jam, To Lay Me Down, Spanish Moon+, Drums, The Other One, Built to Last, Promised Land+

Enc.: Attics of My Life+ 

Notes:

+ Debut, the first time played by this group of musicians 

Setlist via Setlist.FM.