Woody Harrelson’s Hilarious Grateful Dead Tribute Steals the Show at MusiCares Gala!

by

On a typical Friday night, one would hardly imagine stumbling upon a Grateful Dead tribute concert within the empty, lifeless expanse of the Los Angeles Convention Center. Yet, that’s precisely where MusiCares hosted an unforgettable event, celebrating the band as their Persons of the Year. The original members Bob Weir and Mickey Hart graced the occasion in person, while drummer Bill Kreutzmann, unfortunately unable to attend, sent a video message. A host of devotees who grasped the essence of the band’s music took part in the tribute.

Normally, the MusiCares dinner is a formal event where guests sit quietly during most performances, except for the grand finale, which is always a highlight. However, when it comes to the Grateful Dead fans, they don’t follow the usual rules. If there’s a spot to sway in, they’ll claim it; loose security, they’ll make a beeline for a better view; and let’s not forget, audience engagement is crucial, so passionate sing-alongs are always on the agenda, even if it means singing over the top of someone’s gown.

As a fan, I can’t help but marvel at the magic of Grammy weekends, where different genres and generations unite to reimagine iconic, ageless songs. It’s more than just music; it’s about honoring the musical community that has stood by these artists through thick and thin. This year, the Dead’s words – “We will get by; we will survive” – resonate deeply as the city grapples with devastating wildfires that have razed entire L.A. neighborhoods to the ground. In these challenging times, MusiCares has stepped up, promising financial aid for musicians and industry professionals through its Los Angeles Fire Relief Effort. The evening’s charitable donations surpassed $9 million, as announced.

In a meticulously planned lineup, 17 acts took the stage with only minor glitches, overseen by seasoned producer and musician Don Was. The evening commenced with multiple collaborative acts: The War and Treaty performed “Samson And Delilah” alongside Mick Fleetwood and Stewart Copeland, followed by My Morning Jacket and Maggie Rose performing “One More Saturday Night,” and Zac Brown and Marcus King teaming up for “Bertha.”

This version aims to convey the same meaning as the original while using simpler language that is easier to understand.

Afterward, several standalone performances ensued. Wynonna Judd performed “Ramble On Rose” with a subtle touch of country music; Norah Jones presented an authentic version of “Ripple”; and Noah Kahan collaborated with Béla Fleck on “Friend Of The Devil.

After wrapping up the tempo-slow numbers, Vampire Weekend kicked off an energetic sequence with “Scarlet Begonias.” This was followed by Dwight Yoakam’s rhythmic rendition of “Truckin’.” Maren Morris then graced the stage with “They Love Each Other,” and Lukas Nelson and Sierra Ferrell collaborated for “It Must Have Been The Roses.

Billy Strings’ rendition of “Wharf Rat” was heavenly, and the lesser known songs like “Loose Lucy” by Sammy Hagar and “Standing On The Moon” by Bruce Hornsby with Rick Mitarotonda provided a break for those dressed in formal attire. (The invitation suggested a “colorful black tie,” but also welcomed attire inspired by the Grateful Dead.)

As the night drew to a close, a stellar rendition of “Box of Rain” by The War on Drugs stood out. Sticking to crowd pleasers, John Mayer’s simplified version of “Terrapin Station,” a complex musical masterpiece originally recorded with a full orchestra for the 1977 album, was captivating in its intricate harmonic structure.

Host Andy Cohen inquired earlier in the evening about which Grateful Dead song was the most sensual, and Mayer responded with “Looks Like Rain,” a melancholic tune penned by Weir containing the debatable lyric, “Did you ever waken to the sound of street cats making love?” During the conversation, Mayer also revealed that “Althea” served as his introduction to Dead’s music. Not too long after, he was performing it live on stage alongside bandmates Weir, Hart, Oteil Burbridge, Jeff Chimenti and Jay Lane. The night concluded with a jam session of “Sugar Magnolia” and “Touch of Grey,” leaving most attendees in the ballroom, which resembled a trade show space, feeling grateful for being so close to such an extraordinary lineup.

During breaks in their performances, the audience was shown video clips about The Dead’s history, which became even more emotional following the passing of bassist Phil Lesh at 84 in October and the remembrance of Jerry Garcia who died at 53 in August, 35 years ago. To commemorate their legacies, and as a substitute for Kreutzmann, Trixie Garcia, Grahame Lesh, and Justin Kreutzmann performed on stage. They were joined by Harvey Mason Jr., the president of The Recording Academy, Steve Boom from Amazon, and Laura Segura from MusiCares for the band’s recognition as Persons of the Year.

However, prior to Woody Harrelson sharing anecdotes about his initial encounters with Garcia, the audience was treated to stories. These included smoking marijuana at the vice president’s residence on one occasion and consuming mushrooms backstage before a performance on another. Remarkably, for a hazy evening in the early 1990s, the actor had an astonishingly clear recollection of all that took place.

Key points: “Jerry queries, ‘If the universe is vast, isn’t time expanding too?’ The audience grows louder, psychedelics are taking effect, and I start to sweat because I remember Jerry should be on stage. … Jerry then announces, ‘I have a job.’ … I find myself backstage with Bruce Schroed discussing politics and our concerns about the situation in Iraq. I leap onto the stage and am met with a chaotic symphony of dissonant sounds blaring through the speakers. At this moment, everything seems to slow down. Jerry, Bobby, and Bill all turn towards me. In fact, the entire band is looking at me. Then I see the crew rushing towards me. ‘You’re sitting on a live MIDI!’ This refers to an electronic keyboard. Instantly, I became an unwelcome presence.

Harrelson described Weir as “an exceptionally intriguing, electrifying, deeply spiritual individual, and he’s no slouch when it comes to music.

The humorous opening set the stage for Weir’s heartfelt admissions about the challenges of preserving the Dead’s legacy and the importance of his team. He specifically recognized managers like Bernie Cahill, Kraig Fox, Liz Norris from Activist, and Mark Pinkus from Rhino Records, among others. This recognition made the evening feel exceptionally memorable.

We didn’t often think about longevity,” stated Weir, drawing a few laughs from the audience. “What truly mattered to us was illuminating people’s lives with our music and bringing them joy, and I believe we managed to do quite a bit of that.

Read Weir’s acceptance speech in its entirety below:

In my youth, a condition known as dyslexia did not exist, but I struggled greatly with it. Schoolwork was extremely difficult for me, so I spent most of my school year pursuing activities that I could manage such as chasing the melodies in my mind, participating in various sports teams, and of course, causing mischief. During my summers, I worked on a ranch, which turned out to be the only job I’ve ever had outside of music. However, I learned at an early age that tasks are much more manageable when approached as a team effort.

Here in Southern California, we are currently undergoing a rebuilding process that will take time, effort, and a great deal of collaboration. It may take several years, but I believe SoCal will bounce back, stronger and shinier.

If music is your chosen profession, you’ll find that the sound is significantly more powerful when you collaborate with others, learn to work harmoniously with them, and allow them to contribute to your own performance. Over the years, this is what the Grateful Dead did, and success eventually came our way. My old friend Jerry Garcia used to say, “You get some, you give some back,” and we did just that. From the beginning, it was clear to us that we could make a substantial positive impact on our community and have a lot of fun doing it. We also understood that being in such a position was an honor and a privilege, something we never took lightly.

This brings us to MusiCares, an essential organization in the music industry that offers financial assistance, mental health resources, recovery programs, and other support to artists and music technicians facing challenges. Their work ensures that those who create music — from behind-the-scenes professionals to household names — will continue to do so.

I would like to express my gratitude for this evening’s recognition and the opportunity to support such a crucial organization. Being honored with the Persons of the Year award is incredibly humbling, but the true honor lies in amplifying the remarkable work being done here.

Of course, I am grateful to all my bandmates and songwriting partners over the years, but in the spirit of MusiCares, I would like to thank Rex, Steve, Ramrod, Candace, Kid, Betty, Wiz, Robbie, AJ, Charucki, and the rest of the crew members who have taught me (and us) the importance of teamwork — whether they intended to or not. As I’ve said, teamwork is what it will take to rebuild this town.

I am also grateful to my wife Natascha and daughters Monet and Chloe for their patience with my single-minded focus. Not everyone can be as understanding as they have been.

Thanks to Bernie and Kraig, and the entire Activist team — Liz, Red, NashvilleMatt — for providing exceptional creative management that is hard to find elsewhere. Special thanks to Synjen for his contributions.

I am grateful to all the artists who put their own spin on our songbook tonight, both lighting up the audience and providing assistance to those in need within our field. Thanks to Don, tonight’s musical director; he has curated a show that would still be an exceptional occasion if it were solely about the music. Special thanks also to tonight’s symphony players, many of whom have suffered losses due to recent fires.

I am deeply honored to be joining the ranks of past recipients of this award, standing alongside artists such as Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, and Paul McCartney. The road is a challenging existence, as evidenced by the fact that not all my old bandmates are here tonight to share in this recognition — but thank you, Grahame Lesh, Trixie Garcia, and Justin Kreutzmann for representing your fathers here. Our goal was never longevity; we simply wanted to spread joy through our music, and we were fortunate enough to do so while also providing assistance to those in need.

Read More

2025-02-01 20:25