ALO embraced the Jam Cruise ethos of collaboration during not only their Pool Deck set but also during a performance at the Starlight Theater on January 19. The quartet loaded the stage with guests throughout the late night set in the theater and a soundboard recording of the performance has surfaced.
Guitarist Lebo (Dan Lebowitz), multi-instrumentalist Zach Gill, bassist Steve Adams and drummer Ezra Lipp went at it alone to open with “Blew Out The Walls.” ALO then recruited legendary bassist Jack Casady of Hot Tuna and guitarist Steve Kimock for “Not Old Yet.” The band was then accompanied by Big Sam Williams and the Turkuaz Horns for “Undertow.”
Next up was a cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Everywhere” featuring Leslie Mendelson on lead vocals and Kimock on guitar. Steve Kimock stuck around for an adventurous take on “Cowboys & Chorus Girls” that included jams on Blondie’s “Call Me” and the Grateful Dead’s “The Other One.” From there, vocalist Jennifer Hartswick emerged and the horns returned for a stellar rendition of Blondie’s “Rapture.” Gill fit references to Jam Cruise into the song’s rap portion. ALO went back to quartet formation for the beloved “Maria,” for which kudos go to Spafford keyboardist Andrew “Red” Johnson for calling the tune from his spot in the audience. The set concluded with a wild cover of Rick James’ that included contributions from all four members of TAUK, Mendelson and vocalist Sunshine Becker. Listen to a soundboard recording taped by Terry Lapointe and transferred by TLP and Jen Fisher:
Setlist
Set: Blew Out The Walls, Not Old Yet@*, Undertow^, Everywhere*&+/, Cowboys & Chorus Girls > Rapture %^-, Maria, Mary Jane #
- @ Jack Casady – Bass – Hot Tuna
- ^ Turkuaz Horns and Big Sam
- * Steve Kimock – Guitar
- & Leslie Mendelson – Vocals
- % Jen Hartswick – Vocals
- ! Sunshine Garcia Becker – Vocals
- # TAUK
- + Fleetwood Mac Cover
- – Blondie Cover (Call Me Tease)
- / Other One Tease (GDead)
