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Jam Cruise Report: Day Two (funky Meters, Galactic, ALO, Greensky Bluegrass and Sit-Ins Aplenty)

Relix Executive Editor Mike Greenhaus is currently making the rounds on Jam Cruise 11. Here is his second report.

Jam Cruise spent the day at sea as the destination event’s 11th voyage moved toward Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos. Monday night and Tuesday morning bled together thanks to Jam Cruise veterans ALO.

As previously reported, ALO guitarist Dan Lebowitz hosted Monday night’s freeform Jam Room with the help of his side-band Magic Gravy. During the early hours of the morning, the Jam Room broke down into a few different combos. One group featured Lebo, Galactic drummer Stanton Moore and keyboardist Robert Walter. Another included Lebo, ALO bassist Steve Adams, Tea Leaf Green guitarist Josh Clark, Tea Leaf Green keyboardist Trevor Garrod and a horn section. The Tea Leaf Green frontmen arrived in the Jam Room after a late night set of their own which drew in Stockholm Syndrome drummer Wally Ingram, who is onboard as a member of Steve Kimock’s new band.

A few short hours later, Adams opened Tuesday’s Pool Deck festivities as a member of Nicki Bluhm & the Gramblers. The Bay Area Americana group invited a diverse mix of collaborators onto the stage during their 12:00 PM spot. Steve Kimock added pedal steel to Stevie Wonder’s “I’ll Be Loving You Always,” and guitarist Scott Law—who plays with members of the Gramblers in the country music project Brokedown in Bakersfield—appeared on “Stick With Me,” “Burnt” and “’Till I’m Blue,” the latter of which he co-wrote with Grambler Tim Bluhm. The band also offered a choice cover of The Rolling Stones’ “Tumbling Dice,” and Nicki reminded the crowd that her husband Tim has been onboard with such diverse acts as The Rhythm Devils, The Mother Hips and Jackie Greene.

After the Gramblers’ set, Greensky Bluegrass entertained fans on the ship’s Pool Deck stage. The jamgrass outfit invited out two keyboard players, The String Cheese Incident’s Kyle Hollingsworth and Umphrey’s McGee’s Joel Cummins, for separate sit-ins. They also offered an Americana take on Bruce Springsteen’s “Atlantic City” that recalled The Band’s ‘90s cover of the song. The band described Jam Cruise as their “favorite week of the year.”

Jam Cruise’s early afternoon hours were also filled with a variety of artist-associated activities. Karl Denson led a Ba Duan Jin session on the ship’s sports deck while Cummins participated in a Moog workshop. Denson also MCed a round of “Jamily Feud” based on the popular television show Family Feud. Perpetual Groove guitarist and longtime Jam Cruise staple Brock Butler also offered an acoustic set on the intimate Magic Hat Wind Stage. While fans played in the pool, he delivered a 45-minute set on ukulele and acoustic guitar that involved his own material like “Live Let Live,” as well as Bon Iver’s “Holocene” and Paul Simon’s “Boy in the Bubble.” Other afternoon performances included a Pool Deck set from JJ Grey & Mofro that drew in special guests like Dave Matthews Band/Flecktones saxophonist Jeff Coffin and The Lee Boys pedal steel ace Roosevelt Collier as well as Wyllys and Cummins’ electro Space Disco project.

Two very different acts occupied Jam Cruise’s early evening hours. In the ship’s three-story atrium, Lettuce/Warren Haynes Band singer Nigel Hall entertained fans with a solo set on the ship’s grand piano. He ran through a mix of new material and covers, inviting out Lettuce/Trey Anastasio Band saxophonist James Casey for a few songs. Hall remarked how nervous he was several times but seemed confident as brought back Casey, Ivan Neville and Living Colour singer Corey Glover—who is onboard with Galactic—to play some Earth, Wind & Fire.

Meanwhile, on the ship’s Pool Deck, The Motet revisited their Funk is Dead Halloween tribute (the Colorado group had performed some material from their recent P-Funk Halloween tribute with the help of Hall on Monday night). The band played for a sprawling audience throughout their almost two-hour set. Their setlist included reworked Grateful Dead songs such as “Help on the Way,” “Slipknot!,” “Franklin’s Tower,” “New Speedway Boogie,” “Stella Blue,” “St. Stephen” and “Loose Lucy,” among others. Former Motet saxophonist and current Big Gigantic Dominic Lalli sat in throughout the entire set. It was the second show in a row this cruise where he rejoined the band.