7 Walkers, Steve Kimock and Yarn @ Beekman Beer Garden, August 1

It’s been almost two years since the eponymous debut album from 7 Walkers arrived, and boy, does it hold up well to repeat listens: a swampy, humid, oddball curio collection of music that, to these ears, is the strongest, deepest studio release by any post-Jerry band featuring a surviving Grateful Dead member.

[Photo by Michael Stein from 8/3]

As a live unit, it’s taken them a little longer to fulfill that promise. Early 7 Walkers shows had the spark Malcolm “Papa Mali” Welbourne and Bill Kreutzmann stumbled on as kindred musical spirits, but little fire, as the band was still feeling itself out, and Welbourne, especially, was finding his way around music that required a different guitar attack than perhaps he was used to. In 2009 and 2010, 7 Walkers shows were fun and rollicking, but also tentative; Welbourne, Kreutzmann, bass ace George Porter Jr. and multi-instrumentalist Matt Hubbard knew they had something that would transcend just a really interesting side project, but the improvisational potential was barely tapped.

What’s appeared to have happened over three years, however, is beautifully organic growth: a band gradually developed, fed and cared for and subtly adjusted, versus something thrust out there to prove a point. The 7 Walkers of 2012 sounds even less like a Dead band and more like the spicy, chunky gumbo of New Orleans swamp-rock, R&B and blues it was intended to be. It’s a band really opening up its originals and playing Dead tunes less out of obligation and more out of feel, with the transitions more spry, the pace more patient and groovy, and the jamming — especially the jamming — more confidently aware.

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Bill Kreutzmann Hall of Fame Series and 7 Walkers @ The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame celebrated the legacy of Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia by hosting a Grateful Dead Weekend at the Rock Hall in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. On Friday night the organization held a members only Hall of Fame Series interview with drummer and Hall of Fame inductee Bill Kreutzmann just prior to a public performance from Kreutzmann with his current band, 7 Walkers, on The Rock Hall’s main stage. The events were held along with others across the country honoring Garcia during the days between the legendary guitarist 70th birthday and the 17th anniversary of his passing. In his interview with Jason Hanley Ph.D. Kreutzmann spoke fondly of Jerry, praising him for having a “big heart” and for always “looking out for the underdog.”

[All Photos by Michael Stein]

The Hall of Fame Series interview took place for nearly an hour and covered topics from the founding days of the Grateful Dead in the infamous Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco to the experiences of recording versus playing live to the difficulties of running a full-fledged independent music organization during the later years of the Grateful Dead. Kreutzmann recounted the day when Jerry called him on the phone asking him to play in a new band, then called the Warlocks, and his feeling that “This is definitely going to be a thing, and it isn’t going to be redundant!” During the early years, Kreutzmann was living in the Haight with the other band members and recalled how free they were to hold live music events by setting up stages on flatbed trucks in the middle of the street or tossing electrical cables over highways to provide power to a patch of grass where they’d decided to play.

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Once again we’ve got an all-video edition of Intermezzo as we highlight some of the memorable moments that took place both on Halloween and over this past weekend.

Let’s start with Z-Man’s video of Widespread Panic covering Outta Mind (Outta Sight) from the encore of the jam titan’s Halloween show along with Postcard, Porch Song and a fun version of Werewolves of London featuring the entire crew…

Widespread Panic – Outta Mind (Outta Sight), Postcard, Porch Song, Werewolves of London

LazyLightning55 gives us our fill of HalloWeen with this Goin’ Gets Tough From The Getgo from Ween’s show at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City…

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Three of the four surviving original members of the Grateful Dead will reunite this evening in San Francisco, where Bob Weir and Mickey Hart are the confirmed guests of Bill Kreutzmann’s 7 Walkers ensemble at the Great American Music Hall. Ever since Weir, Hart, Kreutzmann and Lesh toured as The Dead in 2009, collaborations between the pair that went on to tour as Furthur (Weir & Lesh) and those that continued on as The Rhythm Devils (Hart & Kreutzmann) have been few and far between.

[Photo by Jeremy Gordon]

7 Walkers have been forging a sound all their own behind the handiwork of Kreutzmann, bassist George Porter Jr., guitarist Papa Mali and multi-instrumentalist Matt Hubbard. While Porter Jr. won’t be on hand in San Francisco for 7 Walkers’ tour-closing pair of shows at GAMH, Tea Leaf Green bassist Reed Mathis has performed with the group numerous times in the past and is set to play bass tonight and tomorrow. Tickets for both shows are on sale now and run $25.

Bill Kreutzmann, Papa Mali and Matt Hubbard brought the 7 Walkers to NYC’s Brooklyn Bowl on Tuesday night for a few classic Dead songs, some originals and a bunch of guests to fill the stage.

[All photos by Jeremy Gordon]

Sousaphone were tabbed to hold down the bass lines. Previously announced guests Henry Butler joined in on keyboards for a few songs and Joan Osborne – who toured with Kreutzmann as part of The Dead in 2003 - shared the vocal duties on Turn On Your Love Light, New Speedway Boogie and Sugaree. However, the highlight of the night was the appearance of singer Miss Tami Lynn (at the ripe young age of 69) as she came out to sing with Papa Mali on a slowed down and chilling version of Dr. John’s I Walk On Gilded Splinters.

7 Walkers continue their tour with an appearance at the Mountain Jam Music Festival tonight and will return to New York City’s City Winery on Sept. 2nd & 3rd. READ ON for a full gallery of Jeremy’s photos…

7 Walkers @ Double Door, March 26

Words and Photos: Allison Taich

7 Walkers stopped by Chicago’s Double Door Saturday March 26 to lay down two solid sets of jam filled, funk-soaked roots rock. Sounds complicated, I know, but wait until you hear the lineup: Papa Mali on vocals/guitar, Bill Kreutzmann of the Grateful Dead on drums, George Porter Jr. of The Meters on vocals/bass and multi-instrumentalist Matt Hubbard (who has played with the likes of Willie Nelson) on colorful flair including but not limited to keys, trombone, harmonica, melodica and vocals. The group embraced bursts of psychedelic California sun influenced by the Grateful Dead, tossed with the funk, grit and passion of New Orleans, creating a concoction Kreutzmann appropriately dubbed “swampadelic.”

The show transformed the typically dark Double Door into a land of tie-dyed wonder. Vibrant tapestries lined the stage, accentuated by streams of Technicolor lights and colorful Heads cutting loose on the dance floor. The music started with light instrumental tinkering as the musicians eased into the setting. Soon a Grateful Dead-esque “Space” jam formed guided by rhythmic beats that pulsated with life from wandering bass and fluent guitar licks. The power and energy streaming from the stage was undeniable, and was a real treat to witness. The men of 7 Walkers were bound together by pure devotion to their crafts, which was reflected not only in their playing but also in their happy grins.

The band gained in strength as set one progressed, starting with a transition from “Space” into the beloved Grateful Dead classic Mr. Charlie. Mr. Charlie had the entire club wrapped in the funked up tale of pure outlaw voodoo attitude. Hubbard dominated the song with some of the most animated keyboard skills I have ever witnessed; his playing literally kept me on my toes. His hands raced up and down the keys unleashing florid glissandos and chromatic builds that raised Mr. Charlie to new heights.

READ ON for more on 7 Walkers’ show at the Double Door…

2010 was a big year for 7 Walkers as the band, which features Bill Kreutzmann of the Grateful Dead on drums, Papa Mali on guitar, George Porter Jr. on bass and multi-instrumentalist Matt Hubbard, set off on multiple successful tours and put out a critically acclaimed self-titled debut album.

[All photos by Rob Chapman]

7 Walkers’ latest tour came to a close on Sunday at City Winery in New York, where photog Rob Chapman was on hand to capture the action. READ ON for a gallery of Rob’s photos from 7 Walkers at City Winery…

Billboard has the scoop on the debut album from 7 Walkers – the collaboration between Austin-based bluesman Papa Mali and Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann. The self-titled debut is set for a November 2nd release and is described in the article as “an ‘open love letter’ to New Orleans.” Legendary artist Willie Nelson guests on King Cotton Blues and the LP features some songs written by Robert Hunter. The band hits the road on October 1 and will stay busy through New Year’s Eve.

Here’s a video featuring Mali and Billy Kreutzmann discussing the album…

7 Walkers – The Fox Theater – Boulder, CO – 6/5/10

Boulder’s original hippie generation came out in full force Saturday night to see 7 Walkers, the latest of Grateful Dead spawns to emerge into our musical scene. This time, it’s drummer Bill Kreutzmann giving the band its fuel for publicity, while Louisiana bluesman Papa Mali takes the reigns on stage. Unlike many of the other Dead spinoffs and reincarnations, who rely heavily on the vast catalog they already have, 7 Walkers takes it a step further. They have teamed up with legendary songwriter Robert Hunter on a slew of new songs for their upcoming album, to be released later this year.

When 7 Walkers took the stage, it was surprising to note that The Fox was not at capacity, especially with the name “Bill Kreutzmann” in huge red letters on the marquis outside. This, however, did not upset anyone, as there was now enough room for everyone to sway and spin to the music. An abbreviated Space that worked its way into a bluesy Sugaree kicked off the evening with a familiar spark. Mali, who was raised playing the blues, brings a southern flavor to the San Francisco vibe, much like Warren Haynes though without the same ferocity. From there it was Death Don’t Have No Mercy and He’s Gone, which the mostly older crowd sang along to happily. Bertha came later with a fiery guitar solo from Mali that settled into the ever-comforting Wharf Rat.

Now that the crowd had settled in, it was time for the quartet to break into a new original Hunter tune, appropriately titled 7 Walkers. This is perhaps the song that will define the band for more reasons than that they share a name. It fits perfectly alongside the Dead repertoire but stands out in that the melody is new, lyrics fresh and meaningful, and has a distinct southern blues feel. Another 7 Walkers original, The New Orleans Crawl, played early in the second set, easily settled in and allowed the crowd to bop along in true Bayou style.

READ ON for more from Kos on 7 Walkers at the Fox…

As we mentioned, Revolution Hall in Troy hosted its last jam show last week and writer/photographer Andy Hill was there to document the evening…

This was it, the last Revolution Hall show – the last real show anyway – before the comfortable room was to close as a live music venue, reportedly, to become a banquet hall. So, as one might expect the mood was one of lament and nostalgia as people slowly filed in and exclaimed their thanks to the staff that had helped to make Rev. Hall such a great place over the years. Conversations of fun times and great shows were overheard at every turn. Although inevitably those conversations would quickly devolve into the frustration of the loss of a stomping ground that had become a home away from home for so many of us.

When the McLovins took the stage though, all conversation halted and jaws quickly hit the floor. These kids, and I hesitate to call them kids as their musical maturity is astounding, played an amazing set that surprised even those of us that have seen them a couple of times. It is clear that they are no novelty act and will be around for a long time to come. Their music is as forward thinking as it is virtuosic. Even Malcolm “Papa Mali” Welbourne, of the headlining act 7 Walkers, gave them props in saying that he couldn’t get the rest of his band (Matt Hubbard, Bill Kreutzmann, and George Porter Jr.) to come onstage for their set as they “were afraid to follow the McLovins.” That is a compliment that the McLovins will not soon forget.

No one seemed to have any idea what to expect from the unique mix of players that 7 Walkers consists of, we just expected it to be good. The two-set show had set lists that were mainly comprised of Grateful Dead favorites. Although there was a couple of traditional blues tunes and couple of new songs whose lyrics were written by Robert Hunter thrown into the mix. From the looks of the crowd, they did not disappoint. Rev. Hall’s dance floor was packed one last time and it seemed that all of the prior lamenting had been replaced with jubilation until 7 Walkers feted the end of Revolution Hall’s concert days appropriately in their second encore with an abbreviated version of And We Bid You Goodnight.

READ ON for more from Andy on the final show at Rev Hall…