BERTHA: Grateful Drag Welcome Support in Berkeley From Drag-Clad AJ Lee, David Gans and More

photo: @chriscapturesitall

BERTHA: Grateful Drag made their Bay Area pilgrimage over the weekend. The Nashville-located first and only Grateful Dead drag band appeared at the UC Theatre Taube Family Music Hall in Berkeley, Calif., for the first time on Saturday, Dec. 14, where they were joined by an extensive roster of guests, including AJ Lee, David Gans, Mutha Chucka, T Sisters, Joe and Hattie Craven, and Alex Jordon. In the crowd and supporting the night was a friend of the Grateful Dead and revolutionary counter-culturist, Wavy Gravy. 

After setting the course with their namesake number, BERTHA kicked into “Cassidy” before reminding the audience of their collective ethos on “They Love Each Other.” Lee served as the night’s initial guest, assisting the cover band on a rendition of “Dire Wolf.” Guests arrived on and off stage, with drag-clad Gans stepping up and playing with the band during “West LA Fadeaway.” 

The initial frame of music presented fan favorites [sans guest] “Me & My Uncle,” “Jack Straw,” and “Mississippi Half Step” > “Touch of Grey.” The latter piece of the sequence featured assistance from Southern California drag queen Mutha Chucka. Without help, BERTHA returned to the stage post-break and resumed the show with a run through the Ace favorite, “Greatest Story Ever Told,” ahead of T Sisters’ arrival on “Uncle John’s Band.” 

The latter portion of the night brought the Cravens to the stage, dressed in their drag best. Initially, Joe provided percussion during “Scarlet Begonias” before Hattie turned up for an ensuing “Fire on the Mountain” and the second set’s instrumental interlude, “Drums.” Following “Space,” BERTHA played through “Cryptical” before inviting Jordon up to assist on “The Other One.” Eventually, the encore brought all guests to the stage for a collaborative and fitting, “We Bid You Good Night.” 

Jerry Garcia’s famed Alligator Strat was on loan during the event, provided by Grateful Guitars, “[A] 501-c3 nonprofit that obtains world-class musical instruments for talented players who seek to carry on the tradition of jam band music into the 21st century and beyond.”

BERTHA spoke in Relix about their band experience and admiration for the Grateful Dead. Read the full story here.

Scroll down to view the band’s official post and setlist on Instagram.