Article Contributed by Scott Kepnes
Published on January 22, 2026
Brian Stormwind and Mike Bailey | Deadbeat | The Bull Run, Shirley, MA — Saturday, January 10, 2026 | photos by Scott Kepnes
As DeadBeat, joined by special guests Mark Karan and Wally Ingram, prepared to take the stage for their annual cancer benefit on Saturday, January 10, the evening was about to take a major shift in tone. The unexpected and deeply sad news of Bob Weir’s passing was announced publicly while the band and many fans were gathered for pre-show dinner ahead of the sold-out concert at The Bull Run in Shirley, Massachusetts. Audience members arriving just before showtime were learning the news as they walked through the doors.
The shock was immediate and shared. The mood turned surreal — almost dreamlike — as if the air itself had shifted. And yet, within that transition, the room felt supportive and welcoming. It was comforting to be together, held up by community at the exact moment it mattered most.
Deeply affected, the band took the stage. DeadBeat’s Gary Barth welcomed the crowd and shared a memory of being at a Bob Weir and RatDog show in New Hampshire at Hampton Beach Casino the day Jerry Garcia died. He then read a quote from Weir from that night: “Our dear departed friend, if he proved anything to us, he proved that music makes sad times better.”
Barth continued, “I’m gonna’ echo that sentiment. I thank you all for being with us. I’m glad we’re all together tonight… to celebrate the music of the man… so thank you everybody.”
What followed was a memorable, heartfelt, high-energy evening of Grateful Dead music with Bobby foremost in everyone’s thoughts — a night of dancing, smiling, and tears, braided into one shared current.
DeadBeat (New England) is:
Brian Stormwind (lead guitar, vocals), Gary Barth (rhythm guitar, vocals), Mike “Bails” Bailey (bass), Jason Cohen (keys), Joe Pulitano (drums).
Special guests: Mark Karan (guitar, vocals — The Other Ones, Bob Weir and RatDog), Wally Ingram (drums — Timbuk 3, Bob Weir, The Phil Lesh Duo).
A powerful “Jack Straw” opened the show, quickly lifting the room’s energy. An emotional “Sugaree” followed with Karan on vocals — his singing and guitar solos beautifully expressive, seeming to come straight from the heart. “It’s All Over Now” led into “Ramble On Rose,” with Stormwind singing and sweet guitar lines continuing the mood.
When band and crowd joined together on the lyric, “Goodbye mama and papa—goodbye Jack and Jill—the grass ain’t greener, the wine ain’t sweeter—either side of the hill…,” it felt timeless and newly meaningful all at once.
The Merle Haggard-and-Bobby cowboy favorite “Mama Tried,” with Barth on vocals, was followed by “Here Comes Sunshine,” where the jam took off into spacey, psychedelic territory. Karan returned to the mic for “Deal,” keeping the electricity flowing. “The Music Never Stopped” sent good vibes bouncing through the room and segued into “Scarlet Begonias,” evolving into a jam that took flight with bell/block percussion rhythms leading the way — building, cresting, then slowing into a beautiful groove — before slipping back into “The Music Never Stopped.” It was a stunning, emotional peak of the night, and it felt as if Weir’s spirit was actively shaping the energy.
Set two opened with “Shakedown Street,” sparkling with momentum. Whether the audience was sitting or standing, the room moved — dancing and grooving — and the sound remained clear and balanced, each instrument sitting in its own strong place in the mix.
“Drums” followed, a percussive treat with Ingram and Pulitano beating out the rhythms together. The band then eased into a powerful “Bertha > Good Lovin’ > Uncle John’s Band,” which lifted off into psychedelic space. A “Dark Star Jam” continued to explore the cosmos within the room, evoking familiar memories across years and eras, before drifting into a lovely “Warf Rat” with Stormwind delivering the lyrics.
The drumming duo, Ingram and Pulitano, carried the flow toward “I’ll get up and fly away…” as Bailey drove a funky, storytelling bass groove and Cohen’s keyboards found exactly the right spaces to fill. Stormwind and Karan’s lead tones wound gracefully around Barth’s rhythm guitar, creating colorful waves of sound.
Launching into “St. Stephen,” the vibe erupted as band and crowd sang together: “One man gathers what another man spills!” The evening concluded with Barth at the mic punching out a rousing “Sugar Magnolia > Sunshine Daydream,” a fitting finale to an energizing night of music and tribute.
This concert was a benefit for the Head & Neck Cancer Center at Dana-Farber. DeadBeat has been playing fundraisers for head and neck cancer since 2010, and at The Bull Run since 2018. To date, well over $110,000 has been raised.
The date is set for next year’s benefit:
Saturday, January 16, 2027 — The Bull Run, Shirley, MA
Peace
