This past Sunday night, Tom Hamilton brought along his American Babies for what turned out to be a rocker of a Dead & Company after-party at Boulder, CO’s The Fox Theatre, with some great special guests keeping the place electrified for a night of music.

Grahame Lesh and his Midnight North cohorts played a solid opening set of original Americana rock tunes, which included their own “Phoenix Motel” from Scarlet Skies, and a cover of Crosby, Stills, and Nash‘s “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes” (they will be playing special tribute shows to CSNY at Brooklyn Bowl on July 29th and in San Fran on Aug. 12th). The group invited Hamilton out for a rousing cover of the Grateful Dead‘s “Viola Lee Blues,” and finished the set strong on “The Highway Song,” which featured beautiful vocals from singer Elliott Peck.

With a packed house ready to keep the party going, American Babies did not disappoint. Their set began with original Babies songs “Fever Dreams” and “What Does It Mean To Be” from their latest release, An Epic Battle Between Light and Dark, before digging into T-Ham’s back catalog with Brothers Past‘s “Too Late To Call”, which turned the venue into a veritable dance party. If one thing is for certain, the current lineup of Hamilton on lead guitar/vocals, along with guitarist Justin Mazer, drummer Al Smith, acoustic guitarist/vocalist Raina Mullen, and bassist Mark Sosnoskie is a force to be reckoned with and completely locked in at this point in time. Will Trask from Denver-based funk act RunniKine joined the group on this special night for some additional help on percussion.

Tom Hamilton Talks Almost Dead, American Babies & An Epic Battle Between Light And Dark

As billed, Hamilton’s fellow Joe Russo’s Almost Dead bandmate Marco Benevento joined the fray on “Old Time Religion” which led into his own “At The Show” from the mad scientist’s 2014 album Swift. Later on in the set, Dead & Co bassist Oteil Burbridge joined the group for a beautiful cover of The Allman Brothers Band‘s “Blue Sky,” which had everyone in the audience elated, and featured a sweet solo from Justin Mazer, along with great interplay between him, Hamilton, and Burbridge.

With both Burbridge and Benevento sticking around on stage, the ensemble played an inspired “Eyes of the World” which kept the positive vibes going inside The Fox. A “Deal” encore brought the show to a successful end as everyone made their way out on the streets of Boulder. This was certainly the icing on the cake for what was an epic weekend in Colorado.

[all photos courtesy of Joshua Elioseff – Dancer Productions Photography]

Setlist: Midnight North at The Fox Theatre, Boulder, CO – 7/3/16

One Night Stand – EP
Roamin – All
Wind & Roses – GL
Phoenix Motel – EP
Suite: Judy Blue Eyes – All
Everyday – GL
Viola Lee Blues – All w Tom H
The Highway Song – EP

Setlist: Tom Hamilton’s American Babies at The Fox Theatre, Boulder, CO – 7/3/16

Fever Dreams
What Does It Mean To Be
Too Late To Call
Synth Driver
Old Time Religion* >
At The Show*^
Blue Sky*%#
Eyes Of The World*%

Encore: Deal*%

* with Marco Benevento
^ Marco Benevento original (first time played)
% with Oteil Burbridge
# Allman Brothers original (first time played)