At least two things are true of every BERTHA: Grateful Drag show: They are all for a good cause, since each concert benefits an LGBTQ-friendly organization, and everyone who sits in with the band is expected to dress the part. Saturday’s fundraiser for the TGIJP Justice Project at The UC Theatre in Berkeley, CA met both requirements, with special guests David Gans, AJ Lee, Alex Jordan, and more donning full drag and looking fab.
Acclaimed author and host of the nationally syndicated Grateful Dead Hour David Gans donned a purple dress, wig, and red lips as he joined in on a slow and steady “West L.A. Fadeaway”. He gets a pass for wearing sneakers since he’s over 70, though he could probably rock a pair of pumps.
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Singer-songwriter Alex Jordan, on the other hand, sported rainbow locks and matching pants with a complementary black and white checkerboard dress and winged eyeliner during his “Cryptical Envelopment” sit-in. Jordan also aided in the fundraising part of the show by helping organize a raffle with the Grateful Guitars Foundation for a special D’Angelico guitar signed by Bob Weir.
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Another very special guitar, Jerry Garcia‘s “Alligator” Strat, also made an appearance, as did peace activist and noted rainbow-lover Wavy Gravy.
Other special guests who sat in with the band included AJ Lee (“Dire Wolf”), Mutha Chucka (“Touch of Grey”), T Sisters (“Uncle John’s Band”), and Hattie Craven (“Scarlet Begonias” > “Fire on the Mountain”). Joe Craven played percussion on several tunes throughout the night, including “Drums”, and the evening concluded with all of the guest players joining in on “And We Bid You Goodnight”.
Check out the full setlist and photos from BERTHA: Grateful Drag’s benefit show at Berkeley’s UC Theatre by Bob Minkin below.
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