Live Dead & Brothers got in the Easter spirit on Sunday with a cover of “White Rabbit” in Milwaukee. The Jefferson Airplane classic was the first song of the hybrid Grateful Dead/Allman Brothers Band tribute’s tour closer at The Miramar Theatre.

Though “White Rabbit” was technically the first song of Sunday’s show, avid Deadheads recognized the concert’s opening bit of improvisation as the “Spanish Jam” the Grateful Dead supposedly based on “Solea” from Miles Davis‘ Sketches of Spain, per Dead.net. After the opening jam, drummer Pete Lavezzoli (Jazz Is Dead) began the familiar opening drum march to “White Rabbit”.

Live Dead & Brothers is stocked with decorated musicians—plus special guest guitarist Steve Kimock on this tour—but Lavezzoli is the literal center of attention onstage as he throttles the band through its melding of two iconic catalogs, while simultaneously delivering vocals that easily clear the low bar set by many jam band vocalists. Some part of Lavezzoli must know this, as he was bold enough to attempt to emulate the raw power of Grace Slick. Just as one was left to marvel at Lavezzoli’s vocal range after he successfully pulled off the tune’s iconic vocal crescendo, bassist Berry Duane Oakley revved up the rumbling bassline to “Whipping Post” and the band was off and running.

Live Dead & Brothers also features guitarist Mark Karan (The Other Ones, RatDog) and keyboardist Scott Guberman (Phil Lesh & Friends, Communion). Originally launched in 2024 with former Grateful Dead keyboardist Tom Constanten and Brothers & Sisters session player Les Dudek, the band celebrates the Grateful Dead and Allman Brothers Band’s fruitful and often collaborative 1969–1973 era.

Check out photos from Live Dead & Brothers in Milwaukee by photographer Daniel Ojeda and watch full-show video, with the “White Rabbit” cover starting around 13:40. The band is off the road until a West Coast tour in June. Find tickets and tour dates here.

Live Dead & Brothers — The Miramar Theatre — Milwaukee, WI — 4/20/25 — Set One

Live Dead & Brothers — The Miramar Theatre — Milwaukee, WI — 4/20/25 — Set Two

Setlist: Live Dead & Brothers | The Miramar Theatre | Milwaukee, WI | 4/20/25

Set One: Spanish Jam > White Rabbit (Jefferson Airplane) [1] > Whipping Post, Friend of the Devil, Statesboro Blues (Blind Willie McTell), Big River (Johnny Cash), Not Fade Away (The Crickets) > Going Down the Road Feeling Bad (Traditional), Jessica
Set Two: Blue Sky > I Know You Rider (Traditional) > Midnight Rider, The Other One > My Favorite Things (Oscar Hammerstein II, Richard Rodgers) [1] > The Other One > One Way Out, Hard to Handle (Otis Redding) [2], In Memory of Elizabeth Reed > Wall of Noise > Elizabeth Reed [3]
Encore: We Bid You Goodnight (Traditional)

[1] Breakout
[2] w/ Gabe Woodside (crew) on vocals
[3] Coda only