Don Was Gives the Grateful Dead’s “Blues for Allah” a Detroit Spin
Bassist Don Was and The Pan-Detroit Ensemble have announced a new live album called Live Dispatch Vol 1: Blues For Allah ’26. The release honors longtime friend and late guitarist Bob Weir by capturing the group’s celebration of the 50th anniversary of The Grateful Dead’s Blues for Allah.
Was joined Weir to form the Wolf Bros in 2018 and played with him until his passing in 2026.
“Playing with Bobby Weir and The Wolf Bros drew me deep into the music of the Grateful Dead,” Was said in a press release. “The songs became way more than lyrics and a chord chart – they became more like ‘friends’ that I looked forward to hanging out with night after night. We hope that this record conveys our deep respect and love for this music and for the fans who have made it such an important part of their lives.”
The Pan-Detroit Ensemble features saxophonist Dave McMurray, drummer Jeff Canady, trombonist Vincent Chandler, vocalist Steffanie Christi’an, trumpeter John Douglas, guitarist Wayne Gerard, percussionist Mahindi Masai, and keyboardist Phil Whitfield. Together, they recreate the sound and feel of Detroit’s unique music style, which Was describes as having “a rawness, a lack of pretension, and an unmistakable underlying groove that reflects the people and culture of the entire city.”
As such, it presents a fresh take on the Dead’s compositions. Live Dispatch Vol 1: Blues For Allah ’26 reinterprets the original album in full. Hear the Pan-Detroit Ensemble’s spin on “The Music Never Stopped”:
Live Dispatch Vol 1: Blues For Allah ’26 will be out November 20th on CD, vinyl and digital platforms (Apple Music, and Amazon Music). Don Was and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble will be on tour with fall, so check below for a date near you.
Live Dispatch Vol 1: Blues For Allah ’26 Track List:
- Help On The Way > Slipknot > Franklin’s Tower
- King Solomon’s Marbles
- The Music Never Stopped
- Crazy Fingers
- Sage And Spirit
- Blues For Allah
Don Was and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble 2026 Tour Dates:
| Date | Location | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 13 | Homer, NY | Center for the Arts of Homer |
| Oct 14 | New York, NY | Le Poisson Rouge |
| Oct 15 | Fairfield, CT | The Warehouse at FTC |
| Oct 16 | Boston, MA | The Sinclair |
| Oct 17 | Groton, MA | Groton Hill Music Center |
| Oct 18 | Bar Harbor, ME | Criterion Theatre |
In his time with No Treble, Kevin has met hundreds of amazing bassists and interviewed icons like Jack Casady, Victor Wooten, Les Claypool, Marcus Miller, and more. He's a gigging bassist performing jazz in Northern Virginia and bluegrass with The Plate Scrapers up and down the East Coast. Kevin appreciates all genres of music, from R&B to metal and everything in between. Connect with Kevin on Facebook and check his performance schedule on his website.
