Song Review(s): Don Was & the Pan Detroit Ensemble with Tom Hamilton - âNew Speedway Boogieâ and âCassidyâ (Live, Jan. 14, 2026)
For Don Was, the obvious way to honor his fallen former Wolf Bro Bob Weir was to play his music.
And so, with Tom Hamilton guesting on vocals and lead acoustic guitar, Was and the Pan Detroit Ensemble performed Grateful Deadâs âNew Speedway Boogieâ and âCassidyâ in the style of Wolf Bros.
Pro-shot video of the Jan. 14 performances in Pennsylvania confirms Wasâ wisdom in this approach.
While âSpeedwayâ was relatively straightforward - as straightforward as acoustic guitar, double bass, drums, percussion and sax can be on a âBoogieâ based on the Deadâs 1970 live arrangement - âCassidyâ took a a couple of glorious detours during its little walk in the woods.
The first turn off the beaten path came as Hamilton turned to face Was and the band skittered around the songâs contours. After a return to the vocals, the Joe Russoâs Almost Dead frontman led the Ensemble on a spiraling slingshot toward space before reeling the music back to the Earth Weir, who died Jan. 10, no longer walks.
Let the words be yours, Iâm done with mine, Hamilton, back at the mic, sung.
Grade card: Don Was & the Pan Detroit Ensemble with Tom Hamilton - âNew Speedway Boogieâ and âCassidyâ (Live - 1/14/26) B+/A-
1/17/26
