Bob Weir enjoyed a NorCal homecoming on July 24, performing with his expanded Wolf Bros lineup at The Greek in Berkeley. Weir’s band included mainstays Jay Lane and Don Was as well as keyboardist Jeff Chimenti, pedal steel master Greg Leisz and The Wolfpack string/horn section.
The show opened with a nice pairing of “Not Fade Away”> “Cassidy,” but the show really picked up steam with the Wolf Bros debut of the RatDog tune “She Says” (Weir last played the tune live with Ratdog on July 11, 2014).
Soon after, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott gave the crowd a wave and made a guest appearance on the Jimmie Rodgers standard “Mule Skinner Blues.” Most recently, Elliott jammed the same song with the Wolf Bros during their 2020-2021 New Year’s Eve broadcast at TRI Studios.
Other highlights from the Wolf Bros July 24 gig included a jam-heavy second set that kicked off with Hank Williams’ “You Win Again” and bled into the Grateful Dead standards “Scarlet Begonias”> “Playing in the Band”> “Uncle John’s Band”> “Playing in the Band Reprise.” (The first go-around of “Playing in the Band” even included a snippet of “So What” by Miles Davis. Elements of “So What” returned a few songs later, within “The Other One.”)
Naturally, the Saturday-night gig ended with “One More Saturday Night” before a nice “Ripple”> “Not Fade Away,” bringing the evening full circle.
“It was so great to be back at the @greekberkeley again,” Weir wrote afterwards via Instagram. “Thanks to Ramblin’ Jack for joining us!”
Check out the full setlist and sneak peeks of each set opener below:
Bob Weir & Wolf Bros
July 24, 2021
Greek Theatre, Berkeley, Calif.
Set I: Not Fade Away> Cassidy, She Says^, Friend of the Devil, Black-Throated Wind, Tennessee Jed, Mule Skinner Blues*, Weather Report Suite> Let It Grow
Set II: You Win Again> Scarlet Begonias> Playing in the Band> Uncle John’s Band> Playing in the Band Reprise, Estimated Prophet> The Other One, Standing on the Moon, One More Saturday Night
Enc: Ripple> Not Fade Away
Notes:
^Wolf Bros. debut, Last played by Weir on 7/11/14 (with Ratdog)
*Jimmie Rodgers cover, with Ramblin’ Jack Elliott
4 Comments comments associated with this post
Bob Who
July 26, 2021 at 1:32 amZappa’s “Make a Jazz Noise Here”
Bob Who
July 26, 2021 at 1:29 amA special event. Bobby integrated a dozen or so instrumentalists into the arrangement, with daring and success. Avant-garde pizazz like Zappa’s “Make a Jan Noise Here” Also, Rambling Jack Eliot’s appearance is homage to authentic western Americana, as personified in the Wolf Brothers creed. Certainly, this was great for deadheads, but more impressively Bobby challenges himself musically by doing something new, thoughtful, and tastefully prepared. Considering how fast a tour can breeze by, it was a special treat to hear such novel musical territory. This performance reaffirms my faith in the Weir brand of daring exploratory sonic revelation – today as good as ever. This ensemble makes it clear to me that Weir is willing to go the extra mile. He makes the hard work look so effortless and natural. A performance to savor!
Paul in CA
July 25, 2021 at 4:49 pmI was at that show. Best show I’ve seen in awhile and I do ALOT of shows!
GB
July 25, 2021 at 12:56 pmSo glad to get back to the Greek! Great show, great crowd, great energy. Thanks Bobby and band.