Photo Credit: Todd Michalek

On Wednesday, Oct. 5, Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros arrived at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., for the first of four nights of concerts alongside the National Symphony Orchestra, which conductor Steven Reinecke led. During the group’s initial performances, they ran through several Grateful Dead classics presented stunningly as the bands warped and twisted the notes that rose from each instrument.

After kicking off their fall tour on Friday, Sept. 30, at the Palace Theater in Waterbury, Conn., and continuing on Saturday in neighboring New Haven, Conn., Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros long-awaited National Symphony Orchestra stand began with a 10-minute “Overture” which featured immaculately placed instrumental breaks of “Brokedown Palace,” “Cassidy,” “Terrapin Station” and at times, “The Other One” led by Reinecke. 

For the first full song of the night, Weir took the stage, followed by Don Was, Jay Lane, Jeff Chimenti, and his Wolf Pack allies: Alex Kelly (cello), Mads Tolling (violin), Adam Theis (trombone), Brian Switzer (trumpet) and Brian Switzer (woodwind), all of whom were dressed to the nines, in their formal wear. To follow the orchestra’s instrumental opener, the ensemble broke into the Grateful Dead’s Wake of the Flood favorite on “Row Jimmy,” followed by a classic pairing of “China Cat Sunflower” into “I Know You Rider.”

The ensemble’s second set resumed with the orchestra-infused “Uncle John’s Band,” which gave way to “Touch of Grey” and a smoking rendition of “Shakedown Street.” The latter bled into “Days Between,” which saw Weir and only, the National Symphony Orchestra deliver the Robert Hunter and Jerry Garcia penned track. After they wrapped the number, the Wolf Brothers and the Pack returned for “Cassidy,” followed by a profound take on “Dark Star.” 

Set two continued with “Sugar Magnolia” before adopting an increasingly serious tone as they worked through “Brokedown Palace.” Then, on the night which followed Janis Joplin’s Oct. 4 death date, the band ran through a fitting “Bird Song” followed by a set ending “Loose Lucy,” which the band reprised as their encore. 

On the second night of their Kennedy Center stand, the National Orchestra began with another instrumental interlude before breaking into “Shakedown Street” and “Playing in the Band.” The start of “Dark Star” rang before they continued with “Jack Straw” and a striking take on “Wharf Rat” before the first frame ended on “Cassidy.”

The ensemble’s second set got underway with a classic pairing of “Lost Sailor” with “Saint of Circumstance,” followed by a return and continuation into “Dark Star.” A striking “Stella Blue” arrived next and was capped after another return to “Dark Star.” The ensemble reprised “Uncle John’s Band” from night one, before working in a return to their first set take on “Playing in the Band.”

Just Weir and Wolf Bros took on Eddie Cooley’s “Fever” next, before the night ended on an appropriately placed “Not Fade Away.” After the initial two nights of concerts alongside the National Symphony Orchestra, the group will take a night off before returning on Saturday, Oct. 8, and Sunday, Oct. 9, for their final stands at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. From there, they will continue with their fall tour on the West Coast stint of the run. For more information, visit BobWeir.net. 

Scroll down to view setlists from both nights. 

Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros 

John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts – Washington, D.C.

Oct. 5, 2022 

Set I: Overture*, Row Jimmy, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider

Set II: Uncle John’s Band, Touch of Grey, Shakedown Street > Days Between^, Cassidy, Dark Star, Sugar Magnolia, Brokedown Palace, Bird Song > Loose Lucy 

Enc.: Loose Lucy (Reprise) 

Notes:

* National Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Steven Reinecke 

^ Just Weir and National Symphony Orchestra

Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros 

John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts – Washington, D.C.

Oct. 5, 2022 

Set I: Shakedown Street, Playing in the Band > Dark Star V. 1, Jackstraw, Wharf Rat, Cassidy

Set II: Lost Sailor > Saint of Circumstance > Dark Star V. 2, Stella Blue, Dark Star V., Touch of Grey, Fever+, Not Fade Away#

Notes:

+ Four-piece ensemble 

# Nine-piece ensemble