Photo Credit: Stevo Rood
Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros concluded their three-night stand at The Warfield in San Francisco on Sunday night. The ensemble celebrated their frontman’s 75th birthday on the hometown stage with a selection of fan favorites and two debuts for the group, who ran through a take on Jimmy Reed’s “Big Boss Man” and the Grateful Dead’s “Victim or the Crime.” While both songs have been a part of the Grateful Dead catalog for decades, the debuts represented the first time this group of musicians performed the beloved tracks in front of an audience.
“Samson and Delilah” kicked off the unit’s first set, pulling in the Grateful Dead’s longstanding tradition of a Sunday night concert, before following up with a sweet take on “Rambling Rose.” Next, the group played “Big Boss Man” for the first time. The tune was sporadically performed by the Grateful Dead in the late ‘60s and into the early ‘70s and lyrically led by the late Ron “Pigpen” McKernan. For their following number, the band moved into a cover of Jimmie Rodgers’ “Mule Skinner Blues(Blue Yodel No. 8)” with accompaniment by celebrated folk singer Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, who stepped in as the night’s guest.
The first set presented a soulful rendition of “Looks Like Rain” before the next debut landed, with “Victim or the Crime,” which rolled into a partial take on “The Other One.” Then, for the final song of the night’s initial frame, they played “Cassidy.” The show’s latter half began with a cake and “Happy Birthday to You” sung to Weir. Also during the second frame of the concert, Weir picked up Jerry Garcia’s famed guitar, Alligator and played the beloved instrument to the crowd’s amusement.
Music restarted with a classic pairing of “China Cat Sunflower” with “I Know You Rider.” The favored traditional “Peggy-O” appeared next, before “New Speedway Boogie.” A seemingly fitting addition to the birthday setlist popped up next as the group worked in “Eternity” before reprising their first set take on “The Other One.” “Days Between” arrived before a set ending, cover of “Not Fade Away.” For their encore, the band began by breaking into “Happy Birthday to You,” this time dedicated to John Mayer, who shares a birthday with Weir. Then, they capped the night with “Shakedown Street.”
After this weekend’s birthday festivities, Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros will continue their fall tour at Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nev., where they will perform on Wednesday, Oct. 19. Tickets remain on sale and can be purchased here.
Scroll down to view last night’s complete setlist.
Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros
The Warfield – San Francisco
Oct. 16, 2022
Set I: Samson and Delilah, Ramble on Rose, Big Boss Man*, Mule Skinner Blues (Blue Yodel No. 8)^%, Looks Like Rain, Victim or the Crime* > The Other One > Cassidy
Set II: Happy Birthday to You, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Peggy-O, New Speedway Boogie > Eternity > The Other One Reprise, Days Between, Not Fade Away+
Enc.: Happy Birthday to You&, Shakedown Street
Notes:
* Debut for ensemble
^ Jimmie Rodgers cover
% With Ramblin’ Jack Elliott
& For John Mayer, who shares a birthday with Weir
+ The Crickets cover
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