Photo Credit: Stevo Rood

Bobby Weir and Wolf Bros returned to the stage last night after welcoming Daniel Donato on Tuesday, Feb. 21, in Memphis, Tenn. The mid-week performance took place at Thomas Wolfe Auditorium in Asheville, N.C. The Feb. 22 show got underway with a debut for this unit of musicians, who ran through “Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo” for the first time in front of a live audience before moving through a selection of numbers pulled from the Grateful Dead archive. The latter part of the show saw Grahame Lesh take the stage and assist with choice selections before closing the night by returning for a “Ripple” encore.

Rumors of Lesh’s inclusion swirled before the show’s start after Weir posted one of his fabled “gyming” clips to Instagram. The video included the son of the legendary Grateful Dead bassist engaging in physical activity next to Weir, with “Box of Rain” dubbed over the reel. The team-up happened partly due to a close connection in concert dates, which saw Lesh’s Midnight North unit billed to perform at The Grey Eagle tonight, Feb. 23,  while Weir was scheduled to play the night prior, Feb. 22, at a neighboring venue, Thomas Wolfe Auditorium. 

Later that evening, after breaking a sweat, Weir and company kicked off the show with a previously mentioned debut. Then, the team of musicians, which included Jay Lane, Don Was and Jeff Chimenti, who moved into the second number of the night, “Odessa,” prior to an emotionally infused rendition of the Jerry Garcia classic, “Mission in the Rain.” To follow, they picked up “Brown-Eyed Women” before a take on Bob Dylan’s “When I Paint My Masterpiece.”  The group returned to the Dead catalog next, adding “West L.A. Fadeaway,” then closed out the frame with “Cassidy.” 

Upon returning to the stage for their second set, the initial Wolf Bros trio–Weir, Lane and Was–cut into a cover of Little Feat’s “Easy to Slip,” before the ensemble broaden to a 10-piece, with the arrival of the Wolfpack for an ensuing take on Eddie Cooley’s “Fever.” The evening’s highpoint occurred next and began with a Weir-led introduction: “I’ve known him since before he knew me,” which beckoned Lesh to the front of the room. Collectively, the group moved into Grateful Dead favorite, “Scarlet Begonias,” which was followed by a take on the Memphis Jug Band’s “Viola Lee Blues.” 

The previously mentioned tune merged into Garcia’s “The Wheel” before flowing over into a profound delivery of “All Along The Watchtower.” Then, Lesh left the stage, giving the billed performers time to play “Standing on the Moon” before they capped the second frame by kicking some extra energy into Chuck Berry’s “Around and Around,” a number that frequented Grateful Dead setlist. 

For the night’s encore, Weir once again welcomed Lesh to the stage for the final song of the night, a touching take on “Ripple.” Following last night’s show, Lesh’s Midnight North will play tonight, Feb. 23 at The Grey Eagle in Asheville, N.C. Meanwhile, Weir and Wolf Bros take the night off before arriving in Chattanooga, Tenn. tomorrow, Feb. 24, where they will perform at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium. Tickets remain on sale and can be purchased here.

Scroll down to view last night’s complete setlist. 

Bobby Weir and Wolf Bros 

Thomas Wolfe Auditorium – Asheville, N.C. 

Feb. 22, 2023 

Set I: Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo, Odessa, Mission in the Rain, Brown-Eyed Women, When I Paint My Masterpiece, West L.A. Fadeaway, Cassidy

Set II: Easy to Slip, Fever, Scarlet Begonias+, Viola Lee Blues+ > The Wheel+ > All Along The Watchtower+ > Standing on the Moon > Around and Around 

Enc.: Ripple+ 

Notes: 

+ With Grahame Lesh