Photo Credit: Bill Kelly

On Friday, Sept. 8, Bobby Weir returned to the stage for his first public performance since wrapping Dead & Company’s Final Tour in San Francisco. The concert was billed as a part of the Park City Song Summit in Park City, Utah, and marked the first of 13 dates the rock stalwart will participate in this fall. During this weekend’s display, Weir was joined by the Wolfpack strings and horn section and a trio of special guests, who stepped in and assisted on choice numbers. 

Weir’s guests were no strangers to the material that graced Friday night’s setlist, as everyone had previously joined the seasoned musician on stage, notably Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, who has made a habit of assisting the headliner over the years. Also taking the stage was Brittney Spencer, a contributor during Weir’s Radio City Music Hall celebration, which honored the 50th anniversary of Ace in 2022. And J.D. Souther, recently who sat in during Weir’s five-night Guild Theatre stand in Menlo Park, Calif., back in April. 

The concert commenced with fan favorite “Cassidy,” which cascaded into the locationally fitting “Salt Lake City,” an ideal fit for the Bee State get-down. Weir led the band back toward frequented material from his Grateful Dead days, landing on “Friend of the Devil” followed by a cover of Bob Dylan’s “Queen Jane Approximately.” Next, in typical fashion, the band paired “Weather Report Suite” with “Let It Grow,” working instrumental builds and unmatched melodic moments into the high-flying sister tunes. 

A special moment occurred next, with the arrival of the evening’s initial guest. Elliott accompanied Weir on a cover of Dylan’s “I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight.” Next, Weir brought out Spencer, who lent her fierce vocals to the heartbreaker “Looks Like Rain,” much like when the artist joined during the Radio City Music Hall shows. The third and final guest, Souther, beckoned to his songwriting days with the Eagles by covering the previously mentioned band’s “Heartache Tonight.”

The remainder of the concert t saw Weir add classic numbers from his days with the Dead, but not before revisiting “Greatest Story Ever Told” from his debut solo record. He then turned around and delivered “New Speedway Boogie,” “The Other One,” “Wharf Rat,” and a spotless descent through the “Terrapin Station Suite.” Reemerging on the other side of the epic jam and capping the night with a heartfelt “Ripple.” 

After Friday’s stint in Park City, Utah, Weir will participate in Willie Nelson’s Outlaw Music Festival at FirstBank Amphitheater in Franklin, Tenn., tonight. Tickets are still available and can be purchased here. To learn more about impending tour dates, visit bobweir.net. 

Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros 

Canyon Village – Park City, Utah 

Sept. 8, 2023

Set: Cassidy > Salt Lake City, Friend of the Devil, Queen Jane Approximately, Weather Report Suite > Let It Grow, I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight (With Ramblin’ Jack Elliott), Looks Like Rain (With Brittney Spencer), Heartache Tonight (J.D. Souther), Greatest Story Ever Told, New Speedway Boogie > The Other One > Wharf Rat > Terrapin Station Suite > Ripple