This weekend, George Porter Jr. and the Runnin’ Pardners have a two-night run at Sweetwater Music Hall in Mill Valley, California on Saturday and Sunday nights, with 7 Come 11 as opening support. They have just added Grateful Dead guitarist (and Sweetwater Music Hall owner) Bob Weir to the Sunday show as the special guest. Tickets are still available on the event website.
The last time that George Porter Jr. and Bob Weir collaborated was with Dead & Company at New Orleans’ Smoothie King Center on February 25th, 2018. The funk pioneer and bonafide Crescent City icon provided a sturdy foundation for a spot-on rendition of Howlin’ Wolf’s “Smokestack Lightning”, even playfully growling his way through his portion of the lyrics. Porter’s magnetic playing eventually drew in Mayer, who went to toe-to-toe with the New Orleans bass master during his solo—a move the pair would repeat with the “Bertha” and “Sugaree” that followed. Watch the fan-shot video highlights below.
Dead & Company w/ George Porter Jr. – “Smokestack Lightning”
[Video: btragal]
Dead & Company w/ George Porter Jr. – “Bertha”
[Video: btragal]
Dead & Company w/ George Porter Jr. – “Sugaree”