This weekend, we’re witnessing a blossoming musical connection between My Morning Jacket frontman Jim James and Grateful Dead founder Bob Weir. On Friday night, as part of a brief run of late-summer solo shows, James performed a set at Mill Valley, CA’s Sweetwater Music Hall in support of the world-renowned Preservation Hall Jazz Band. For the back end of his set, the My Morning Jacket treated the crowd to a very special surprise: an extended guest appearance by Weir.
The acoustic James/Weir duo connected for the sets final five songs, including covers of Marvin Gaye‘s “Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology),” and Daniel Lanois‘ “The Maker.” From there, the two delivered a pair of Grateful Dead tunes, “Brown Eyed Women” and “Candyman,” both of which James performed with Joe Russo’s Almost Dead at LOCKN’ two weekends ago. James is particularly well-versed with the latter tune, having recorded a version of “Candyman” for the massive 2016 Grateful Dead tribute project and compilation album, Day of the Dead. Finally, the collaborative mini-set closed with Bob Dylan‘s “Blowin’ In The Wind.”
Check out Bob Weir and Jim James playing “Candyman” at Sweetwater Music Hall below, courtesy of YouTube user Phong Le:
Then, last night, James and Weird both took part in the previously-scheduled Sound Summit: A Benefit For The Mountain at Mountain Theater at Tamalpais State Park–James as a solo act, and Weir making a special appearance with Phil Lesh & Friends. However, Lesh wasn’t the only artists on the bill to whom Weir lent his “friendship.”
For the second time in as many evenings, James welcomed Weir for the end of his set. The three-song sit-in once again included “The Maker,” as well as the Dead’s “Brokedown Palace” and a set-closing rendition of Buffalo Springfield‘s “For What It’s Worth.”
Check out full video of Bob Weirs’s sit-in with Jim James at Sound Summit below, via YouTube user Steve Kiebus:
You can view the setlists from both nights below:
SETLIST: Jim James | Sweetwater Music Hall | Mill Valley, CA | 9/8/17
Losin’ Your Head, Look At You, The Right Place, Hopefully, Have You Been Good To Yourself, Yes To Everything, Love & Mercy, The Way That He Sings, Golden, I Will Be There When You Die, Here In Spirit, The Beautiful Ones, Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)*, The Maker*, Brown-Eyed Women*, Candyman*, Blowin’ In The Wind*
* – w/ Bob Weir
SETLIST: Jim James | Sound Summit | Mountain Theater at Mount Tamalpais State Park | Mill Valley, CA | 9/9/17
Rainbow Connection, Here in Spirit, Changing World, Everything Must Change, Wild Honey, America^, Over and Over, A New Life, I’m Amazed, Bermuda Highway, Same Old Lie, State of the Art (A.E.I.O.U.), Wonderful^, The Maker* , Brokedown Palace*, For What It’s Worth*
* – w/ Bob Weir
^ – w/ Eric Johnson
[Cover photo Bob Weir Instagram]