Bob Weir found himself in a familiar place under unusual circumstances earlier this week. The guitarist and Grateful Dead co-founder performed a show at Sweetwater Music Hall just two days after the death of Dead lyricist Robert Hunter, who passed away on Monday night.
Related: Members Of Grateful Dead, More Share Heartfelt Tributes In Memory Of Robert Hunter
Weir’s performance at the intimate venue in Mill Valley, CA on Wednesday was supposed to be a benefit show for the nearby Northern Light School. The event ended up also being a tribute to his former friend, collaborator, and unofficial bandmate, as Weir performed an 11-song set comprised [almost] entirely of Dead tunes penned by Hunter throughout the years.
Weir started his solo performance with “Corrina”, a tune he co-wrote alongside Hunter and Dead drummer Mickey Hart. The set continued with “Dark Star”, “Jack Straw”, and “Loser” before moving into “Loose Lucy”. Weir then performed the only non-Hunter song with a cover of the traditional “Peggy-O”, about which Weir commented, “You see Bob Hunter was a huge fan of Scottish folk ballads and had he been around, oh, 500 years ago he’d have written this one too.”
After “Peggy-O”, Weir continued with “Bird Song” and “Truckin'”, with the latter transitioning back into the closing of “Bird Song”. Following a set-closing performance of “Friend of the Devil”, Weir returned to the stage to appropriately finish the show with two of the Dead’s most beloved ballads, “Ripple” and “Brokedown Palace”.
Watch part of Weir’s performance of “Friend of the Devil” from Wednesday’s tribute show below.
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On Thursday, Weir and his Dead & Company bandmates expanded their 2019 tour plans with the addition of four shows in Los Angeles and San Francisco to close out the year come late December. Tickets for the newly announced Dead & Company New Year’s run shows go on sale on October 4th at 10 a.m. local. Head to the Dead & Company website for presale registration info and a full list of upcoming dates.
Setlist: Bob Weir | Sweetwater Music Hall | Mill Valley, CA | 9/25/2019
Set: Corrina, Dark Star, Jack Straw, Loser, Loose Lucy, Peggy-O (Traditional cover), Bird Song, Truckin’ > Bird Song, Friend of the Devil
Encore: Ripple, Brokedown Palace