Bob Weir & Wolf Bros celebrated St. Patrick’s Day on Wednesday with a livestream from Weir’s TRI Studios in San Rafael, CA. The show saw Weir once again expand his lineup with keyboardist Jeff Chimenti, multi-instrumentalist Greg Leisz as well as The Wolf Pack, a five-piece string and horn section comprised of cellist Alex Kelly, trumpeter Brian Switzer, trombonist Adam Theis, violinist Mads Tolling, and Sheldon Brown on clarinet, flute and saxophone, per JamBase, as well as a guest appearance from rapper Berner. All of these musicians came in addition to Weir’s core Wolf Bros bandmates, drummer Jay Lane and bassist Don Was.
Bob Weir, Wolf Bros, and The Wolf Pack kicked off the holiday livestream with “Shakedown Street”, and cruised through “Weather Report Suite” into “Let It Grow” with the full lineup intact before Weir shed The Wolf Pack for the traditional “Peggy-O”. Next came a bust-out of “Whiskey In The Jar”, which the Grateful Dead guitarist hadn’t played since 3/17/11 with Furthur at the Patriot Center (now known as EagleBank Arena) in Fairfax, VA. This marked Wolf Bros’ first performance of the traditional Irish folk song.
The show rolled on with “Black-Throated Wind” after which Weir brought out San Francisco-born rapper Burner. The MC assisted Weir on Wolf Bros’ first performance of “Liberty”, as well as Weir’s first since 7/13/18 with Dead & Company at Folsom Field in Boulder, CO. The “Liberty” played on Wednesday, however, bore little resemblance to the Dead & Company version as Berner freestyled on a variety of topics over the latter-era Dead track. The Wolf Pack then returned to the stage for the eternal pairing of “Lost Sailor” and “Saint Of Circumstance” to close out set one.
Weir returned to the stage for the second set with the expanded five-piece lineup behind him for “Me & Bobby McGee”, before dipping into the RatDog catalog with “Ashes & Glass” at which time he brought The Wolf Pack back out. Sandwiched in the middle of “Ashes & Glass” verses was a take on “Don’t Let Go” before The Wolf Pack departed once again and the five-piece took on “Estimated Prophet”.
The Wolf Pack wasn’t gone for long, however, as the horns and strings returned for “Bird Song” and would remain onstage for the rest of the show, with set two staples “Scarlet Begonias”, “Morning Dew”, and a show-closing “Not Fade Away”. Though there was no audience at TRI to keep the iconic Buddy Holly beat going through the encore break, rest assured, thousands across the country were yelling “Know our love will not fade away” from their couches. Weir then returned to the stage, Wolf Pack in tow, to close the evening with “U.S. Blues”.
Scroll down to see videos of “Shakedown Street”, “Liberty” featuring Berner, and “Me & Bobby McGee” from Bob Weir & Wolf Bros’ St. Patrick’s Day livestream.
Bob Weir & Wolf Bros – “Shakedown Street” – San Rafael, CA – 3/17/21
Bob Weir & Wolf Bros – “Liberty” (ft. Berner) – San Rafael, CA – 3/17/21
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Bob Weir & Wolf Bros – “Me & Bobby McGee” – San Rafael, CA – 3/17/21
Setlist: Bob Weir & Wolf Bros | TRI Studios | San Rafael, CA | 3/17/21
Set One: Shakedown Street [1], Weather Report Suite [1] > Let It Grow [1], Peggy-O, Whiskey In The Jar [2], Black-Throated Wind, Liberty [3], Lost Sailor [1] > Saint Of Circumstance [1]
Set Two: Me & Bobby McGee, Ashes & Glass [1] > Don’t Let Go [1] > Ashes & Glass [1], Estimated Prophet, Bird Song [1], Scarlet Begonias [1], Morning Dew [1], Not Fade Away [1]
Encore: U.S. Blues [1]
[1] – w/ The Wolf Pack
[2] – Wolf Bros Debut
[3] – Wolf Bros Debut w/ Berner