Circles Around The Sun has been touring extensively for the last two months, visiting both coasts and all points in between before returning back to the East Coast. Wednesday’s stop at The Wonder Bar in Asbury Park, NJ was the first area show since the band announced John Lee Shannon as the band’s full-time guitarist replacing founding member Neal Casal who died by suicide in 2019. Shannon joins remaining founding members Adam MacDougall (keys), Mark Levy (drums), and Dan Horne (bass).

CATS would play a duo of tracks from 2015’s Interludes For The Dead—the album which was the impetus behind the original creation of this band when they were tapped to create the setbreak music for the Grateful Dead‘s 50th-anniversary Fare Thee Well concerts–including “Scarlotta’s Magnolias” and “Saturday’s Children”. “One For Chuck” was offered from 2018’s Let It Wander along with four tracks from 2020’s self-titled effort: “Detroit Dos”, “Landline Memories”, “Money’s No Option”, and “Babyman”.

Circles Around The Sun – “Babyman” – 5/18/22

[Video: Marc Komito]

Mikaela Davis & Southern Star have been touring as support and delivered an opening set that was at once energetic and ethereal, as is Davis’ way. Ms. Davis would return to the stage with her harp for the encore, joining CATS for a reading of the recently released single “Language”.

Related: Neal Casal & Johnny Irion Collaborate On Unearthed Single, “No Hard Feelings” [Listen]

Circles Around The Sun – “Language” – 5/18/22

[Video: Marc Komito]

Circles Around The Sun visits Bearsville Theatre in Woodstock tonight, May 19th, before a pair of Brooklyn Bowl shows in Brooklyn and Philly Friday and Saturday. Find more information about Circles Around The Sun’s upcoming tour here. Check out a gallery of images from Wednesday’s performance courtesy of photographer Joey Lugo.

Setlist: Circles Around The Sun | The Wonder Bar | Asbury Park, NJ | 5/18/22

Set: Scarlotta’s Magnolias, Detroit Dos, One For Chuck, Landline Memories, Saturday’s Children, Money’s No Option, Away Team, Babyman.

Encore: Language (with Mikaela Davis)