Athens, GA music roots run deep, as audiences at the Georgia Theatre witnessed first-hand on Tuesday. During their hometown show with special guest Carl Broemel (My Morning Jacket), rising jamericana outfit Futurebirds got some help from one of the old guards of Athens when Mike Mills came out to sing R.E.M.‘s “(Don’t Go Back To) Rockville”.

The R.E.M. bassist has long supported Futurebirds and plenty of other Athens bands that came before them. He previously joined Futurebirds on the same song on the same stage when Futurebirds played the Georgia Theatre back in 2011. The band also shared a cover of “Rockville” on its collection of B-sides and rarities the BABA JAVA EP in 2014.

Futurebirds are currently out on the road performing a limited run of dates with Broemel, with whom they released the live compilation album …Thanks Y’all last week. The MMJ multi-instrumentalist/producer is just one of Futurebirds’ many friends in high places, in addition to Mills, and produced the band’s two most recent EPs, Bloomin’ (2021) and Bloomin’ Too (2022).

Futurebirds and Broemel (affectionately referred to as Carlbirds) will continue performing together through the end of the year with another show in Athens tonight, December 6th, as well as a gig in Nashville and a four-night New Year’s Eve run through Charlotte and Charleston. For tickets and a full list of tour dates visit Futurebirds’ website.

Related: Futurebirds Make A Splash With Sold-Out, Rain-Soaked Beach Party During Annual Windjammer Run [Photos/Audio]

Check out a gallery of images from Futurebirds and Carl Broemel in Athens, featuring a sit-in from Mike Mills, courtesy of photographer Charles Warren. The band’s new live album …Thanks Y’all is available across streaming platforms and on vinyl here.

Futurebirds, Carl Broemel, Mike Mills – “(Don’t Go Back To) Rockville” – 12/5/23

[Video: Daniel Peiken]

Futurebirds, Carl Broemel – …Thanks Y’all