Leftover Salmon paid tribute to Grateful Dead co-founder Bob Weir on Tuesday night at Washington’s in Fort Collins, CO, delivering an eight-minute, “Playing In The Band” jam that spoke volumes without any lyrics.
Weir, who passed away Saturday, has been a cornerstone of the jam world since its inception, and Salmon honored that legacy in fitting tradition—stretching the iconic Dead staple into a swirling, exploratory jam. Behind the band, kaleidoscopic visuals flew across the screen, channeling classic Grateful Dead concert imagery, complete with playful nods to Bobby’s famously short jean shorts from the ’80s and ’90s.
The performance came just days after Leftover Salmon wrapped a run in Alaska, where the band devoted an entire first set on January 10 to Weir’s songbook, digging into Dead favorites “Black Peter”, “Cumberland Blues”, “Playing in the Band”, “New Speedway Boogie”, “Mr. Charlie”, Bob Dylan‘s “When I Paint My Masterpiece”, and “Easy Wind”, capping it off with “I Know You Rider”.
Back in Fort Collins, the tribute arrived late in an expansive second set that showcased Salmon’s signature blend of polyethnic Cajun slamgrass and high-energy improvisation.
Watch the full Leftover Salmon “Playing In The Band” tribute to Bob Weir below, and catch the band in the Southwest this week with shows in Arizona and New Mexico. Find tickets and tour dates here.
Leftover Salmon — “Playing In The Band Jam” (Grateful Dead) — 1/13/26
[Video: Fuzzy Dunlop]
Setlist: Leftover Salmon | Washington’s | Fort Collins, CO | 1/13/26
Set One: Big Wheel > Get ‘er Rollin’ > Walking Shoes > Twisted Pine > Salmon Scales > Bend In The River > Evermore > River Takes Me > One Way Track (Jay) > Good Dog > Better > Keep Driving
Set Two: Breakin’ Thru > Let’s Party About It > Gettin’ It Done > ? > Something Higher > Aquatic Hitchhiker > Playing In The Band (Grateful Dead) [1] > House Of Cards > New Country Blues > High Country
Encore: Pasta On The Mountain
[1] instrumental jam only