Bob Weir....”Bringing it all Back Home”

 Nov. 08, 2018

Nashville, TN

Story By Butch Worrell of One Heart Photo

Photos By Butch Worrell of One Heart Photo

And with a lil help from my friends.....

Julia Nichols, Deseare Iwin-Gnann, Karen Dismukes-Cooper, and more

The Wolf Brothers (Bob Weir, Jay Lane, Don Was) stopped in at the Ryman Auditorium to pay homage at the “Mother Church” of Americana. Ever since receiving the 2016 Americana Lifetime achievement award Nashville seems to be a special spot for Bob. As Bob said then in his acceptance speech....”You take musical traditions from England, Ireland, Scotland, Spain a little bit, a little bit from France, and blend them together with a rich variety of African musical traditions, and stir it up. You let is simmer for 200 to 300 years and see what happens. This could only happen in a new land. Physically, culturally, and spiritually. That place was and is America.” It was very appropriate to have some special guests that are prominent artists in the Americana genre, Margo Price, John Oates, and Buddy Miller to join in to make it a very special evening.

The first set kicked off with the Grateful Dead's “Hell in a Bucket” demonstrating that this trio rocked with the best. The special nods to Americana in the set were Merle Haggard's “Mama Tried” and Dylan's “She Belongs to Me”. Some special “Dead” standards performed, “Tennessee Jed” and “Black-Throated Wind” also definitely belong in the Americana lists.

The special guests were brought out in the 2^nd set. First up were John Oates and Buddy Miller with a blues, “My Creole Belle” by Mississippi John Hurt. Then John Oates stayed to perform another “Dead” tune that makes the “A” list, “Friend of the Devil”.

Then at the top of the evening judging by the audiences response came Margo Price to perform a duet with Bob covering Kris Kristofferson's “Me and Bobby McGhee” ala Janis Joplin.

Next up was Buddy Miller to add some country twang to celebrate “You Win Again” by Hank Williams. The final collaboration was when Buddy Miller added his beautiful leads on Jerry Garcia's “Days Between””.

Then the trio finished off the night with some fast paced “Dead” tunes, “Throwing Stones”, “Touch of Grey” and the encore “U.S. Blues”. Bob Weir indeed was “Bringing it All Back Home”.