Bassist Ron Carter Joins Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros At The Capitol Theatre

Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros featuring The Wolf Pack kicked off a five-show residency at The Capitol Theatre last night. The band welcomed renowned jazz bassist Ron Carter for the last two songs of the first set at the Port Chester, New York rock palace on Tuesday with saxophonist Kenny Brooks serving as the evening’s other special guest.

Guitarist Bob Weir went solo to open the show with Grateful Dead classic “Loose Lucy.” Weir was then joined by bassist Don Was and drummer Jay Lane as the original Wolf Bros trio covered Bob Dylan’s “When I Paint My Masterpiece.” The stage continued to fill with keyboardist Jeff Chimenti coming out for “Brown Eyed Women” and pedal steel guitarist added to the mix on “Althea.”

The Wolf Pack brass and strings section and longtime RatDog saxophonist Kenny Brooks made their first appearances of the night on the ensuing “Playing In The Band.” The gorgeous version of one of Weir’s signature tunes slid into “Don’t Let Go,” a Jerry Garcia Band live staple written by Jesse Stone. Both “Don’t Let Go” and the “Mexicali Blues” that followed were performed sans Brooks. Weir introduced the latter as the first song he wrote with late lyricist John Perry Barlow.

The famed Ron Carter emerged next to take Was’ place for the end of Tuesday’s first set. In 2016, Carter earned the Guiness World Records title as the Most Recorded Jazz Bassist In History. Artists Ron Carter has collaborated with over the course of his illustrious career include Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tyner, Billy Joel, A Tribe Called Quest, Black Star and thousands of others.

Weir called Ron Carter “a hero of mine” in a 2020 social media post. The bassist previously performed with Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros at New York City's Radio City Music Hall in April of 2022.

The 86-year-old bassist’s time on stage with Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros started last night with a performance of “She Knows What I’m Thinkin’.” Weir debuted one of his newest originals live last year. Bobby co-wrote the song with J.D. Souther and Aaron Raitiere. Ron Carter stuck around for an expansive set-closing “Bird Song.”

Last night’s second set began with an “Only A River” featuring Weir on acoustic guitar along with Was, Chimenti, Sless and Lane. The Wolf Pack then returned for a take on Dylan’s “Silvio” that encapsulated a singalong “Tequila.” Brooks shined on the subsequent “Estimated Prophet.” Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros delivered an extended “He’s Gone” next before covering The Beatles’ “Tommorow Never Knows.” Weir belted out GD ballad “Standing On The Moon” to continue a frame that ended with a romp through “Around & Around” by Chuck Berry.

Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros said farewell with a “Black Muddy River” encore. The residency resumes tonight. Ron Carter will guest with the band again this evening. Livestreams of all four remaining shows are available via FANS.live.

Watch pro-shot video of the start from each set as well as fan-captured footage below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biLTQUZgDQ8&ab_channel=PatrickTyrrell https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEwCNok1fws&ab_channel=PatrickTyrrell https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JWcpVANMto&ab_channel=PatrickTyrrell

Setlist

Set One: Loose Lucy (Bob Solo), When I Paint My Masterpiece (Bob, Jay & Don), Brown Eyed Women (Bob, Jay, Don & Jeff), Althea (Bob, Jay, Don, Jeff & Barry), Playing In The Band* > Don’t Let Go, Mexicali Blues, She Knows What I’m Thinkin’^, Bird Song^

Set Two: Only A River, Silvio > Tequila > Silvio, Estimated Prophet > He’s Gone > Tomorrow Never Knows > Standing On The Moon, Around & Around

Encore: Black Muddy River

• * – with Kenny Brooks on saxophone
• ^ – with Ron Carter on bass