Mike McCready & Skerik Help Welcome Dave Matthews Band Back To Seattle

Dave Matthews Band brought their fall tour to Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena on Friday marking the group’s first headlining show in the city since 1996. Saxophonist Skerik and Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready, both of whom are based in the Emerald City, served as the welcoming committee as they each sat in with DMB for a song during the concert.

Frontman Dave Matthews led the septet through classic “One Sweet World” to kick off Friday’s show. A cover of Daniel Lanois’ “The Maker” followed. Matthews then noted the band’s last performance in Seattle came in 2006 when they opened for The Rolling Stones. “Before that, the last time we had our own show in the city was 1996!” Dave added before launching into “Stay Or Leave.”

Friday’s set continued with the 2021 debuted “Madman’s Eyes” and a lengthy run through “Seek Up.” DMB then looked to 2018’s Come Tomorrow for “She” before delivering a 16-minute “Crush” and staple “Walk Around The Moon.” From there, the ensemble paired “So Damn Lucky” and “Gravedigger” along with a take on Peter Gabriel’s 1986 smash “Sledgehammer.” Next came “Grey Street” and “Come Tomorrow” ahead of the evening’s first guest spot.

“I don’t mean to get in the way, but a friend of ours is gonna sit in on this song,” Matthews told the crowd and then introduced Mike McCready. The Pearl Jam guitarist emerged to huge cheers from the audience and joined the band for “All Along The Watchtower.” McCready shined throughout the cover and unleashed a powerful solo just before its conclusion. Dave and drummer Carter Beauford played “Kill The Preacher” after McCready’s appearance and then the full band performed “Why I Am.”

DMB’s horn section was expanded for the ensuing “Jimi Thing” with Skerik on sax. Skerik stepped into the spotlight for a fierce solo and call-and-response with his fellow horn players. Carter and trumpeter Rashawn Ross then teased “First Call,” aka “Call To The Post.” The seven-piece tacked on “Louisana Bayou” to close the set. Dave returned to get the encore underway with “Singing From The Windows” and then the rest of the band contributed to the evening’s “Two Step” finale.

Watch DMB collaborate with Mike McCready and Skerik via fan-shot video below:

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Setlist (via DMBAlmanac.com)

Set: One Sweet World, The Maker, Stay or Leave, Madman’s Eyes, Seek Up, She, Crush, Walk Around the Moon, So Damn Lucky, Gravedigger, Sledgehammer, Grey Street, Come Tomorrow, All Along the Watchtower*, Kill the Preacher, Why I Am, Jimi Thing**, First Call, Louisiana Bayou

Encore: Singing from the Windows, Two Step

• * – w/ Mike McCready on guitar
• ** – w/ Skerik on sax