Watch Dave Matthews & Mike Gordon Make Surprise Guest Appearances With All-Star Daze Between Band

Wednesday marked the halfway point of the Jazz Fest season in New Orleans and the occasion was celebrated at famed Crescent City club Tipitina’s with a concert featuring the star-studded Daze Between Band. While the lineup for the Eric Krasno-led ensemble was impressive enough on its own, the supergroup was joined by an array of surprise guests including Dave Matthews Band frontman Dave Matthews and Phish bassist Mike Gordon.

Musical director Eric Krasno was accompanied in the core 2025 Daze Between Band by keyboardist Ivan Neville, bassist/guitarist Tony Hall and drummer Raymond Weber along with a horn section consisting of trumpeter/vocalist Jennifer Hartswick, trombonist Alex Wasily and saxophonist Skerik. Additionally, vocalist Nicki Bluhm fronted the group on a few songs and legendary The Meters bassist George Porter Jr. played the second half of the show.

The Daze Between Band opened their lengthy set with the fitting selection of Earl King’s “Street Parade.” Ivan Neville sang the location-appropriate number. Nicki Bluhm made her first appearance of the night on the ensuing “I Second That Emotion.”

In a clever setlist twist, the all-star ensemble performed two famous songs entitled “Dreams” next. The Daze Between Band delivered a swampy, turbo-charged version of The Allman Brothers Band classic sung by Hall before Nicki Bluhm led the Daze Between Band through Fleetwood Mac’s 1977 hit and Kraz channeled Jimi Hendrix on “Fire”

The first big surprise of the night followed as Dave Matthews emerged for a crowd-pleasing cover of Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer.” Matthews stuck around to helm a gorgeous take on Daniel Lanois’ “The Maker.” Both songs have been played often by the Dave Matthews Band. Dave was in town for DMB's recent headlining appearance at Jazz Fest and subsequent cameo at Preservation Hall for Night Four of the Midnight Preserves series.

Dave Matthews, who brought bandmate/saxophonist Jeff Coffin along, addressed the crowd between songs, stating in part:

“Whenever I come to New Orleans, I always think this is the most beautiful place on Earth. Every place has its darkness and every place has its lightness, but it just feels when I get down here, it feels hopeful because there’s a whole lot more love it seems available from everywhere you go and everyone you see. I think it’s a special place — it’s like the heart.”

The post-Dave portion of the concert rolled on with Coffin in tow. Jennifer Hartswick stepped into the spotlight on Aretha Franklin’s “Rock Steady” ahead of Ivan Neville-fronted takes on Jimmy Cliff’s “Sitting In Limbo” and Dr. John’s “Quitters Never Win.”

It wouldn’t be a proper party without Andy Frasco and the The U.N. frontman had a beer in hand as he belted out “Who’s Making Love (To Your Old Lady, While You Was Out Making Love)” with an assist from Tony Hall. G. Love joined the fray on harmonica.

The stage was reset before George Porter Jr. and Mike Gordon provided double bass on the Allen Toussaint-penned “Sneakin’ Sally Through The Alley.” Gordon will debut a new solo band lineup tomorrow, May 2 at NOLA’s The Joy Theater.

George Porter Jr. stuck around to star on the set-closing run of Allen Toussaint/Lee Dorsey’s “Get Out Of My Life, Woman” and Meters classics “Cabbage Alley,” “You’ve Got To Change (You’ve Got To Reform)” and “A Message From The Meters.” The former also featured The Allman Betts Band guitarist Duane Betts and Chicago-based keyboardist Neal Francis. Ivan Neville and Nicki Bluhm handled lead vocals on the “Yes We Can Can” encore.

nugs.net All Access subscribers can watch a livestream replay of the complete Daze Between Band performance. Watch fan-shot video of the Matthews-led “Sledgehammer” and footage of Gordon and Porter trading licks on “Sneakin’ Sally” below:

Setlist

Set: Street Parade (Ivan Neville), Second That Emotion (Nicki Bluhm), Dreams (Tony Hall), Dreams (Nicki Bluhm), Fire, Sledgehammer (Dave Matthews), The Maker (Dave Matthews), Rock Steady (Jennifer Hartswick), Sitting In Limbo (Ivan Neville), Quitters Never Win (Ivan Neville), Who’s Making Love With Your Old Lady (Andy Frasco w/ G. Love), Sneakin’ Sally (George Porter Jr. w/ Mike Gordon), Get Out Of My Life Woman (George Porter Jr. w/ Duane Betts, Neal Francis), Cabbage Alley (Ivan Neville w/ George Porter Jr.), You’ve Got To Change (You’ve Got To Reform) (Ivan Neville w/ George Porter Jr.), A Message From The Meters (George Porter Jr. w/ Tony Hall)

Encore: Yes We Can Can (Nicki Bluhm w/ Ivan Neville)