Remembering Dr. John: The Night Tripper Joins Jerry Garcia & John Kahn In New York

Jerry Garcia and bassist John Kahn hit New York City’s historic Beacon Theatre on April 21 as part of Jerry’s spring 1982 acoustic tour. The duo would deliver two performances: a shorter early show and a two-set late show. Fittingly, the late show saw an appearance from the Night Tripper himself, the late great Dr. John, who died yesterday. In honor of these three departed heroes, here’s a look at the late concert for this edition of Full Show Friday.

Garcia and Kahn opened the first set with Bob Dylan’s “It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry.” Jerry then jumped into he and Robert Hunter’s interpretation of the folk traditional “Stagger Lee” ahead of the Grateful Dead murder ballad “Dire Wolf.”

Jerry then addressed the crowd: Thank you, how ya doin’? Everybody OK?” before heading into the Jerry Garcia Band staple “Valerie.” The Garcia/Hunter penned “Run For The Roses” followed ahead of the traditional “I’ve Been All Around This World” and the Dead classic “Friend Of The Devil.” Garcia and Kahn closed out the first set with another traditional, “Deep Elem Blues.”

The second set kicked off with the Dead staple “Jack-A-Roe” followed by Merle Haggard’s “Sing Me Back Home.” A cover of blues legend Elizabeth Cotten’s “Oh Babe, It Ain’t No Lie” came next, followed by the JGB favorite “Gomorrah.” Garcia returned to Dylan with “Going Going, Gone” ahead of the Dead anthem “Ripple.” The Garcia/Hunter epic “Reuben & Cherise” closed out the second set.

Garcia and Kahn emerged for the encore with Dr. John in tow. The trio sent the crowd home with a fitting “Goodnight Irene” by the legendary Lead Belly. The raucous take features Dr. John’s iconic barrelhouse piano. Listen to audio of the full show below: