Golden Gate Wingmen Debut Wilco, Warren Zevon, Wood Brothers & Nathan Moore Covers In Ardmore

Golden Gate Wingmen fit many cover debuts into their two-night stand at The Ardmore Music Hall in Ardmore, Philadelphia over the past two nights. The quartet — consisting of guitarist John Kadlecik, bassist Reed Mathis, keyboardist Jeff Chimenti and drummer Jay Lane — premiered their renditions of songs by Wilco, Warren Zevon, The Wood Brothers and Nathan Moore on Wednesday and Thursday as well as a few originals.

Wednesday’s show began with the pairing of “Liberty” and “What’s Become Of Mary” before the Wingmen served up an extended version of The Wood Brothers’ Ways Not To Lose classic “Luckiest Man.” Grateful Dead chestnut “Dupree’s Diamond Blues” was up next along with a cover of Bob Dylan’s “Isis.” Then, the band then went “Blue” as they worked their debut take on Kadlecik’s “So Blue” into Dylan’s “Tangled Up In Blue” to end the first set of their December 2019 tour.

The second set on Wednesday started with takes on the Grateful Dead’s “Bertha” and “Terrapin Station.” It was then back to the Dylan repertoire for “Just Like A Woman” ahead of the Kadlecik/Robert Hunter/Greg Anton co-write “Givin’ Me The Business.” From there, Mathis led the group through “Tombstone” from Nathan Moore’s 2009 album, Folk Singer, for the first time. The Golden Gate Wingmen went on to perform the Garcia/Saunders repertoire staple “I Feel Like Dynamite” and Lane’s “Ancient Aliens.” Jay said the song was from the soundtrack of his new “hippie horror flick.” GGW closed the set with “Going Down The Road Feelin’ Bad” and encored with their groovy rendering of “Ripple.”

On Thursday, the four-piece opened with the Dead’s “Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo” and “Brown-Eyed Women.” Kadlecik then fronted the group on his own “Seen Love.” From there, GGW returned to the Nathan Moore songbook for the band’s debut “So Close To Dreams” from the troubadour’s In His Own Worlds album. John K. was in the spotlight again for “Midnight Bay” ahead of the Dylan gem “Things Have Changed.” Another cover debut came next in the form of a Kadlecik-sung rendition of Warren Zevon’s “Accidentally Like A Martyr” before “Deal” ended the frame.

Last night was Jay Lane’s birthday and the occasion was noted at the start of the second set. Golden Gate Wingmen then jammed “Help On The Way” into “Slipknot!” which gave way to “Crazy Fingers.” Another Dead tune, “Sugaree,” was followed by Kadlecik’s “Mercury Transit.” Next up to close out the set were covers of The Police’s “Walking In Your Footsteps,” Bob Dylan’s “Visions Of Johanna” and Buddy Holly’s “Not Fade Away.” Golden Gate Wingmen encored with their debut “California Stars,” a song featuring lyrics by Woody Guthrie and music by Wilco and Billy Bragg.

Here’s pro-shot video of Thursday’s show provided by nugs.net:

Setlists & Full Show Audio (Taped by Fred Nicolois)

Wednesday, December 4

Set One: Liberty, What’s Become of Mary, Luckiest Man, Dupree’s Diamond Blues, Isis, So Blue > Tangled Up in Blue

Set Two: Bertha, Lady with a Fan > Terrapin Station, Just Like A Woman, Givin’ Me The Business, Tombstone, I Feel LiKe Dynamite, Ancient Aliens, Going Down The Road Feelin’ Bad

Encore: Ripple

Thursday, December 5

Set One: Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo, Brown-Eyed Women, Seen Love, So Close To Dreams, Midnight Bay, Things Have Changed, Accidentally Like A Martyr, Deal

Set Two: Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Crazy Fingers, Sugaree > Mercury Transit > Walking In Your Footsteps > Visions Of Johanna, Not Fade Away

Encore: California Stars