Watch Cris Jacobs Join Infamous Stringdusters For Gorgeous ‘Black Muddy River’ Cover In Seattle

The Infamous Stringdusters ended their fall tour on Saturday with a concert at Seattle’s Neptune Theatre. Singer-songwriter Cris Jacobs sat-in on a Grateful Dead classic during the first set, while the jamgrass quintet welcomed a member of Japanese Stringdusters tribute act “The Unfamous Stringbusters” for part of Saturday’s second set as well as the encore.

Cris Jacobs opened for The Infamous Stringdusters over the last week of their 2023 Fall Tour including at the show in Seattle on Saturday. Jacobs emerged late in the five-piece’s first set at the Neptune with electric guitar in hand to add to “Black Muddy River.”

The Grateful Dead offered the live debut of “Black Muddy River” on December 15, 1986. A studio version of the beautiful Jerry Garcia/Robert Hunter-penned song closes the band’s 1987 studio album, In The Dark.

On Saturday, The Infamous Stringdusters guitarist Andy Falco and Cris Jacobs traded verses on “Black Muddy River.” The guitarists also harmonized on the choruses. ‘Dusters dobroist Andy Hall exchanged poignant licks with Jacobs towards the middle of the song.

The Unfamous Stringbusters dobroist Noren Nozaki was visiting Seattle from Japan on Saturday. Ren took the stage with the ‘Dusters towards the middle of their second set at the Neptune. Nozaki showed off his skills and sported a huge smile as he accompanied the band on a 15-minute, two-song sequence. Andy Hall dueled with Ren on dobros to bring the beloved original “Gravity” to an end. Nozaki ripped it up once more on the ensuing “Angeline The Baker.”

Noren Nozaki was called upon again later in the night for The Infamous Stringdusters’ encores. The quintet and their guest played fiddler Jeremy Garrett‘s “One More Bridge” and went on to end the night and tour by taking on Bob Dylan’s “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right.”

See audience-captured video of Ren performing with The Infamous Stringdusters below:

Setlist (via Infamous Stringdusters Set Lists)

Set One: Rise Sun > Get It While You Can, In God’s Country, Just Like Heaven, Weary Hearts > Black Elk, Black Muddy River [1], Blue Ridge Cabin Home > Sirens

Set Two: Long Lonesome Day > Colorado > Pig In A Pen, Gravity [2], Angeline The Baker [2], Like I Do, Highwaymen > My Destination, Let It Go, Jack Straw, Fork In The Road

Encore: One More Bridge [2], Don’t Think Twice It’s All Right [2]

• [1] – with Cris Jacobs on guitar and vocals
• [2] – with Noren Nozaki on dobro