Michael Shannon & Jason Narducy Reconstruct R.E.M.’s ‘Driver 8’ On ‘Fallon’

Michael Shannon and Jason Narducy brought their tribute to R.E.M. to The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Wednesday night. The pair led a performance of “Driver 8,” from R.E.M.’s 1985 album, Fables Of The Reconstruction.

Shannon and Narducy toured last year in honor of R.E.M.’s 1983 album Murmur. They staged a concert in R.E.M.’s hometown of Athens, Georgia at the 40 Watt which resulted in the four members of R.E.M. sharing the stage for the first time in 17 years.

Shannon and Narducy will mark the 40th anniversary of R.E.M.’s album Fables Of The Reconstruction on a tour across North America in February and March. The tour will feature complete performances of the album, which included R.E.M. favorites “Can’t Get There From Here,” “Feeling Gravitys Pull” and “Driver 8.”

The Tonight Show performance saw Shannon on lead vocals, Narducy on guitar, Wilco’s John Stirratt on bass, The Mountain Goats' Jon Wurster on drums and Poi Dog Pondering’s Dag Juhlin on guitar. The same configuration, along with Vijay Tellis-Nayak on keyboards, will be part of the upcoming Fables Of The Reconstruction 40th-anniversary touring lineup.

Watch Michael Shannon and Jason Narducy steer a cover of R.E.M.’s “Driver 8” below: