Page McConnell Joins Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros In Miami On This Date In 2019

Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros welcomed Phish keyboardist Page McConnell to sit-in during a concert on this date in 2019. The March 26th show took place at The Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason Theater and saw Page add his expertise to a pair of Grateful Dead classics to kick off the second set.

But Bob Weir and company got the show underway with another Dead classic, “Friend Of The Devil,” with some nice texture from drummer Jay Lane on a shuffling brush beat as Don Was took the standup bass for a walk. Next up, Bobby sang one of his signature covers, Bob Dylan’s “When I Paint My Masterpiece.” Weir then returned to original material with his own “Gonesville” and “Bombs Away.” Another cover came in the form of a 10-minute version of Daniel Lanois’ “The Maker” ahead of “Althea.” But the trio really took things out on “Lost Sailor” and its frequent companion “St. of Circumstance” to close out the first frame.

McConnell emerged with the band on piano for the second set. The quartet did a bit of exploring before heading into “Hell In A Bucket” containing some country-tinged piano touches from Page. McConnell stayed on for a fairly laid back “Scarlet Begonias” and took an extended solo over the form and also led the band as they revved things up a bit on an outro jam.

The trio then went it alone on the Ratdog song “Odessa” which led into another Dylan tune, “All Along The Watchtower.” Next came Weir’s masterful Wake Of The Flood composition “Weather Report Suite” including its final movement, “Let It Grow.” “Standing On The Moon” would count as the penultimate song of the set before the trio closed it out with another of Bobby’s signature numbers, “Throwing Stones.” “U.S. Blues” would serve as the encore.

Listen to Bob Weir & Wolf Bros’ entire March 26, 2019 concert with special guest Page McConnell via Dan Nolan Jr. and watch fan-shot video of the collaborations below:

[Originally Published March 26, 2021]