Poor Man’s Whiskey Releases ‘Farewell For Now At The Fillmore’ Live Album & Pro-Shot Videos

Poor Man’s Whiskey had the right idea.

A year ago, when concerts were still happening and 2020 was just a set of numbers on the horizon, the Northern California jamgrass band decided to take a hiatus from touring. And they certainly went out in style, playing one last sold-out show at The Fillmore in San Francisco.

It was a last waltz to remember, with the band joined by a coterie of guests from the likes of Hot Buttered Rum, The Brothers Comatose and The Sam Chase. The setlist was a heater, containing beloved originals and covers ranging from traditional bluegrass to The Allman Brothers Band.

To commemorate the magical evening, Poor Man’s Whiskey released the live album Farewell For Now At The Fillmore, Black Friday 2019 on Spotify and other streaming platforms.

Founded by Josh Brough and Jason Beard, Poor Man’s Whiskey spent nearly two decades making a name for themselves with energetic live shows. The band is perhaps best known for their bluegrass takes on Pink Floyd classics. Their “Dark Side Of The Moonshine” sets are as entertaining as they are cleverly named, often featuring the band dressed in Wizard of Oz costumes. But don’t mistake Poor Man’s Whiskey for a novelty act, Farewell For Now At The Fillmore is evidence of a band at the top of their game, equally skilled at bluegrass pickin’ and psychedelic exploration.

First set highlights include the 14-minute original “High On The Mountain,” which features an effects-laden Type II jam, and a cover of Paul Simon’s “You Can Call Me Al” featuring Hot Buttered Rum’s Nat Keefe.

They kick off the second set with a cover of “Ain’t Wastin’ Time No More” that shows off the band’s electric chops before launching into more of their bluegrass compositions. Set two ends with a gloriously jammed-out “Willie,” with the refrain “I’ve got some good friends by my side” bidding the band’s longtime fans farewell.

But the music didn’t stop.

During the hiatus, Beard formed The Whiskey Family Band, a more traditional rock band featuring the bluesy vocals of singer Maddie Carpenter. The band was intended to be a touring act, with plenty of shows and festival gigs lined up in 2020. But COVID-19 had other plans, and the band adapted accordingly.

Now joined by Brough and Poor Man Whiskey’s drummer George Smeltz, alongside a revolving cast of special guests, The Whiskey Family Band performs socially-distanced live shows each month. The pro-shot videos are released monthly on their YouTube channel. You can check out their Thanksgiving Show below:

While the future of touring remains uncertain, The Whiskey Family Band is showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon. They’re set to release a special holiday show on December 24 at 7 p.m. PT. You can keep up with the band’s endeavors on JamBase Livestreams Calendar.

In the meantime, crank up The Fillmore show, subscribe to their YouTube channel, and keep that whiskey flowing!