Dave Matthews & Warren Haynes Co-Host Star-Studded ‘Soulshine’ Concert At Madison Square Garden

Dave Matthews nailed it when he exclaimed, “Thank you for coming to Warren’s Christmas Jam in New York City,” at the end of the outstanding “Soulshine” concert on Sunday at Madison Square Garden. The all-star extravaganza followed a similar format to Warren Haynes‘ annual benefits in Asheville but on a larger scale.

Haynes and Matthews co-hosted the fundraiser for hurricane relief and recovery efforts in Western North Carolina and Florida, which featured guest-filled sets from Goose, Warren Haynes Band, Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats and Dave Matthews Band. Acoustic interludes kept breaks in action at the four-and-a-half-hour concert brief just as Haynes does at Christmas Jams.

Warren Haynes took the stage after a video of the Asheville native was shown in which he discussed the devastation Hurricane Helene wreaked on his hometown. “I just want to say thank you to everyone in the building and to all those watching at home. It warms our hearts to know that so many people can come together peacefully to help our brothers and sisters who are in need,” Haynes told the crowd and noted Christmas Jam will return to Asheville in the future. Haynes then brought out Dave Matthews and fittingly the pair kicked off the concert with a beautiful “Soulshine” duet.

Goose was the first full band to perform at “Soulshine,” as the Connecticut-based quintet made their MSG debut. Loud cheers of “Gooooose” came from the sold-out audience while the group settled in. Goose opened with the beloved “Arcadia” and then were joined by sacred steel specialist Robert Randolph for a powerful “Give It Time.”

Derek Trucks was showcased on the ensuing “Hungersite.” Trucks crushed his solo as he tore through the tune from Goose’s 2022 LP Dripfield. Susan Tedeschi, Derek’s wife and co-leader of the Tedeschi Trucks Band, kept the parade of special guests coming on a rousing version of Holland-Dozier-Holland-written “Don’t Do It.” Trucks stayed out and delivered one anthemic lead after another as Susan and Goose guitarist Rick Mitarotonda shared lead vocal duties.

Goose had one more surprise in store to end the set as they brought out Dave Matthews to play acoustic guitar and help sing Bruce Hornsby’s “The Way It Is” to the delight of the crowd. Matthews yelled “Gooooose” before he and the band vacated the stage.

Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks and Warren Haynes performed a mostly-acoustic “700 Houses” as the stage was reset. Tedeschi noted the song from her 2008 solo album, Back To The River, was about “horrible storms.” Haynes provided harmony vocals and strummed rhythms while Trucks offered a memorable solo.

The Warren Haynes Band were up next featuring Haynes joined by keyboardist Matt Slocum, drummer Terence Higgins, bassist Kevin Scott, saxophonist Greg Osby and backing vocalists Saundra Williams and Mayteana Morales. Up first was a “Man In Motion” in which Trombone Shorty emerged to let loose an energetic solo. The WHB and Robert Randolph then took concertgoers to church with a stellar version of the gospel-tinged “This Life As We Know It” from Haynes’ recently released Million Voices Whisper solo album.

Drummer Joe Russo was the Warren Haynes Band’s next guest as he teamed with Higgins to provide double-drums on a crowd-pleasing cover of the Grateful Dead’s “Shakedown Street.” Derek Trucks then joined his longtime The Allman Brothers Band mate on Million Voices Whisper standout “These Changes” before Russo returned for the WHB’s “Whipping Post” finale. Haynes and Trucks each had a chance to shred on the short-but-sweet take on the ABB classic.

“Soulshine” rolled on with Susan Tedeschi and Dave Matthews joining forces to duet on John Prine’s “Angel From Montgomery” ahead of Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats’ high-energy 10-song set. Most of those in the capacity crowd were up on their feet as Rateliff & the Night Sweats tore through staples “Look It Here,” “You Worry Me,” “Intro” and more.

Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats got in on the guest spot action by welcoming legendary vocalist Mavis Staples for a goosebump-inducing version of Pop Staples’ “Friendship.” Mavis and Nathaniel bantered before and after the emotional duet. Rateliff & the Night Sweats’ 40-minute performance concluded with Robert Randolph, Trombone Shorty and Ben Jaffe (Preservation Hall Jazz Band) adding to fan-favorite “S.O.B.”

Dave Matthews returned to the stage next to present an acoustic interlude while the stage was readied for DMB’s headlining set. Matthews teamed with Haynes on a singalong cover of James Taylor’s “Carolina In My Mind” before Trucks joined the pair for a stunning take on Tom Petty’s “Southern Accents.” Guitarist Trey Anastasio then emerged to duet with Matthews on the Phish ballad “Waste.”

Anastasio stuck around while the rest of Dave Matthews Band, Susan Tedeschi and Nathaniel Rateliff came out. DMB and their guests took on “The Weight” with Tedeschi, Anastasio and Rateliff sharing lead vocal duties on The Band classic. Matthews’ crew then went it alone to deliver oldies “Pantala Naga Pampa > Rapunzel,” “So Much To Say > Anyone Seen The Bridge > Too Much” and an extended “So Damn Lucky.”

DMB’s set continued with New Orleans flavor courtesy of special guests Trombone Shorty and Ben Jaffe who added to a wild “Jimi Thing” that gave way to “Brick House.” Trey Anastasio then returned to rip an effusive guitar solo on “Lie In Our Graves.” Anastasio reprised his guest appearances on the song at a 2001 DMB show in San Francisco and a 2007 gig at SPAC. In typical fashion, Matthews led the ensemble into a bit of Eric Clapton’s “Wonderful Tonight” before concluding “Lie In Our Graves.”

Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks returned to accompany Dave Matthews Band and Trey Anastasio on the subsequent The Allman Brothers Band cover “Melissa.” For the finale, all of the evening’s performers loaded the stage for a cover of The Beatles’ “Come Together.”

Watch pro-shot footage of the entire “Soulshine” concert below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3AShLeNf2Y&ab_channel=DaveMatthewsBand

Setlist

Warren Haynes & Dave Matthews: Soulshine

Goose: Arcadia, Give It Time (w/ Robert Randolph), Hungersite (w/ Derek Trucks), Don’t Do It (w/ Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi), The Way It Is (w/ Dave Matthews)

Susan Tedeschi, Warren Haynes & Derek Trucks: 700 Houses

Warren Haynes Band: Man In Motion (w/ Trombone Shorty), This Life As We Know It (w/ Robert Randolph), Shakedown Street (w/ Joe Russo), These Changes (w/ Derek Trucks), Whipping Post (w/ Joe Russo & Derek Trucks)

Susan Tedeschi & Dave Matthews: Angel From Montgomery

Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats: Look It Here, You Worry Me, Call Me (Whatever You Like), Intro, I Need Never Get Old, Heartless, Friendship (w/ Mavis Staples), I’ll Be Damned, S.O.B. (w/ Robert Randolph, Ben Jaffee & Trombone Shorty)

Dave Matthews: Carolina In My Mind (w/ Warren Haynes), Southern Accents (w/ Warren Haynes & Derek Trucks), Waste (w/ Trey Anastasio)

Dave Matthews Band: The Weight (w/ Trey Anastasio, Nathaniel Rateliff & Susan Tedeschi), Pantala Naga Pampa > Rapunzel, So Much To Say > Too Much, So Damn Lucky, Jimi Thing (w/ Trombone Shorty & Ben Jaffee) > Brick House (w/ Trombone Shorty & Ben Jaffee), Lie In Our Graves (w/ Trey Anastasio), Melissa (w/ Trey Anastasio, Warren Haynes & Derek Trucks), Come Together (w/ Everyone)