When Warren Haynes announced a set of shows that will be celebrating the music of Jerry Garcia while leading a few major metropolitan symphonies throughout the country, everyone knew that a show like this would be ripe for a special evening. Last night, after a few shows played already on the East Coast, Warren brought the show — A Symphonic Celebration of the Music of Jerry Garcia — to Davies Symphony Hall here in San Francisco. Sure enough, as the boys in Furthur had some time off, Bob Weir made the trek from his home up in Marin to come join Warren and the symphony for almost an entire set of tunes that elevated the show into a very memorable experience for those in attendance. Plus, knowing that Warren would be playing Jerry’s iconic Wolf guitar, everyone was in high attention when the show began.
Following the reports we’ve seen via Twitter and from our roommate (@Radioheadies) that made it out to the show, the atmosphere inside the Hall was especially electric considering it was a “sit-down” symphony show. The first set of music went down as planned, and then halfway through the second set Bob Weir came out and joined the band for classics like “Shakedown Street,” “China Cat Sunflower” and “Morning Dew.” Then, following two sets of music and a brief encore, Warren greeted the audience with the news that for the special occasion of Jerry’s birthday the venue was giving permission for them to play more.
Warren speaks post Patchwork Quilt encore: the Symphony has a strict curfew but the band doesn't!! Symphony leaves stage, Warrens & co stay
— PeteLikesPhish (@PeteLikesPhish) August 2, 2013
Warren, Bob Weir and Co. (including Jeff Chimenti on keys) played for another 35 minutes without the Symphony including a rousing encore of “Stella Blue.”
Here’s a few clips that have surfaced thus far (via Relix):
Shakedown Street
Stella Blue
Meanwhile, over at Terrapin Crossroads up in Marin, another Jerry Day celebration was going down. Phil Lesh hosted a night of music with his house band (plus special guests) and they were billed to play the arbor outside of the normal hall where people would play music there. There were rumors floating that Phish would be there as the band on their off day, but turns out only Mike Gordon had that on his plans for the evening and he made an appearance with Phil for “Tennessee Jed” and “He’s Gone.”
Seems like a weekend ripe for more sit-ins with Phish set for three nights at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium beginning tonight, which is across the street from the Davis Symphony Hall where Warren is hosting the second night of the symphonic show.
