Birthdays are all about getting together with your friends and family and having a good time, and Bob Weir, who rings in his 72nd today (October 16), has been doing that a lot lately. While Weir has always showcased an incredibly collaborative spirit, he has really stepped into his role as jam master general of late. Over the year, Weir has lent his unique guitar work and iconic vocals to the sets of younger artists and rock legends alike.
Jackie Greene – Red Rocks – July 4
Jackie Greene provided the opening salvo at Blues Traveler’s annual 4th of July concert at the iconic Colorado venue where he welcomed Weir. Jackie and Bobby kicked off the 4th of July festivities right with a reprisal of their singing of the “Star-Spangled Banner” at a Golden State Warriors playoff game in May. Weir also joined Greene on The Temptations’ “Shakey Ground” and the Grateful Dead’s “Sugaree.” Check out pro-shot video of Greene’s entire set below:
Paul Simon – Outside Lands – August 11
Weir helped fellow rock legend Paul Simon close out the 2019 Outside Lands festival in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, practically Bobby’s backyard. While Simon remarked that he and Weir have been friends ever since meeting at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967, their performance of the Simon & Garfunkel classic “The Boxer” marked the duo’s first duet together.
Edie Brickell – Lockn’ – August 23
Weir would sit-in with Simon’s wife, Edie Brickell, two weeks later during her set at Lockn’ with New Bohemians. The duo traded verses and shared a mic on the chorus of “Deep Elem Blues.” Watch the performance below:
Twiddle – Lockn’ – August 23
In a nod to the younger generation of the jam scene, Bobby also sat in with Twiddle during their Saturday set at Lockn’ along with guitarist Eric Krasno and Blues Traveler frontman and harmonica player John Popper. Twiddle, Weir, Krasno and Popper put up a 15-minute version of the Grateful Dead’s “Eyes Of The World.”
John Mayer – Chase Center – September 16
Weir joined his Dead & Company band mate John Mayer during a show at the Chase Center in San Francisco one month ago today. Mayer heralded the sit-in with a “China Cat Sunflower” tease during his song “Something Like Olivia.” A few tunes later, Weir emerged to perform Mayer’s “Queen Of California” before heading into the Dead’s “Fire On The Mountain,” which also included a guest appearance by Sammy Hagar.