Bob Weir and the Wolf Bros with the Wolf Pack plus special guests at Humphreys by the Bay in San Diego, CA on 10/26/22

Twas a gorgeous summer-like fall evening at the charming outdoor venue that rests in between the Shelter Island Harbor and San Diego Bay almost completely surrounded by water, boats and palm trees. Humphrey's was way past sold out but the good news - most of the heads standing outside the gates holding up their finger eventually got in so "miracles" do happen... 

Slated for an early 6:30pm start, the music commenced promptly at 6:48pm with an always damper Bobby walking out on staged dressed in gray white striped culottes, a light tan colored polo type shirt, Birkenstocks, no hat with freshly styled back hair. The gals in attendance (along with your writer) were definitely swooning by his overtly GQ look.

The band (consisting of Bob Weir on guitar, Don Was on upright bass, Jay Lane on drums, Jeff Chimenti on keyboards, Barry Sless on pedal steel guitar and Matthew Kelly on harmonica along with the wolf pack quintet members Alex Kelly, Brian Switzer, Adam Theis, Mads Tolling, Sheldon Brown serving up some psychedelic horns and string fillers) opened the show with the a crowd moving first two verses of Not Fade Away into a bouncy cover of Johnny Cash's Big River. A beautiful rendition of Mission in the Rain followed Lil' Red Rooster. Ashes and Glass led into a peppy Don't Let Go that went back into Ashes and Glass. Next came a show highlight - a masterful, lovely and heartfelt Weather Report Suite that smoothly transitioned into the set closing Let It Grow. The solid all around first set with a well chosen, well played song selection ended nicely at 8:08pm. During set break a young (possibly influenced) fan asked why no one was leaving yet. He was relieved to realize more music was on its way.

When the house lights dimmed at 8:49pm, the already full stage was even fuller as three guys from Geensky Bluegrass suddenly emerged. Paul Hoffman on Mandolin, Anders Beck on Dobro and Mike Bont on banjo encircled Bobby for the acoustic 2nd set opener Friend of the Devil along with a lively Wolf Bros debut of Stealin' followed by a mind bending, jammed out Cassidy. Such a treat to see all these talented musicians playing so well together.

Greensky Bluegrass was scheduled to play Humphrey's the next two nights and apparently arrived early to see the Wolf Bros. They left stage and then the always impressive Tal Wilkenfeld replaced Don Was onstage to play a very thumping Estimated Prophet.

Don came back for the happily danceable Going Down the Road Feeling Bad. A beautifully sung and an appropriately slow paced Dear Prudence followed. Lady With a Fan ushered in Terrapin Station that featured the Miles Davis jam So What (another Wolf Bros debut) laid deliciously inside. The third verse of Not Fade Away ended the set leaving the crowd chanting and clapping in the way we all know so well. A moody and well performed Black Muddy River encored this amazing show and was followed by a 10:30pm fifteen musician curtain call and bow - probably the widest in Wolf Bros and possibly Humphrey's history. 

*A quick side note about Humphrey's and this show. The venue is notorious for keeping a tight ship and not letting people clog the isles or stand up to dance. Security completely lost control early and never got it back. YAY!!! Plus... beer, wine and hard alcohol sales were reportedly the highest of any show in their three season concert series. Go figure...  

Review and photos by Dave Stotts Photography

A Halloween lit Bobby

A happy Tal

Love is real - Not Fade Away