First off, I’d like to apologize for the long hiatus. With COVID putting concerts on hold, I just could not bring myself around to posting about past shows. It felt like rubbing salt in a wound. But as vaccines are rolling out and concerts are getting booked again, I feel OK starting to share stories once more.
For this one, we go back to 2010 for the annual Warren Haynes Christmas Jam. For those who need a refresher, the Christmas Jam is a benefit concert in Asheville, NC where all the proceeds go to Habitat for Humanity. This show had a great lineup, with the following headliners:
- Steve Miller Band
- The Warren Haynes Band
- Gregg Allman
- John Bell (from Widespread Panic)
- Umphrey’s McGee
- Dirty Dozen Brass Band
- Missing Cats
In addition to the headliners, there was also a slew of special guests, including: Mike Barnes, Cody Dickinson, Fred Eltringham, Sherman Ewing, Ruthie Foster, Audley Freed, John “JoJo” Hermann, Terence Higgins, Ron Holloway, Ron Johnson, Robert Kearns, Kevn Kinney, Ivan Neville, and Artimus Pyle.
Because this was a general admission show, my friend Terry and her date got there early and secured seats for us. We were straight back, which was OK, but I would have preferred being closer and on the side. Still, the sound was good, and at least I didn’t have to stand outside in the cold for hours, which was a plus.
Not surprising, the high points for me were Steve Miller and Gregg Allman (who even jammed together, which was way cool). Warren’s band was great, as were Umphrey’ McGee and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band. Not a big John Bell fan, but he did perform “Walk on Guilded Splinters” with Gregg Allman, and that was excellent. The only disappointment was that Steve Miller did not play “The Joker,” but everything else made up for that one minor disappointment.
As is always the case with a Christmas Jam, the music went on until the wee hours of the morning. But it was a great time, and thinking about it now, I can say I am itching to see some live music again.
Here are the setlists.
Missing Cats:
- Smiling Assassin
- The Slaughter
- Step On Over Me
- Highwire
- Over Lubbuck
Umphrey’s McGee:
- Conduit
- 1348
- Ain’t No Sunshine w/ John Bell
- Miss Tinkles Overture
- All In Time
The Warren Haynes Band (featuring Warren Haynes, Ivan Neville, Ron Johnson, Terrance Higgins, Ron Holloway, and Ruthie Foster):
- Man In Motion (w/ Andy Farag and The Dirty Dozen Brass Band)
- Rivers Gonna Rise (w/ Andy Farag and The Dirty Dozen Brass Band)
- Everyday Will Be Like A Holiday
- I’ve Been Loving You Too Long (w/ The Dirty Dozen Brass Band)
- Sick Of My Shadow (w/ Andy Farag and The Dirty Dozen Brass Band)
Steve Miller Band:
- Jet Airliner
- Take the Money and Run
- Mercury Blues
- Further On Up The Road (w/ Warren Haynes)
- Just Got Back From Texas
- Ooo Poo Pah Do (w/ Carlos Reyes)
- Shubada (w/ Carlos Reyes)
- Nature Boy (w/ Carlos Reyes)
- Wild Mountain Honey (w/ Carlos Reyes)
- Dance Dance Dance (w/ Carlos Reyes)
- The Stake
- Abracadabra
- Livin’ In The USA
- Fly Like An Eagle (w/ Warren Haynes and Carlos Reyes)
John Bell:
- Dobro Christmas Medley
- Papa’s Home
- May Your Glass Be Filled
Gregg Allman:
- Midnight Rider
- Just Another Rider (w/ Dirty Dozen Band and Ron Holloway)
- Dreams (w/ Ron Holloway)
- Just Like A Woman (w/ John Bell)
- Walk on Guilded Splinters (w/ Dirty Dozen Band and John Bell)
- Melissa (w/ Warren Haynes)
- Lost Highway (w/ Steve Miller)
Dirty Dozen Brass Band:
- Ain’t Nothing By A Part
- Papa Was A Rolling Stone (w/ Warren Haynes)
- Thats What Love Will Make You Do (w/ Ron Johnson and Warren Haynes)
- Spanish Moon (w/ Warren Haynes, Ron Johnson, Ivan Neville, and Artimus Pyle)
- Superstitious (w/ John Bell and Ron Holloway)
- Use Me (w/ Warren Haynes, John Bell, and Ron Holloway)
The Stub Collection 