Warren Haynes, former guitarist with the Allman Brothers and currently with Gov’t Mule, has been hosting the Christmas Jam in Asheville for 28 years now. The Jam is a benefit concert that raises money for Habitat for Humanity and Warren invites a slew of artists to participate in the marathon event. This year, my youngest daughter came to the concert with me, and I also had some friends come in from out of town for the show, so it was quite the party.
This year’s show featured the following headline acts:
- Gov’t Mule
- Bob Weir
- Michael McDonald
- Jamey Johnson and Alison Krauss
- The Last Waltz Band
In addition, the show also included a plethora of guest musicians, too numerous to list them all, but some of the ones that deserve note are Branford Marsalis, John Medeski, Bob Margolin, Steve Kimock, Duane Trucks, and George Porter Jr.
I was out of town for work the day the tickets went on sale. Thankfully, my good friend Robert waited in line and bought tickets for me. THAT is a true friend! The show sold out in one day, so I was really grateful that he picked them up for me.
My friend Dana from Florida came up for the concert, along with her friend Jackie. We went out for lunch the day before and discovered that they were also friends with two of my Asheville friends, Craig and Dara, with whom I was going to the show, so we all got seats together. It’s a small world in rock and roll.
The show this year was amazing. My wife said it was probably the best Christmas Jam she has attended. So many high points, but probably the top two for me were Alison Krauss joining Bob Weir to perform “Peggy-O” and also Branford Marsalis and Warren Haynes joining Weir and Co to play an amazing rendition of “Eyes of the World.” Words cannot adequately convey the energy that was released during that performance.
The concert went on until about 3:00 in the morning. I left during the second-to-last song (“Dreams”), but that was fine. I definitely got my fill of great music.
Here are the set lists:
Holly Bowling
Cryptical Envelopment >
The Other One >
Cryptical Envelopment >
Taste
The Inlaw Josie Wales
Warren Haynes
The Real Thing
And It Stoned Me
Jamey Johnson & Alison Krauss
High Cost Of Living
Make The World Go Away
I Ain’t The One
John Deere Tractor
Heartache
Even The Skies Are Blue
Dreaming My Dreams With You
Lay Down Beside Me
My Dixie Darling
When You Say Nothing At All
In Color with Howard Johnson
Holly Bowling
Help On The Way >
Slipknot! >
Cassidy >
Bird Song
George Porter Jr., Eric Krasno, Terence Higgins, Branford Marsalis & John Medeski
I Need More Time
Just Kissed My Baby > with Marcus King
He Bite Me (The Dragon) with Marcus King
Sugaree with Bob Weir
Iko Iko with Bob Weir
Michael McDonald & Friends (Audley Freed, Don Was, Terence Higgins & John Medeski)
Freedom Highway
Sweet Freedom
I Keep Forgettin’ with Branford Marsalis
What A Fool Believes
Takin’ It To The Streets
Holly Bowling
A Song I Heard the Ocean Sing >
Crazy Fingers >
The Other One >
A Song I Heard the Ocean Sing
Bob Weir & Friends (Steve Kimock, Don Was & Duane Trucks)
Easy To Slip (Bob Weir Solo)
Peggy-O (Bob Weir with Alison Krauss)
Ghost Towns
Only A River
He’s Gone > with Warren Haynes, Holly Bowling & Branford Marsalis
Eyes Of The World > with Warren Haynes, Holly Bowling & Branford Marsalis
Truckin’ with Warren Haynes, Holly Bowling & Branford Marsalis
Ripple with Warren Haynes, Holly Bowling & Branford Marsalis
The Last Waltz Band (Warren Haynes, Don Was, Terence Higgins, Michael McDonald, John Medeski, Jamey Johnson, Mark Mullins & Levee Horns)
Up On Cripple Creek
The Shape I’m In
Stage Fright
Georgia On My Mind
The Weight with Bob Weir & Alison Krauss
Ophelia
It Makes No Difference
Helpless with Alison Krauss
Mannish Boy with Bob Margolin & Smoky Greenwell
Further On Up The Road with Bob Margolin & Smoky Greenwell
King Harvest
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
Holly Bowling
Terrapin Station Suite >
Slipknot! >
Franklin’s Tower
Gov’t Mule & Friends (without Matt Abts)
Mule with Rocky Lindsley
32/20 Blues with Rocky Lindsley, Mike Barnes, Marcus King & Smoky Greenwell
Sco-Mule with Rocky Lindsley, Jeff Sipe & Branford Marsalis
Dreams with Paul Riddle, Duane Trucks, Steve Kimock & Branford Marsalis
Mountain Jam with Paul Riddle, Duane Trucks, Steve Kimock, Branford Marsalis & Tony Coleman
The Stub Collection 