The Infamous Stringdusters and Cris Jacobs have spent the past week touring together. Jacobs joined forces with the headliners last night at the McDonald Theatre in Eugene, Oregon on a rousing rendition of The Allman Brothers Band instrumental “Jessica.”
The jamgrass quintet consisting of banjoist Chris Pandolfi, fiddler Jeremy Garrett, guitarist Andy Falco, bassist Travis Book and dobro player Andy Hall brought out Jacobs for the penultimate song of their first of two sets in Eugene. Cris Jacobs played electric guitar on the Dickey Betts-penned composition issued by ABB on Brothers & Sisters in 1973.
Last night’s first set began with a run of staples “It’ll Be Alright” and “Let Me Know.” The Infamous Stringdusters then delivered a smoking version of the traditional “Shady Grove.” Jacobs emerged a few songs later after a beautiful introduction. The band teased a future collaboration with Jacobs is in the works. The six musicians nailed the stringified arrangement of the beloved instrumental “Jessica.”
The Infamous Stringdusters chose “Carry Me Away” from the band’s 2019 LP Rise Sun to get the second set underway in Eugene last night. Next came the Pete Seeger/Lee Hays co-write “If I Had A Hammer” to lead into Silver Sky (2012) chestnut “That Place That I Call Home.” Additional originals followed along with the five-piece’s sizzling take on The Police’s “Walking On The Moon.” A trip to “Mountain Town” and another Rise Sun cut, “Truth & Love” concluded the frame. The quintet emptied the tank by taking on the Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs classic “Down The Road” for their encore.
Stream an audience recording of last night’s show taped by Matt Nida below:
Setlist
Set One: It’ll Be Alright > Let Me Know, Shady Grove, When Silence Is The Only Sound > Sunny Side Of The Mountain, I’m Not Alone, Head Over Heels, Jessica*, Echoes Of Goodbye
Set Two: Carry Me Away, If I Had A Hammer > Place That I Call Home, If You’re Gonna Love Someone, Kiss My Baby Goodbye, Try Try Try > Tragic Life, Henry, Walking On The Moon, Moutain Town, Truth & Love
Encore: Down The Road
* – with Cris Jacobs
