Photos by Steven Rood

“Ladies and gentlemen, Instagram’s John Mayer,” Joe Russo joked at LA’s Wiltern Theatre on Friday night, introducing the social media savvy guitarist.

After punctuating set one with a “Crazy Fingers”> “Estimated Prophet”> “Peggy-O” segment (as well as a dip into the Jerry Garcia Band songnook with “Cats Under The Stars”), JRAD welcomed John Mayer to the stage for a jam-heavy second half.

Starting off with “The Wheel” and segueing through “Playing In The Band”> “Here Comes Sunshine,” Mayer added some vocals to a lively “They Love Each Other.” From there, the band jumped into “China Cat Sunflower,” and closed the set with “I Know You Rider,” featuring yet another batch of impressive improvisation by the Dead & Company guitarist.

This, of course, was not the first time Mayer has jammed with JRAD. In October 2016 and October 2017, he dropped in on two separate JRAD shows at New York’s Brooklyn Bowl. Last night’s performance, however, marks the lengthiest sit-in he’s ever done with the band.

Mayer also stuck around for the encore on Friday night, playing “Never Been To Spain” (made famous by Three Dog Night), and the Workingman’s Dead classic “Uncle John’s Band.”

Check out a video of Mayer’s LA sit-in as well as the full setlist below:

Joe Russo’s Almost Dead
November 9, 2018
The Wiltern Theatre

Set I: Crazy Fingers > Estimated Prophet > Peggy-O, Cats Under The Stars, Feel Like A Stranger, King Solomon’s Marbles

Set II: The Wheel*> Playing In The Band*> Here Comes Sunshine*> They Love Each Other*> China Cat Sunflower*> I Know You Rider*

Enc: Never Been To Spain*, Uncle John’s Band*

Notes: 
* with John Mayer