Barry Sless has held the pedal steel post in a number of Dead-related groups over the years including the Matthew Kelly-led incarnation of Kingfish, Dead Ringers, the David Nelson Band and the Flying Other Brothers. More recently Nelson has become one of Phil Leshs rotating Friends, helping the bassist reinterpret some of the Grateful Deads more tender, acoustic oriented songs. Last night, Sless also stopped by to see his old-friend Bob Weir when RatDog performed at Baltimores Rams Head Live . Sless emerged in the middle of RatDogs second-set adding pedal steel to a series of songs including Hes Gone, St. Stephen, The Eleven and Throwing Stones. The pedal steel guitarist returned with RatDog crew manager A.J. Santella for White Lightinin and remaining onstage for a show closing run through Johnny B. Goode.

Sless will perform with both the David Nelson Band and the Flying Other Brothers at Willits, CA’s Dead on the Creek Festival this Sunday.