Shortly before headlining to Manchester, TN for his fifth appearance at Bonnaroo, Bob Weir played two benefits in the Northeast with his longtime band RatDog. Last Wednesday, the group played a benefit for The Farm School at Cambridge, MAs Regattabar. The charity gig consisted of a fully segued set, featuring such chestnuts as Playin in the Band, Dark Star and Sugaree, as well as a Ripple encore. Berklee College of Music instructor George Garzone, who forms one-third of the jazz trio The Fringe, also played saxophone on a handful of selections, including a set closing version of Goin’ Down The Road Feeling Bad.

Then, on Thursday, RatDog headlined an intimate benefit for HeadCount at New Yorks Canal Room. The evening started with an acoustic set by Warren Haynes, who later appeared with the group on Bob Dylans Baby Blue and Al Smith/Luther Dixons Big Boss Man. RatDogs set featured a number of Grateful Dead staples, such as Shakedown Street, West L.A. Fadeaway and Bertha, along with three Bob Dylan covers: Desolation Row, Knockin on Heaven’s Door and the abovementioned Baby Blue. Weir closed his set, appropriately enough, with the politically charged In the Dark cut Throwing Stones. In total, the event raised over $60,000 for HeadCount.