As previously reported, the members of Calexico will serve as the house band for an R.E.M. tribute at New Yorks Carnegie Hall this evening. Last night, a streamlined version of the group geared up for the show with an intimate gig at New Yorks City Winery. The bands short, spirited 50-minute set opened with a handful of original songs and later morphed into something of a dress rehearsal for tonights show with a number of musicians stopping by to play a R.E.M. song with Calexico: Hootie & the Blowfishs Darius Rucker (I Believe), Rachael Yamagata (Great Beyond), Marshall Crenshaw (Supernatural Superserious), Karen Ann (Man on the Moon) and Old 97s Rhett Miller (Driver 8).

All the abovementioned musicians will appear at Carnegie Hall tonight. Please click here for a look at the benefit show.