Back on Tuesday Port Chester, NY’s Capitol Theatre celebrated its grand re-opening with a performance by Bob Dylan. Last night, however, the venue really ran through its paces with a multi-act show that saw the debut of the facility’s engrossing light show (which casts images onto the ceiling and the side walls for an immersive effect).

The show was a benefit for HeadCount and the evening began with Peter Shapiro, the driving force behind the Cap, taking the stage to thank the opener, Bob Weir, for his spirit in coming out to support Wetlands, the Jammy Awards, Brooklyn Bowl, HeadCount and The Cap. “That makes me sound pretty easy,” Weir joked before opening his acoustic set with a fine take on “Music Never Stopped.” Weir’s solo performance then included such staples as “Me and My Uncle,” “Friend of the Devil,” “Easy to Slip” and “Loose Lucy.” After completing “Lost Sailor” and segueing into “Saint of Circumstance,” Weir halted for a minute and indicated that the pairing wouldn’t happen but then continued into it anyhow.

Later, following a cover of The Beatles “Dear Prudence,” Weir picked up an electric guitar and welcomed Warren Haynes, Grace Potter and Rolling Stones saxophonist Bobby Keys to the stage for “Bird Song.” Before the song Potter noted this was the first time she had ever performed a Grateful Dead tune. This was followed by “Jack Straw” (with everyone sharing vocals) and, finally, a cover of “Jailhouse Rock.” Weir departed but Haynes, Potter and Keys remained for a version of the Stones’ “Wild Horses.” At this point Potter exclaimed, “I love this theater! We were just talking about it. You can feel some pretty awesome ghosts in here…” A Haynes/Potter duet on Fleetwood Mac’s “Gold Dust Woman” wrapped up the first part of the evening.

HeadCount Executive Director Andy Bernstein then took the stage, thanked everyone for attending and called special attention to Peter Shapiro, who was celebrating his 40th birthday. A video slideshow was projected onto the walls of venue, showing various moments in Shapiro’s life and work.

Music then resumed with a set from the Roots, which began with a cover of the Beastie Boys’ “Paul Revere,” and included high energy takes on such songs as “The Fire,” “Get Busy” and “Here I Come.” Following the group’s 75-minute set, they paused before returning to the stage with Trey Anastasio. The group backed him for versions of “First Tube” and “Bathtub Gin” with Anastasio front and center delivering some spiraling leads. Then, Anastasio invited Potter back to the stage to join on “Pigtail,” which will appear on his forthcoming album Traveler.

Finally, for the evening’s closing sequence, Weir, Haynes and Keys returned. This marked the first time that Anastasio, Haynes and Weir had performed together since 2005’s Comes a Time Jerry Garcia tribute. The musicians collaborated on a rousing “Dancing In The Streets” followed by a gritty cover of “The Thrill Is Gone.” The show concluded with a thundering “Whipping Post,” which also saw The Roots’ guitarist Kirk Douglas singing a verse, Haynes offering a taste of “My favorite Things” and an epic final swell of music that brought the evening to a rousing close.

Setlists:

Bob Weir

Music Never Stopped, Me and My Uncle, Friend of the Devil, Loose Lucy, Lost Sailor > Saint of Circumstance, Peggy O, Easy to Slip, Dear Prudence, Bird Song*, Jack Straw^, Jailhouse Rock*

*with Warren Haynes, Grace Potter and Bobby Keys
^with warren Haynes and Grace Potter

Warren Haynes Grace Potter and Bobby Keys
Wild Horses, Gold Dust Woman

The Roots
Paul Revere, Proceed, The Fire, Next Movement, Mellow My
Man, Break You Off, You Got Me, Get Busy, Thought @ Work, How I Got Over

The Roots with Trey Anastasio
First Tube, Bathtub Gin, Pigtail*, Dancing In The Streets^, The Thrill Is Gone^, Whipping Post^

*with Grace Potter
^with Bob Weir, Warren Haynes, Grace Potter, and Bobby Keys