Missing Cats, Widespread Panic keyboardist JoJo Hermann’s project with Sherman Ewing, kicked off a series of shows with North Mississippi Allstars this past weekend. The collaborative tour opened at Oxford, MS’ Lyric on Friday and, as expected, the night featured a number of collaborations. North Mississippi Allstars’ Luther and Cody Dickinson backed Missing Cats during their 11-song performance opening performance. The set primarily focused on material from Missing Cats’ new album Larry Brown Amen. However, at the end of the show Hermann revisited his old solo band with members of North Mississippi Allstars, Smiling Assassins, by busting into that band’s “Daisy Mae.” R.E.M.’s Mike Mills, who liked the Dickinsons appears on Larry Brown Amen, also sat in with Missing Cats throughout their set.

Several guests also emerged during North Mississippi Allstars’ headlining set. Luther Dickinson moved over to bass so longtime NMA associate Garry Burnside could play guitar on “Goin’ Down South” before the two musicians swapped instruments on “
Snake Drive.” Then, Hermann joined Burnside and the Allstars for “All Night Long.” Hermann remained onstage after Burnside left for “Psychedelic Sex Machine,” “Mississippi Bollweevil” and “Mean Ol’ Wind Died Down.” Later in the night, Hermann, Ewing and Mills all returned to the stage for “Marissa” and “Daisy Mae.”

Missing Cats will perform at Boulder, CO’s Fox Theatre this Friday.