Photo by Dino Perrucci

Warren Haynes hosted his 14th annual Christmas Jam Pre-Jam event at Asheville, NC’s intimate Orange Peel last night. The show featured short performances by many Christmas Jam performers as well as a few unannounced guests. As always, Pre-Jam was broadcast live on WNCW-FM 88.7.

Sticking to the Christmas Jam/Pre-Jam format, Haynes opened the night with a solo acoustic segment. He surprised many by opening the show with a cover of Pearl Jam’s “Black” and also performed George Harrison’s “Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)” Then, The Lee Boys and The Revivalists—two younger acts who have recently toured with Gov’t Mule and were in the area for Christmas Jam By Day shows of their own—each offered a set. At the end of The Revivalists’ set, Haynes emerged for “Soul Fight” and “Catching Fireflies.” Lee Boys pedal steel wiz Roosevelt Collier sat in on “Common Cents” earlier in the Revivalists’ set.

Rising New Orleans stars Trombone Shorty & Orleans Ave. were the first Christmas Jam band to perform at the Pre-Jam. They ran through a high-energy set and dedicated “When The Saints Go Marching In” to the victims of the tragic Connecticut shooting. Haynes also joined in on a set-closing “Do To Me.” Trombone Shorty’s set led into another New Orleans act, guitarist Anders Osborne. The veteran guitarist led an all-star band featuring Warren Haynes Band bassist Ron Johnson and Warren Haynes Band/Dirty Dozen Brass Band drummer Terrence Higgins. Southeast keyboardist Ike Stubblefield—who was in the area for a performance at the Asheville Music Hall later in the evening—and regular Christmas Jam guitarist Mike Barnes also sat in for most of his set. Warren Haynes Band/Royal Family keyboardist Nigel Hall and former Black Crowes guitarist/current Sheryl Crowe guitarist Audley Freed sat in for the final part of Osborne’s set. A show highlight included an all-star cover of Bob Dylan’s “When I Paint My Masterpiece” that also featured Collier on pedal steel and saw String Cheese Incident keyboardist Kyle Hollingsworth cheering the band on while standing onstage. Finally, Haynes emerged for a cover of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young’s “Ohio” that segued into a bit of Bob Marley’s “Get Up Stand Up.” “Ohio” felt particularly poignant given the shooting which took place earlier in the day.

Warren Haynes Band closed the night with an extended guest-heavy set. String Cheese Incident members Hollingsworth and Michael Travis joined the band in tandem, and Barnes played a guitar with the Gov’t Mule logo on its strap on “Feel Like Breaking Up Somebody’s Home” and “Don’t Change Horses.” Despite rumors earlier in the day and even an onstage announcement from the stage during the Pre-Jam, The String Cheese Incident did not perform at the Pre-Jam. However, Warren Haynes Band did return to the stage for a charged encore that consisted of “Tear Me Down.”

Christmas Jam kicks off at 6:30 PM this evening. As previously reported, The Avett Brothers have joined the benefit’s lineup.

Here’s a look at last night’s Pre-Jam setlist

Friday, December 14, Orange Peel, Asheville, NC

Warren Haynes:
Black
Give Me Love

The Lee Boys:
Going To Glory
I’m Not Tired
Shaky Ground
Testify
Voodoo Child

The Revivalists:
Concrete
All In The Family
Common Cents W/ Roosevelt Collier
Madison Square
Criminal
Soul Fight W/ Warren Haynes
Catching Fireflies W/ Warren Haynes

Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue:
The Craziest Things
Buckjump
Mrs. Orleans
Hurricane Season
Dumaine St.
St. James Infirmary
When The Saints Go Marching In
Do To Me W/ Warren Haynes

Anders Osborne W/ Terrence Higgins & Ron Johnson:
Burning On The inside W/ Ike Stubblefield
Black Tar W/ Ike Stubblefield & Mike Barnes
Spanish Moon W/ Ike Stubblefield & Audley Freed
When I Paint My Masterpiece W/ Audley Freed, Roosevelt Collier & Nigel Hall
Ohio > Get Up Stand Up > Ohio W/ Audley Freed, Warren Haynes, Nigel Hall & Ike Stubblefield

Warren Haynes Band:
WHB Intro >
Sick Of My Shadow
Rivers Gonna Rise
From A Whisper To A Scream
Feel Like Breaking Up Somebody’s Home > W/ Mike Barnes, Kyle Hollingsworth & Michael Travis
Don’t Change Horses > W/ Mike Barnes, Kyle Hollingsworth & Michael Travis
Feel Like Breaking Up Somebody’s Home > W/ Mike Barnes, Kyle Hollingsworth & Michael Travis

E: WHB Intro >
Tear Me Down

Photos by Dino Perrucci