Photo via Jason Crosby’s Facebook page

Bob Weir introduced his new RatDog Quartet at Mill Valley, CA’s Sweetwater Music Hall last night. After Jonathan Wilson’s opening set and an acoustic segment of his own, Weir returned with longtime RatDog drummer Jay Lane, RatDog bassist Robin Sylvester and new guitarist of choice Wilson for the Quartet’s debut appearance. The show took place at the end of Weir and Wilson’s short duo run.

The RatDog Quartet opened their set with a freeform jam which led into “Truckin.” After a series of songs associated with the Grateful Dead, the Quartet offered a suite of RatDog numbers that moved from “Even So” into “October Queen” and “The Deep End,” before moving back to the Dead’s catalog for “Bird Song.” Then, the RatDog Quartet closed their with The Beatles’ “Dear Prudence,” the roots classic “Standing on Shakey Ground” and the lone encore of Dead’s “Ripple.”

Fiddler Jason Crosby, who has performed with Weir numerous times over the past few weeks, also sat in for a chunk of the evening. He emerged during Weir’s solo set for “Me and My Uncle” and returned during RatDog’s set for “Catfish John.” Crosby remained onstage for the rest of the evening, including “Even So,” “October Queen,” “The Deep End,” “Bird Song,” “Dear Prudence,” “Shakey Ground” and “Ripple.”

Another fiddler joined Weir earlier this weekend as well. While performing with Wilson at Ventura, CA’s Majestic Ventura Theater, Phil Salazar sat in during Weir’s solo set for “Dark Hollow,” “On the Road Again” and “Mexicali Blues.”

The RatDog Quartet will return to Sweetwater this evening.

Here’s alook at last night’s setlist via RatDog.org

(Bob Weir) Easy to Slip > Money for Gasoline, The Winners, Peggy-O, Me and My Uncle*, Most of the Time, Corrina

(RatDog Quarter) Jam > Truckin > West L.A. Fadeaway, Minglewood Blues, Catfish John*, Even So* > October Queen* > The Deep End* > Bird Song*, Dear Prudence*, Shakey Ground*

E: Ripple*

*w/ Jason Crosby (fiddle)