Photo by Vernon Webb

Booker T. Jones, Los Lobos’ David Hidalgo, Cheme Gastelum, Binky Griptite, The Shady Horns and more joined Soulive last night for the fourth installment of this year’s Bowlive, which was billed as a tribute to the influential Stax Records label. The Shady Horns were the first guests to appear, with the trio coming out on the night’s second song, “Hat Trick.” They were soon joined by Griptite on the next tune, “For Granted.”

After those few warm-up tunes, Booker T. Jones finally took the stage for the Stax Record tribute that everyone was waiting for. The singer/keyboardist led the group in a rendition of the Booker T and The M.G.‘s hit “Hip Hug Her,” followed by “Hang ‘Em High.” Hidalgo then made surprise appearance on “Born Under A Bad Sign,” the Albert King classic that Jones wrote for Stax and which would later be immortalized by Cream.

Jones, Soulive and the horns then powered through “Crazy” and the M.G.‘s single “Time Is Tight” before slowing down for an inspired rendition of The Beatles’ “Something.” The George Harrison classic was covered by the M.G.‘s decades ago, and Soulive has put their own spin on the tune more recently. The set came to a close with a take on Lauryn Hill’s “Everything Is Everything.” Jones, Hidalgo and the Shady Horns then returned for the encore, which featured a stellar version of another M.G.‘s hit, “Green Onions.”

Soulive will continue their Bowlive run at the Brooklyn Bowl with four more shows tonight, tomorrow, Friday and Saturday. Marco Benevento is billed a tonight’s special guest, along with Hidalgo and the Shady Horns. However unannounced guests have found their way on stage for practically every night of Bowlive so far—so who knows who will be there?