Photo by Gregg Greenwood via The Black Crowes’ Facebook page

A slew of guests sat in with The Black Crowes at Nashville, TN’s Ryman Auditorium last night. The evening was billed as an “and special guests show” and also featured an uncharacteristically diverse setlist for the band. As previously reported, on Saturday night Peter Frampton sat in with the Crowes at the same venue.

Newgrass mandolin innovator Sam Bush emerged a few songs into The Black Crowes set for “Whoa Mule” and returned several times throughout the evening for takes on “My Heart’s Killing Me,” a Rich Robinson-sung version of Traffic’s “Feelin’ Alright,” “Cash On The Barrelhead,” “Garden Gate,” “Deep River Blues” and “Boomer’s Story.” Former Black Crowes guitarist and area resident Audley Freed also rejoined his old band for “Feelin’ Alright” and “Boomer’s Story” while singer/songwriter Chuck Mead supplied lead vocals on “Cash On The Barrelhead.”

Many longtime Jackie Greene fans were surprised to hear that the singer/songwriter joined The Black Crowes primarily in the role of a guitarist. But last night Greene offered his first lead vocal with the band when he led Chris Robinson and the Crowes’ longtime backup singers through an acoustic take on “Deep River Blues.” Greene also showed off his banjo prowess on “Whoa Mule” and “Garden Gate.” Adding to the evening’s uniqueness, both Robinsons took solo spots: Rich performed “All Along That Way,” while Chris ran through “Someday Past The Sunset.”

Perhaps most unexpectedly, the members of Old Crow Medicine Show sat in for a few songs during the night. The Nashville-based outfit emerged near the end of The Black Crowes’ show and joined the Robinsons and Greene for “East Virginia Blues,” “Last Place That Love Lives,” “Oh The Rain” and The Band’s “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down.” The latter song doubled as a tribute to Helm, who passed away on April 19, 2012.

The Black Crowes’ spring tour continues at Atlanta, GA’s Tabernacle on Tuesday.

Here’s a look at last night’s setlist via Crowesbase

Sunday, April 21, Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN

Soul Singing
Hotel Illness
Welcome To The Good Times
Whoa Mule
Feelin’ Alright
Thorn In My Pride
Cash On The Barrelhead
Garden Gate
My Heart’s Killing Me
Deep River Blues
All Along That Way
Someday Past The Sunset
East Virginia Blues
Lips That Lie
Last Place That Love Lives
Oh The Rain
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
What Is Home
Driving Wheel
Shine Along
Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues

E:
Poor Elijah – Tribute To Johnson (Medley)
That’s How Strong My Love Is
Boomer’s Story

Sam Bush played on Whoa Mule, My Heart’s Killing Me, Feelin’ Alright, Cash On The Barrelhead, Garden Gate, Deep River Blues and Boomer’s Story
Audley Freed played on Feelin’ Alright and Boomer’s Story
Rich sang vocals on Feelin’ Alright
Jackie Greene played banjo on Whoa Mule, Garden Gate
Chuck Mead sang lead vocals on Cash On The Barrelhead
Jackie Greene sang lead vocals on Deep River Blues – this performance was Chris, Jackie and the girls only
Rich solo acoustic on All Along That Way
Chris solo acoustic on Someday Past The Sunset
Old Crow Medicine Show, Chris, Rich, Jackie on East Virginia Blues, Last Place That Love Lives, Oh The Rain and The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down