Hard Working Americans brought their tour to Portland, OR’s Revolution Hall on August 10 where they were joined by R.E.M.‘s Peter Buck, who lives in the area, on a cover of Drivin’ N’ Cryin’s tune “Straight to Hell.”
Buck has deep connections to the Athens, GA musical community that birthed bassist Dave Schools and drummer Duane Trucks’ other band, Widespread Panic.

“We were honored to have Peter Buck sit in with HWA last night,” guitarist Neal Casal wrote on Instagram.

The band has previously covered the song with the likes of Jason Isbell as well as Drivn’ N’ Cryin’s own Kevn Kinney.

Hard Working Americans also nodded to Widespread Panic guitarist Michael Houser, who passed away on August 10, 2002, with a version of his Panic original “The Waker.” Widespread Panic has not performed “The Waker,” which Houser sang with the band, since the guitarist’s untimely death.