Bruce Hornsby joined his recent collaborator Bon Iver last night at Richmond, VA’s The National. Partway through Bon Iver’s set, which was billed as a “solo” Justin Vernon appearance instead of a full-band performance, the Virginia native emerged for Bonnie Raitt’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me” and Bon Iver’s “Beth/Rest.” In addition, Vernon welcomed a five-person trombone section, dubbed “Trombone Iver, the Tromboners,” during his set. The ensemble included Bon Iver touring member Reggie Pace, who leads Richmond outfit No BS! Brass Band.

Vernon has long cited Hornsby as an inspiration and the pair recorded a version of the Grateful Dead’s “Black Muddy River” for the 2016 tribute album Day of the Dead. (They used Hornsby’s Here Come the Noise Makers as a particular reference point.) The musicians have also shared the stage a few times, including at Vernon’s Wisconsin gathering Eaux Claire in 2016 and at Indio, CA’s Coachella earlier this year.

Bon Iver will perform at Norfolk, VA’s The NorVa this evening.

when you miss Bon Iver when he comes to town so your boyfriend finds tickets to a sold out show and takes you to Richmond to go see him front and center, then you and Justin Vernon make eye contact and he sees your make shift sign calling dibs on his set list and he laughs and tells you he’s got you, then the sound guy comes out and hands you the set list (listen to the last vid) #merrychrimbuh THANK YOU FORD ST. GEORGE / THANK YOU JUSTIN VERNON / THANK YOU BRUCE HORNSBY / THANK YOU SOUND GUY / 22

A post shared by Jenny Dove (@jennyduv) on Dec 3, 2017 at 8:20pm PST