Goodbye 2016 (Finally): Revisiting Some of the Best Collaborations Throughout the Year
In just a few days, we’ll say goodbye to one of the worst years in recent memory. One that just about took every hero we thought was invincible, kicked us around and spit in our faces time after time. Nobody will be sad to see 2016 mercilessly morph into 2017, as the carnage continued today with the death of the great Carrie Fisher.
Regardless, the time to look back is upon us and what better place to start than the playing field of live music which saw some of the most shocking, genre-crossing and torch-passing moments galore.
Among the most notable, Phish’s intersection with Bob Weir in Nashville over their fall tour. One of those blessings from the rock and roll gods came in mid-October when Weir’s Campfire Tour brought him to the Ryman on the same week as Phish’s stop at Ascend Amphitheater. Sure enough, the paths of the Dead and Phish crossed once again as Weir joined the band for most of the second set.
Earlier in the year, Umphrey’s McGee continued their penchant for unique, historical sit-ins as Arthur Barrow, longtime bassist for Frank Zappa, joined the band for “Treacherous Cretins,” a debut for the band. With Zappa as a longtime influence on the group, this is surely a highlight for the members of the Chicago sextet.
Maybe one of the most pleasant surprises of the year came with the news that Ryan Adams would team up with The Infamous Stringdusters and Nicki Bluhm for a special collaborative set at Newport Folk Festival. Not only did they do that, but they would also hit the road for a brief run and perform at Telluride Jazz Festival. Adams made his deepest foray into the jamband world since his days in Phil Lesh & Friends with this collaboration, as the ensemble would make stops along the East Coast and even play Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
Another genre-crossover, Jack White contributed heavily to a track of Beyonce’s surprise album Lemonade, adding vocals and guitar to the banger “Don’t Hurt Yourself,” a meeting of the youth movement in the Grateful Dead world, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead and John Mayer, and a special late-night singalong with Derek Trucks, Eddie Vedder and Bill Murray rounds out our look back at the year in collaboration.
Watch a selection of videos below.
