Warren Haynes brought his band to The Fillmore in San Francisco on Saturday night, delivering a memorable performance with a special twist: he played Jerry Garcia’s legendary “Alligator” guitar during the show. The iconic instrument, a Fender Stratocaster, was used to bring new life to classic tracks from both the Grateful Dead and Steely Dan.
The “Alligator” guitar, a 1955 swamp-ash body with a 1963 maple neck, was gifted to Garcia by Graham Nash in 1970. Garcia played the guitar extensively between 1971 and 1973, including during the Grateful Dead’s landmark Europe ’72 tour. The guitar, which earned its nickname from the distinctive alligator sticker on its pickguard, is now owned by Andy Logan, the founder and president of Grateful Guitars.
Haynes’ current band lineup includes Gov’t Mule bandmate Kevin Scott on bass, drummer Terence Higgins, saxophonist Greg Osby, and keyboardist Matt Slocum. During the show, Haynes and his band treated the audience to a blend of songs from his solo work, Gov’t Mule hits, Allman Brothers classics, and handpicked covers.
Towards the end of the second set, Haynes strapped on “Alligator” and worked his magic through a spirited jam, transforming the Grateful Dead’s “Black Peter” into an improvisational highlight of the night.
The iconic guitar made a return for the encore as Haynes and his quintet launched into another jam, which eventually led to a cover of Steely Dan’s “Pretzel Logic,” capping off the evening with a show-stopping performance.
The Warren Haynes Band is continuing its West Coast tour, with their next stop on May 6 in Monterey, California.
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