At the Cat's Cradle.

Dave Rawlings and Gillian Welch put together a band for a little 'mini-tour' of the south, and they picked Chapel Hill as one of their eight stops. So, I went. When I bought the tickets, I didn't know David and Gillian would be playing with John Paul Jones (a.k.a. Led Zeppelin's bass player), Willie Watson (formerly of Old Crow Medicine Show) and Paul Kowert (Punch Brothers). I learned that yesterday.

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I guess other people knew, because the show was sold out. Or it could be that everyone knows that they're a fantastic band and they always put on a fantastic show - even when they're just Dave and Gillian. But the addition of the other three guys - especially Willie Watson (who sang lead on a bunch of tunes and played banjo, guitar & fiddle) really filled-out the sound.

A second fiddle/viola player came out for a few songs. I didn't catch her name, but she looked like she was having the time of her life.

As always, it was a mix of David's songs, Gillian's songs, standards and well-chosen covers. Because John Paul Jones was there, they did Zeppelin's "Going To California" as one of the encores. Also: Neil Young's "Cortez", The Band's "The Weight", Old Crow's "I Hear Them All" --> "This Land Is Your Land", Dylan's "Queen Jane", etc..

I saw John Paul Jones playing bluegrass in 2007, at Merlefest, but that was on a big stage, from very far away. This time, he was like ten feet away. I could hear his mandolin from the stage better than I could hear it in the PA (because he wouldn't always get close enough to the mic). After Rawlings did the introductions at the end of their show, and the place went nuts when Jones' name was announced, I noticed that the guy in front of me had his phone out, looking up who this John Paul Jones guy was. Way to make me feel old.

It's been a good year for me and Zep. Now if Jimmy Page would come around before the end of the year, I could complete my score card.

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If you're in Charlotte, Birmingham or Athens this week, definitely go see them.