Duo plays “The One I Love” and “Driver 8” – Stipe’s first time performing the songs live since 2008 – and a pair of Isbell tracks at campaign event.
Jason Isbell and Michael Stipe — in his first public live appearance in five years — performed a set of music together Friday at a Pittsburgh fundraiser for the Harris-Walz campaign, with the duo playing R.E.M. songs that Stipe hadn’t sung since before the band’s breakup.
The singers were introduced by Second Gentleman and noted music fan Doug Emhoff, who welcomed the pair to the Schenley Plaza stage. “So honored and just geeking out, nerding out and geeking out that I’m about to introduce Michael Stipe and Jason Isbell,” Kamala Harris’ husband said.
“It’s been awhile since I’ve sung these songs, 16 years in fact, but I’m really happy to be here with Jason and with the soon-to-be-ever First Gentleman of the United States of America,” Stipe, wearing a camo Harris-Walz hat, said.
The acoustic set then opened a rendition of the R.E.M. classic “The One I Love,” with Stipe on lead and Isbell on guitar and backing vocals.
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The pair then delivered a pair of Isbell tracks with Stipe on backing — “Traveling Alone” and “Hope the High Road” — before closing out their mini-set with R.E.M.’s “Driver 8,” which Stipe hadn’t sung live since a 2008 concert.
For Stipe, Friday’s performance was his first public show since his stint opening for Patti Smith’s New York concerts in 2019. Earlier this year, the singer staged a surprise reunion with his R.E.M. band mates to perform “Losing My Religion” at their Songwriters Hall of Fame induction, their first time playing together since 2007.
