Formed in California in 2018 originally as a trio named Wolf Bros, this act is primarily a live vehicle for founding Grateful Dead member, rhythm guitarist, and vocalist Bob Weir. With a rhythm section comprising Don Was (double bass) and Jay Lane (drums), their repertoire incorporates heartfelt blues and country renditions of Grateful Dead material, roots rock covers, and compositions from Weir's various solo projects.

Following the Grateful Dead's disbandment in 1995 -- after a 30-year career and the death of their linchpin, Jerry Garcia -- the remaining members regrouped at various points up until the late 2000s as the Other Ones and, later, as the Dead. Weir took part in both endeavors, simultaneously setting up RatDog, a project with an evolving lineup that became his going concern for almost two decades. With RatDog's focus largely on the live performance of highlights from throughout Weir's recording career -- alongside covers of material cut from the same cloth -- it was, in some ways, a less-nuanced, full-band precursor to Bobby Weir Wolf Bros. In 2009 -- alongside the Grateful Dead's bassist Phil Lesh -- Weir formed the jam band Furthur. By 2014, however, both RatDog and Furthur had ceased activity: the former going on extended hiatus, with the latter disbanding completely. This left Weir free to form Dead Company in 2015 -- an act featuring John Mayer and former Grateful Dead members Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart that remained a hugely successful live draw into the 2020s.

Whereas Dead Company got closer to capturing the spirit of the Grateful Dead in their prime, the formation of Wolf Bros in 2018 gave Weir more flexibility, both in terms of approach and repertoire choice. Lane had previously drummed for Weir in both RatDog and Furthur, but Wolf Bros represented Weir's first work with Don Was, already six years into his presidency of Blue Note Records. In time for their first U.S. tour, in 2019, they were billed as Bob Weir Wolf Bros, their early performances betraying a moody, pared-down approach, a vibe intensified by Weir's now gruff and husky vocals. A livestream from his own TRI Studios on New Year's Eve 2020 revealed an expanded lineup featuring pedal-steel guitarist Greg Leisz and Weir's longtime collaborator on keyboards, Jeff Chimenti. Early the following year, in the same setting, Weir introduced what he referred to as the Wolfpack: a string and brass ensemble who augmented the Wolf Bros sound, comprising Sheldon Brown, Adam Theis, Alex Kelly, Brian Switzer, and Mads Tolling.

In June 2021, they played their first in-person concerts since the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic. Bobby Weir Wolf Bros: Live in Colorado was issued on Jack White's Third Man Records in February 2022, and a second volume, Live in Colorado, Vol. 2, in October of the same year. Although Leisz's deft pedal steel work could be heard on the recordings, by the time of the first volume's release he had been replaced by Barry Sless. ~ James Wilkinson, Rovi