Michael Shannon and Jason Narducy, likely the world’s most devoted R.E.M. fans, stopped by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to perform a cover of the band’s 1985 song “Driver 8.”
With Shannon and Narducy’s “friends” backing them, the duo provide a faithful cover of the R.E.M. tune. Shannon’s baritone rings out a bit differently than Michael Stipe’s, but his cadence is undoubtedly similar to the frontman. Meanwhile, Narducy joins in for the occasional high harmony and backing vocal, and his jangly guitar tone is lifted straight from Peter Buck and Mike Mills. Watch their performance of “Driver 8” below.
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Shannon and Narducy are currently gearing up for another major North American tour; this time, they’ll be playing R.E.M.’s third album Fables of the Reconstruction in full (as well as a handful of R.E.M. favorites), but they previously took the band’s first LP Murmur out on the road for its 40th anniversary. Shannon and Narducy were even joined by the members of R.E.M. on their last outing, with the original members appearing on-stage together for the first time in 17 years at their Athens, Georgia show.
The duo’s Fables of the Reconstruction tour kicks off in Pioneertown, California on February 14th and continues on with dates in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Indianapolis, Athens, Washington D.C., Boston, Brooklyn, and more. Check out their full list of tour dates below, and get tickets to see Shannon and Narducy (and friends) here.
As for R.E.M., the group performed live for the first time in 15 years at the Songwriters Hall of Fame induction ceremony last year, and gave their first television interview in 30 years.
Michael Shannon and Jason Narducy 2025 Tour Dates:
02/14 — Pioneertown, CA @ Pappy & Harriet’s
02/15 — Los Angeles, CA @ Bellwether
02/16 — Solana Beach, CA @ Belly Up
02/18 — San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore
02/21 — Seattle, WA @ Neptune Theatre
02/22 — Portland, OR @ Revolution Hall
02/24 — Indianapolis, IN @ The Vogue
02/25 — St. Louis, MO @ Delmar Hall
02/27 — Athens, GA @ 40 Watt
02/28 — Athens, GA @ 40 Watt
03/01 — Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle
03/03 — Richmond, VA @ The National
03/04 — Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
03/06 — Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
03/07 — Boston, MA @ Royale
03/08 — Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel
03/12 — Minneapolis, MN @ First Ave
03/13 — Milwaukee, WI @ Turner Hall Ballroom
03/14 — Chicago, IL @ Metro