ARGH!!!
Not.just.a.broken.keyboard...but...7.stitches.in.my.right.hand.from.mishandling.
glass!
But,.Heres.Beth`s.review.of.The.Dead.in.Colorado..which..was,,posted..on..DNC..today~
Castle, I think you gave me good setlist luck on Saturday night, cuz we got 6 Bobby originals -- that's as many as he played at the previous four shows combined. But I stand by my suggestion that his tunes are not this band's strong suit.

I liked the band better this time than I have in the last few years, and I thought it was much improved over NYE. The core four sounded great; they were turned up loud, and I had no trouble hearing Bobby over Jimmy and Warren. I thought Jimmy was much more subued than he's been in the past, which imho is a good thing. The setlist flowed better than the shows I saw last year, and the jamming was generally more succinct. Phil mostly let the music proceed without talking into the mic (with a few exceptions), and I thought Phil's and Mickey's vocals were just fine for the tunes they sang. Billy and Mickey at the Rocks are always a treat, and I loved hearing Jeff as the only keyboard player.

My biggest complaint is that I still don't like listening to Warren or Jimmy. Everyone kept telling me how great Warren is, how much he really makes the band, how he brings so much to the music ... so I was completely prepared to share that view. But honestly, I do not dig either of those guitarists. And I know many folks will think I'm crazy for saying this -- indeed, I never thought I would feel this way -- but I'd rather hear Phil sing Terrapin than Warren. Not that Warren did a bad job -- really, he's a perfectly fine guitarist and singer. It's just that he makes everything sound so generic, to my ears anyway. I just don't connect to his playing or his vocals.

But I did enjoy the show -- much more than I expected to -- partly because it was so easy to tune out Warren and Jimmy and just focus on the 5-piece band that held my interest. It was great to dance to those guys again, and I thought there was a great vibe at the show. Finally met LS3 (there were lots of guys in straw cowboy hats, but only one who was also wearing an I Like Bobby sticker!). The weather was perfect, the lights were great, it was a high quality entertainment package. I'd go again, but at this point I wouldn't travel more than an hour from home. Regardless, it was a relief to finally hear the boys again without being disappointed.

Grateful Dead’s Bob Weir to sing National Anthem at Dodge/Save Mart 350


by John Cardinale


SONOMA, Calif. -- Legendary singer/songwriter Bob Weir will sing the national anthem at Infineon Raceway for the Dodge/Save Mart 350 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup event, June 27.


Weir is best known for forming one of the Bay Area’s most legendary musical groups, the Grateful Dead, which also featured the late Jerry Garcia. Weir secured his place in history as co-vocalist and guitarist for the Grateful Dead, with such classics as “Truckin,” “Sugar Magnolia” and “American Beauty.”


The group, which was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994, was formed in 1965 and still tours to this day. Weir, who was born in San Francisco in 1947, also plays with his current band, RatDog. Weir has also performed the national anthem for the San Francisco Giants and Oakland Raiders.


Most recently, Weir released a two-CD retrospective on his legendary career entitled “Weir Here” in March. The package includes 26 songs he has recorded over the past 33 years, both in concert and in the studio.

yes,
still
keyboard
impaired
as
well
as
goin
crazy
packin
up
4the
move
but
here
is
a
review
of
the
dead
at
Bonneroo
last
weekend....
dead review from the roo
Author: mudbather (65.54.98.---)
Date:   06-14-04 19:38

there have been some great reviews of the show already, but here's a little bit of my experience, we saw the show from backstage (very friggin lucky)

first off- we made it to the rear during mule's set- at this time bobby's guitar tech was tuning up his guitars and mickey and billy were hanging out checking out their equipment, jeff was just kind of hanging out. at one point Billy had the guitar tech fix his sunglasses, we had a pretty good laugh watching that one (he finally added some oil to the left hinge, that made billy pretty happy).

we took off after soulshine (which was just scorching, easily warren's best contribution to music ever), and waited through the rain delay before getting back to outr primo location- mickey was close to the stage playing along to winwood's set on a drum pad, winwood was really something, i missed the first part of last year's summer tour- so my first time seeing him in a while... low spark was incredible, we were shocked that warren did not show up for any of this stuff, i guess the clones were in another part of the venue...

then the rain really started up, coming down hard enough to rip the covering of the stage in parts, really terrifying stuff

backstage antics- phil and jill were all over each other like kids on prom night, it was pretty funny. jimmy and warren rapped pretty much the entire time until the okay sign was given, mickey had someone backstage help him put on his gloves, and he also had robbie move a piece of equipment so he could step up on a platform without exerting himself- that was really funny to watch.

there was a setlist in front of each band member, we weren't able to read it clearly until during drums, so here are some thoughts on the set list and other facets of my vantage point:
1. the setlist was played verbatim except for the addition of box of rain
2. there was a definite lovelight tease before help>slip, though the setlist had lovelight after franklin's
3. there was a jackstraw tease in numerous parts of the first set, i thought the one before jed was the biggest, i was wondering if the band was doing this to screw with the audience, or if they remembred they were supposed to play jack straw and just couldn;t remember when (oh yeah, we're supposed to play this first, it's on the sheet)
4. the band seemed somewhat unprepared for bobby mcgee, they almost acted as if bobby wasn't supposed to play it (his guitar tech was surprised for him to play his acoustic guitar two songs in a row)
5. chimenti and herring watch each other most of the time, they kind of look through warren, bobby and phil to direct jams, watch for this this summer- they really play well off of each other, maybe better interplay than anywhere else in the band...
6. during franklin's jimmy mouthed "WOW" to someone off stage, i think it was the first time he noticed the sea (and I mean sea) of people in front of him


lastly,
after lovelight, Bobby and Phil played a game of Paper, Rock, Scissors- phil seemed to win the first game, and after some debate, they played again and again phil won- i am not sure if this was for who would play the first encore or who would make the political speech...
after phil's organ rap (wouldn't it be nice if he said this in other parts of the set... help>slip>donor rap>etc...) bobby talked about Head Count (which he called Move On until he was corrected) and how we should all register to vote and actually vote- while he never said which party to vote for, he did point out that if we took the time to vote we could actually make a change...


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keyboard
still
misbehaving!
another
report
on
yesterdays
bobby
thing!


Posted by Tony Bano (165.125.33.x) at 10:29:26 on June 11, 2004:
(Follow-up to Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: meet bob weir on thursday posted by Tony Bano at 16:58:51 on June 9, 2004)
Well what can I say, IT WAS AWESOME!! Incredibly intimate. There was approximately 40 people in this small studio. We all got very nice laminated badges on a beaded chain to wear while we were in the building and we got to keep them. They are very cool. I lucked out and wound up front row on the aisle right in front of Bobby and right in front of where he played. I was appoximately 9 ft from him the entire time. It was really quite unbelievable. Prior to him coming out they asked us if any of us wanted to ask any questions and they gave you a piece of paper with a number. I got #4. It was set up where the interviewer asked him some questions and then the audience asked a question or 2 and then he would play a song or 2. He played 5 songs all acoustic. His voice sounded great. He did have a few lyrical flubs but he and the audience laughed them off. He was definitely having a good time. They asked us to make some noise for him when he came out and lets just say when this is eventually broadcast it will sound like there's about 100 people in there. I believe I was the loudest and he kinda looked at me a little funny the first time. He had to walk right past me when he was returning to his seat after playing. The front row gave him a standing ovation after each song and as I was clapping I could have reached out and slapped him and I think he was a little blown away by the crowd reaction. I mean I was screaming and clapping like a nut. He then got used to it and he really seemed to relax. He did 5 songs, K.C. Moan, Friend of the Devil, Me and Bobby McGee, Jack Straw and Throwing Stones. After Jack Straw, during the standing O, I was giving him a few ''we're not worthy'' bows ala Wayne's World and he was smiling and gave a few bows back. It was REALLY cool. He did a bunch of bows after Throwing Stones which wapped up the show. The audience got to answer back the ''ashes to ashes all fall down'' during throwin' .

When I got to ask my question about halfway thru the show I said something like: Hi Bob, my name's Tony and my brother Joe says hi, He goes who? and I say my brother Joe says hi. He goes Hi and makes a goofy face and gives a funny wave. That cracked my brother up. Anyway, I go. I'm a huge fan and love Ratdog. I was at Penn's Peak and just thought that that show was awesome. A lot of people wanted me to ask you if Ratdog would do 2 shows there in the fall, and he starts to answer and I keep talking saying preferably on a Friday and Saturday for those of us who are travelling. He kinda laughs at that and say they really had a great time there and loved the venue and that he thinks that will happen. He said they had been discussing it and they felt they should do 2 shows there this coming tour. I said thanks and then asked a followup question regarding the Jay Lane thing. I asked if the Ratdog we saw in the spring was going to be the same ratdog we see in the fall. He said yes that's what we try to do. we've been playing together for awhile and we like it so I would say yes. A little more elaborate than that but that's the gist of it.

After the show we had a meet and greet and he was extremely cool and laid back. My friend and I got a very nice picture with him and I got a nice one of him alone. He was signing anything nd he was just extremely cool. I talked to him a few times and mentioned Ratdog.org. I shook his hand like 4 times. Made a couple jokes at him and he kinda laughed.

It was all good.

jilly
checks
in
at
last!

jillybean - 05:49pm Jun 10, 2004 PDT (#3265 of 3266)
she always liked to sing along

the order went:

interview
K.C. Moan@
Friend of the Devil@

interview
Me and Bobby McGee@

interview
Jack Straw@

interview
Throwing Stones@

it was SUPER COOL!! the studio place was way cool. there was 40-50 people there. dennis mcnally was doing the "fronting" for bobby thing.

we all need to show IDs to get in. then we get laminates like we're real back stage schmoozers or something. i was happy with the laminate. we have to sign to consent to being filmed. the whole thing was filmed for a potential series (or somehting along those lines). then we go into the waiting area. we pass all these little rooms (little broadcasting studios, i think). most have names - i guess they coorespond to the channels on the radio.

anyway - i kinda let time slip by, so i have NO idea how long any of this lasted. we waited for a while and then go into the "venue" - which was kinda like a cross between a little tiny venue and a recording studio. there was a stage with 2 chairs and a table and an acoustic guitar mic set up off to the side.

I got a front row seat - all the way on the left (bobby's side) right in front of the guitar mic setup. the interview, george taylor morris, tells us that he's gonna bring out bobby, we should give big cheers and acts if anybody has any questions. my hand shoots up and i get question #1. lucky me.

they talk. i think they started with ((( ray charles ))) and bobby called him a pioneer in improvisational rock.


bobby is wearing a well worn green polo, greenish shorts (in the high tech fabric - although a very nice 5 or 6 inch inseam) and green birks. they talk about lots of stuff we already know about. new tour. new band. new guitar (adopted family story/guitar story).

bobby is kind and gracious. then the interviewer says we can go either 2 ways bobby singing, or questions. and, me, being the fuckhead that i am, only heard "the questions" part - and i was 1/2 way up before i realized i'm a doofus and he should sing. but i was there so i asked.

basically, my question was "in the later brent years you traded vocals with him a lot, is there anybody in particular that you enjoy trading vocals with now" and he gave me the pat answer that he trades with everybody. question #2 gets up. i don't remember it. it was better than mine, though.

then he did KC moan and cassidy.

back to interview. talked about robin. he basically said (and i'm really NOT putting words in his mouth) that the band (ratdog) encouraged him to "fire" rob and get an electric bass player.

then he talked a bit about how they never rehearse how to end songs. he said that they sometimes rehearse how to go from one song into another song and about 1/2 the time they actually do that. but they rarely rehearse how to end the songs (really!).

he did me and bobby mcgee after telling the story and he and janis on the festival express. then he talked more about "of mice and men" and then played jack straw. more talking. somewhere in there was some political talk - but not so political. more a "get out the vote effort" than politics. but he clearly is not happy with the current administration.

then he ended with throwing stones. i was thrilled (a sing-a-long)!

then we waited back in the same area. he had to talk to a reporter first. then he came out and took pictures with anybody who wanted one. then he signed anything that anybody wanted signed. he was quite gracious and kind (i think i already said that).

IT WAS A VERY FUN AFTERNOON!!!!


the dude asks about the new generations of fans and he went off on some tangent about how we're all kindred spirits. it was weird but i do agree that there is a "get it" or "don't get it" quality to the music.

jilly
checks
in
at
last!

jillybean - 05:49pm Jun 10, 2004 PDT (#3265 of 3266)
she always liked to sing along

the order went:

interview
K.C. Moan@
Friend of the Devil@

interview
Me and Bobby McGee@

interview
Jack Straw@

interview
Throwing Stones@

it was SUPER COOL!! the studio place was way cool. there was 40-50 people there. dennis mcnally was doing the "fronting" for bobby thing.

we all need to show IDs to get in. then we get laminates like we're real back stage schmoozers or something. i was happy with the laminate. we have to sign to consent to being filmed. the whole thing was filmed for a potential series (or somehting along those lines). then we go into the waiting area. we pass all these little rooms (little broadcasting studios, i think). most have names - i guess they coorespond to the channels on the radio.

anyway - i kinda let time slip by, so i have NO idea how long any of this lasted. we waited for a while and then go into the "venue" - which was kinda like a cross between a little tiny venue and a recording studio. there was a stage with 2 chairs and a table and an acoustic guitar mic set up off to the side.

I got a front row seat - all the way on the left (bobby's side) right in front of the guitar mic setup. the interview, george taylor morris, tells us that he's gonna bring out bobby, we should give big cheers and acts if anybody has any questions. my hand shoots up and i get question #1. lucky me.

they talk. i think they started with ((( ray charles ))) and bobby called him a pioneer in improvisational rock.


bobby is wearing a well worn green polo, greenish shorts (in the high tech fabric - although a very nice 5 or 6 inch inseam) and green birks. they talk about lots of stuff we already know about. new tour. new band. new guitar (adopted family story/guitar story).

bobby is kind and gracious. then the interviewer says we can go either 2 ways bobby singing, or questions. and, me, being the fuckhead that i am, only heard "the questions" part - and i was 1/2 way up before i realized i'm a doofus and he should sing. but i was there so i asked.

basically, my question was "in the later brent years you traded vocals with him a lot, is there anybody in particular that you enjoy trading vocals with now" and he gave me the pat answer that he trades with everybody. question #2 gets up. i don't remember it. it was better than mine, though.

then he did KC moan and cassidy.

back to interview. talked about robin. he basically said (and i'm really NOT putting words in his mouth) that the band (ratdog) encouraged him to "fire" rob and get an electric bass player.

then he talked a bit about how they never rehearse how to end songs. he said that they sometimes rehearse how to go from one song into another song and about 1/2 the time they actually do that. but they rarely rehearse how to end the songs (really!).

he did me and bobby mcgee after telling the story and he and janis on the festival express. then he talked more about "of mice and men" and then played jack straw. more talking. somewhere in there was some political talk - but not so political. more a "get out the vote effort" than politics. but he clearly is not happy with the current administration.

then he ended with throwing stones. i was thrilled (a sing-a-long)!

then we waited back in the same area. he had to talk to a reporter first. then he came out and took pictures with anybody who wanted one. then he signed anything that anybody wanted signed. he was quite gracious and kind (i think i already said that).

IT WAS A VERY FUN AFTERNOON!!!!


the dude asks about the new generations of fans and he went off on some tangent about how we're all kindred spirits. it was weird but i do agree that there is a "get it" or "don't get it" quality to the music.

Apparently when it rains, it pours! Jilly just got a ticket to this:

From Deadnet events hotline-
WILL YOU BE IN THE D.C. AREA ON THURS?????


We have 15 seats for a free and intimate performance/interview session
with Bob Weir at XM. The format is like Inside the Actors Studio.
Here are the details:

Bob Weir @ XM
Date: Thursday, June 10, 2004
Time: 3 p.m.
Taping lasts 90 minutes followed by a "meet and greet"
Place: 1500 Eckington Place, NW
Washington, DC 2002

RSVP: events@xmradio.com

Sorry to be off Blog for so long!
Until today there hasnt been much Bobby activity to tell...Guess he's actually relaxing for a change! Resting up for Summer fun! We've been busy packing up our house and getting ready to sell it...Cant wait to move to the new place but that won't be happening til after Shoreline Dead...
Finally a Bobby event tomorrow! Word is that Senor Bob will be calling in to Al Franken's radio show- Of course, it's happening while I'm at my last day of teaching for this year..
Info such as weir and when can be found here:
http://www.super62.com/main.html

Okay- back to my packing - Hopefully someone will take notes on the Franken thing for us!

Namaste!