Friday, July 06, 2007

Dead roadie's story to bigscreen
Looks like Big Steve found a producer- http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117968109.html?categoryid=13&cs=1

Milwaukee Review:

Bob Weir & RatDog
Collared shirts far outnumbered the tie-dyed variety, but Bob Weir still managed to provide the essence of the Grateful Dead during his headlining set Thursday at the Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard.

With RatDog, Weir has created an outlet for the music from his earlier era while still letting new musicians have a hand in the songs' evolution.

With Mark Karan sitting out this tour for cancer treatment, Steve Kimock filled in on lead guitar. His extended solos, paired with melodies from keyboardist Jeff Chimenti, highlighted the sweet country groove of Bob Dylan's "Queen Jane Approximately." Kenny Brooks' saxophone created a distinctive base for a bouncy "Brown Eyed Women."

A too-soft vocal mix was fixed by the time Weir led a mostly acoustic cover of the Beatles' "Blackbird." It merged into a bluegrass-hopping "Friend of the Devil" that had the crowd bopping and singing along.

- Erik Ernst, Special to the Journal Sentinel