Tuesday, May 11, 2004

The following review is by a couple of Wayback fans, I took this review from the Waybacks forum- a link to the first part (non music) of the review is somewhere below this one..as is/are my report of the show- Here goes:

Clark and Kathy
Date Posted:   May 9, 04 - 11:54 PM

Message:   All the emceeing was done by Wavy Gravy. The music started with a rambling jam by Pete Sears (keyboardist of “Starship“) and Terry Haggerty (Original guitarist of Sons of Champlin) which was a fine accompaniment to the diner people were finishing. At eight the “concert only” ticket holders were admitted and the show began with a set by the Emory Joseph Trio. Emory Joseph is a powerful singer with an infectious good nature. Most of his songs appear to have been his own compositions, but he also did an incredible version of “King of the Road.” That song is so associated with Roger Miller it is hard to make it your own, but he accomplished it. In fact, he was well into the song before I realized that was what he was doing!

The second act was The Flying Other Brothers. They did a solid set, with some excellent lead and pedal steel guitar work, and driving piano leads by Terry Haggerty. I was unfamiliar with most of the tunes, but they could be classified as a grateful deadish rock sound. There must have been some people in the audience suffering from chronic illnesses, because it was during their set that we began to smell the healing aroma of medical marijuana!

It must have been about 10 when the Waybacks took the stage. They opened with “Down from Iona” followed by “Lets Eat.” I can’t be sure, but I suspect many present had not heard them previously. As usual their virtuosity and musicality won the audience over quickly and they completed the set with “Been Around,” “Salt Flat Rhapsody,” “Prairie Doggin’,” and the blacksmith song. There followed a brief intermission to do a raffle, and then the main event began.

The Wabes returned to the stage, joined by Emory Joseph and some of the Other Brothers. Together, they did “Here Comes the Sun” which was a favorite of Dr. Brilliant as a gift for his birthday. It was great, and the entire audience joined in. The Wabes then started to play “Bright Place” a number they often use to close the show. Those who know this piece know it has three parts, each done in an increasing tempo and complexity so that once you reach the climactic section you can hardly believe the number of notes that are being played and the intensity of the rhythm. It is clearly one of their best and most demanding pieces and it was during this number, just as they entered the third section, that Bob Weir joined in playing a solid body Fender. I know that they had rehearsed prior to the gig, because Bob was right with them as the pace got more and more furious. And it sure did!!! the whole audience was energized and at a certain point I think Bob was amazed himself at how hot they had got.

At this point the remainder of the show, which lasted until midnight, was all Dead songs. They were, in order: “The Race is On” “Big Iron” “Cumberland Blues” “Big River” and “Birdsong.” These numbers tended to blend one to the other was a lot of free form jamming. The crowd loved it. At one point James announced “We’re having a great time!” And everyone agreed. I won’t try to describe the music. Hopefully a recording of the night will come available. I know some people were taping. I do want to make notice of Joe’s ourstanding bass work during the session. He played a solid body, electric bass, the first time he had done so in months. And he was all over and ahead of it. He drove the entire jam with precision and invention.

Well, this has gone on much longer than I had expected,(too long to fit on one message!) but it was such a great event and potentially such an important one for the Wabes I just wanted to get as much as I could down on paper before it slipped away.