Ratdog

Hey maannnn, let's go catch the Grateful Dead at the free concert in Central Park.

Well, it ain't the Dead no mo, it's Bob Weir & Ratdog. It ain't a free concert, it's about $45. And while it's still Central Park, it's an enclosed amphitheatre.

Any you know what, that's just FINE BY ME!

I'll take what I can get. Pigpen's dead over 35 years. Jerry's been dead almost 12 years, thanks to these. Four dead keyboard players. The rest of the Dead have scattered to the 4 winds. At least we still have Bobby, relentlessly playing and touring. And what's with that beard? Wasn't he the "cute one"????

But play they do... and while Phil Lesh tends to explore the outer dimensions of the music with Phil & Friends and Mickey Hart's got the "world music" thang, Bobby keeps things in the more song oriented spectrum (at least for the most part).

Shit, he even plays plenty of Jerry tunes. And the non Dead stuff sounds pretty darn good too.

And while your mileage may vary, the last few years of the Dead (let's say the post coma Jerry 1990's) were often not stellar shows. A large percentage of head's were there for the party and not the music.

There are strong rumors that the Grateful Dead bus woulda been parked even if Jerry didn't die; especially after the Spring 95 "Tour From Hell".

This Ratdog tour brings Steve Kimock back (taking the place of Mark Karan, who is battling throat cancer).

So, I can't wait! I'll be wearin' my combat boots and my tie dyed Black Flag shirt (maybe) ; so if you're at the show, don't call me "bro"! I hate that shit!

Toonage:

Ratdog live 9:30 club Washington DC 3-31-04

(disc 1):

Dark Star Jam

Jack Straw

All Along The Watchtower

Dark Star (1st verse)

Odessa

Ramble On Rose

She Says

Two Djinn