Bob Weir and RatDog | RatDog.Org

I was revved up all day in anticipation and left this newly remodeled movie theater in a state of awe. The tone was set early for a rockin' evening with Shakedown. The place was on fire, and Bobby took command of the raucous crowd. Great geographical tunes with Deep Elem Blues and El Paso. Scorching Half-Step with amazing sax throughout the night. Franklin's Tower to close 2nd set with crowd in a frenzy chanting "roll away" to bring them back on stage was special.

The Granada Theater on Lower Greenville Avenue in Dallas soared through the cosmos and safely home again on Friday, May 9th. It seemed like a fast trip until I looked at my watch and realized it was a whole four hours later than I thought.

If you've never been to lower Greenville in Dallas, then just look at the cover of Shakedown Street and you'll get the feel of the place. It's an older part of town with a string of restaurants, clubs, tattoo parlors, and shops. It was so perfect when Bob opened with "Shakedown Street". "Don't tell me this town ain't got no heart."

Even better was how Bob and the band laced "Shakedown" with the old Lionel Richie "Brickhouse" song's funky rhythm. Clearly this was going to be a night that would stretch the imagination. "Shake it Down Shake it Down Now"!!

I've decided I like hearing Bob sing Jerry's songs. (I wasn't sure how that would sit.) There were moments when I grieved for the sound of Jerry's guitar, but the band really left nothing to be desired. They renewed my hope that the music will never stop.

The second set opened with two acoustic guitars and an acoustic bass fiddle to play "El Paso." It was a very mellow start to a powerful second set... full of sound and fury and teases of Dark Star and Wheel and Not Fade Away as one song rolled into another. Mississippi Half-Step was a transcendently orgasmic experience.

So THANK YOU, Ratdog, FOR A REALLY GOOD TIME and please come back to Dallas real soon.