The Republican (MA)
April 22, 2005
by Donnie Moorhouse
NORTHAMPTON - Why can't they all be like this? No video screens, no pyrotechnics, no political speeches, and no soon-to-be-dropped-from-the-label opening acts.
Bob Weir and his band Ratdog took over the Calvin Theater Tuesday night, and along with a sold-out throng of more than a thousand fans, reveled in a throwback, all-about-the-music jam. Weir had two statements for the crowd on Tuesday night.
"We'll be back in about 15 minutes," he said at the intermission. "Goodnight," he said at the end of the 2-1/2-hour show.
He let his guitar and crack band do the rest of the talking through a 14-song, jam-laden set.
Weir warmed up the band by stepping out on the stage and working through a nearly 15-minute version of "Here Comes Sunshine." The night featured Ratdog originals, along with chestnuts from Weir's catalog with the Grateful Dead, and a few choice covers.
The first set included a tribute to the songwriting of Bob Dylan with sterling covers of "Maggie's Farm," and "All Along the Watchtower," sandwiched around a stretched version of "Wang Dang Doodle."
Weir may be a graybeard of rock these days, and he now sports a very gray, Garcia-like beard, but when he rolls up his sleeves and plays guitar, he can rock with the best. He went acoustic for a prodigious take on "Weather Report Part I" using the song to close out the first set. After a half-hour intermission, the band returned in an acoustic setting to perform "The Winners," and then rocked up again for "Corinna."
With guitarist Mark Karan and pianist Jeff Chimenti leading the charge on several grooves, with help from saxophone player Kenny Brooks who was featured on select jams, the band worked through a strong second set that included "Bury Me Standing," "Greatest Story Ever Told," and "Scarlet Begonias."
Weir maneuvered around a jazz lick before ambling his way into the colossal "Sugaree." The band beat the hook hard through a 12-minute version of the song, and it never got old. Ratdog closed with "Foolish Heart," and returned for a one song encore of "Liberty."