3/30/2006 Setlist, Photos, and Reviews

'Jam > Sunshine > Music > Queen Jane' was unbelievable!... so incredible.

'Iko-Iko' ripped the place to shreds! Absolutely amazing. 'Dark Star'... good 'ol Dark Star :-)

'Two Djinn'... never heard it before last night and it blew me away.

...The show in a whole was fantastic! My first show ever!!!!... totally what I dreamed it would be :-p

Terrible show!! I rate it as one of the worst I've seen. Aiko at the end of the first set gave me hope for the second, but we were let down. I think we heard the most anticlimactic Watchtower EVER!! If he went into one more soupy Dark Star jam I thought I'd puke.

A bit disappointing. The first set was better than the second. Iko was the highlight of the whole show. I was hoping for more popular Dead tunes. The second set left me wondering.

It took most of the first set for their engine to turn over... but it did. Iko was the start and finish of the first set and the firecracker for the second. Good second set, but given the song selection, not nearly enough golden moments.

The beginning of each set was beautiful. I loved the bagpiper into the jam into Sunshine, etc.... I lost interest in Shade of Grey and went to get some beer. When I returned (30 minutes later!), Iko Iko was in full force with jubilant audience participation.

The second set started out really nice as well. I especially enjoyed Masters of War, things being as they are. I have to say, however, that they lost me on Black Peter, which is one of my favorite songs ever by anyone. They played it caberet-style, like something for a stripper to strip to. That just didn't work for me. "All Along the Watchtower" lacked emotion. Worst song possible to try to play jazz fusion-style. Two Djinn was perhaps enough, though, to redeem these bummers. It was my first time hearing it, and by about the middle of the song, I already loved it.

I agree with casedogg; that was the worst show I've ever seen. No energy and just plain boring. I was really expecting more from them. They even had a day off to rest. I've been seeing Ratdog since 96, and this was beat. There were some good moments but not many. It seemed like Mark was playing in the dark. He is great in my opinion. I love his playing, but it seemed like the spotlight was on Bob and Al. Worst Watchtower ever. They shoulda played Turning Stone instead.

Highly disappointed. On the plus side I made some new friends, drank a few drinks and caught a Ratdog show.

Now for the down side......... Although the set lists were that of great songs, the crowd seemed to want more energy than the band wanted to deliver. The guys just seemed to be in a laid back relaxed mood while the audience was ready to tear the place down with dancing and singing, but that quickly drizzeled away after Queen Jane.

Iko Iko made me over look the slow first set and left me waiting for the second set. Yet it was just as slow and boring.

During one of the transitions they sounded like they were gonna drop into Tennessee Jed, which got my hopes up, but I guess I'm not that lucky.

Jonny B. Goode was a nice upbeat tune but should have been played earlier or something. By that point it was just too late to deliver what the crowd had wanted all night.

The crowd only went wild at 3 points: when the band came out; after Iko Iko; and during Jonny B. Goode (and I don't know if that was becasue they enjoyed the song or were just happy the show was over).

I bought the concert recordings and listened to them twice since the show. They sound great and the songs create a great CD, just not the right songs for a live in person concert.

Needless to say one bad show (outta 40 I've seen) isn't gonna turn me off to the band and I look forward to catching the next one.

SEE YOU THERE!

I was there with my daughter, who is a student in Syracuse. I am an old guy, 55+, and rather than spend $25 for a T-shirt my wife won't let me wear out of the house, I bought the 'Ratdog Live' show. Okay, okay, I was going to do that anyway. I collect Dick's Picks and also have several 2003 'Dead Live' shows, besides the mass released stuff.

Let me tell you what. At The Landmark Theatre, I was a bit disappointed in the sound system. The 'Wall Of Sound' it was not. A little bit distorted and blarey, if you get my drift. But I started listening to the show at a 'normal' volume' on my way back to my hotel, and I am amazed at what a great show this was. The first set was INCREDIBLE. From the bagpipes through 'Iko Iko,' it soared.

To those of you looking for more 'Golden Dead' nuggets in set two, I say what about the readings of 'Jack a Roe,' 'Little Red Rooster,' and 'Black Peter,' along with the weave in and out of 'Dark Star'? My wife, who did not go with me but is tolerent of my musical tastes--though not a Dead fan per se--thinks this was a great show after listening to the CD. If fact, IMHO, had this show been released commercially, and I had purchased it in Best Buy, or Barnes and Noble, etc. unheard, I'd have been very, very happy!

Thanks Bob and RD for a most enjoyable evening!

Have not seen Ratdog in a few years because I thought Bob had lost his touch and his setlist choices were bad. After going to this show I discovered he has upgraded the list while destroying a few great tunes. All in all decent show. GREAT setlist.

This show was horrible. I thought I was at a Phil Lesh show. When Rooster is the highlight of the show ,you know you're in trouble. Mark Karan was nowhere to be found in the second set. Dark Star was boring as usual.

What a great show! It is what it is the night that you see them. When things are as they appear, they don't need to be analyzed. I thought "All Along the Watchtower" was a great jam! We had a really good time and the crowd was into the show. What more could you ask for? Hey, the bands all packed and gone... was it ever really here?!!! The band keeps playin' on....

I've never given a poor review on this board before, but it's hard to say many good things about this show. The first set opened and closed okay, with Iko being the strongest and best song of the entire night. The second set was way off with to much attention to the guest (Al) lead and not enough on the real lead (MK). The best song of the set was the Two Djinn closer, and Watchtower was okay, but far from some versions I've seen this band do over the last 10 years. The encore again had no lead by MK at all! WTF!

Disappointing show after driving in from Philly for it.

This was my 15th Ratdog show in the past 6 years; and definitely one of the most disappointing. Myself and three other buddies who have gone to the past eight together were expecting much more. Iko was great, and as stated, gave us hope for the 2nd set. Unfortunately, this wasn't the case. There were a few moments when we thought it was going to "pick up" in the 2nd set, but never happened. A disappointing Ratdog show, however, is still a great time. Al sounded great also!!

What a let down. After Mid-Hudson, this show sucked! Mid-Hudson was to be the MiNi-Monkey's second show but due to school and scheduling, he was unable to attend; his first was the State Fair show for his 14th birthday. I kick myself for not fighting harder for him to go to Mid Hudson!!! When a 14yo who really enjoys The Dog and The Dead says "let's leave" as soon as second set starts, there is something really wrong.

I asked him what was wrong with the show and his reply was “It took them all first set to get one song right (Iko)". The kid's got it going on and I have to agree, one song in a set that didnt flop or lag or just seem like they were there doing their job? Yeah it is their job but in my field, if I slack I get spanked. I left Mid-Hudson thinking "this is the reason I do this again and again"; I left Syracuse thinking "why the hell do I do this?" Shame on you Dog!!!

I thought first set was absolutely awesome; the Dog is playin tighter than ever. I think this show is gettin some bad reviews because of the bad song placements of the second set. However, everybody, at least Bobby is givin us sweeeetttt music. Dont be too critical.... Nothin lasts forever. I have seen the Dog just over 10 times now and they are playin hotter than ever. I love every minute of hearin them. Peace.

I am perplexed by some of the negative reviews that I have read above. The Grateful Dead and now Ratdog were never about playing a setlist that catered to well-known songs or hits if they existed. These guys were about playing music. That was and is still the magic. In Syracuse, Bob and Ratdog played what they felt that night. Highlights that night included the three Dylan tunes and an excellent Dark Star. I left that evening feeling that I had seen and heard something special. When I received the CD of the show in the mail, my suspicion was confirmed--it was a great show. Thanks to Bob and Ratdog for keeping the Long Strange Trip alive. I can't wait until they come through town again!