Bob Weir Solo Forum
Bob Weir has had an extensive solo career which continues to be prolific to this day. Through the sheer volume of his recent work, he is one of the driving forces keeping Grateful Dead's music alive.
We would like your comments and recollections on Bobby's solo performances. You are welcome to draw on both live experiences and on tapes. We particularly interested in the color from live experiences, and in realistic reviews on your favorite recordings. Selected responses may be published in a future issue of DeadBase. (Posted 9/6/99)
If you would like to contribute your own review, click here.
10-12-82 Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver BC - Dan McDonald (dmcdonald@lyle.wednet.edu) - Friday September 22, 19100 @ 20:14:17
October 1982 Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver BC
I first Bobby live on October 28, 1978 with the Bob Weir band. That night they played two shows with the Jerry Garcia Band. They each played two sets, and Bob went first. I remember Bobby Cochran blowing my ears apart, because he was so loud, and little else. Unfortunately Bob's second set was the same, and Jerry just happened to be playing like God that night, so the Bob shows were easily overshadowed. One show was fine but two was too much.
The second time I saw him solo was a completely different experience. He was with Bobby and The Midnights, some people said the Bobby was Bobby Cochran, not Bob Weir. Besides Alphonso Johnson, I can't remember all the members of the Band but my girlfriend knew them, because she was really into jazz.
There were two shows that night, and we were going to the first. We had planned to go out to dinner afterwards. The shows were at a gig called the Commodore Ballroom, which really was a ballroom. A stage was erected at the end opposite the bar and there were some tables along the side under a small balcony. As we entered the building we just wandered in across the dance floor and went right up to the stage. I was so close I was setting my ice-cold beer on the stage! It was what you'd call intimate.
I had on my psychedelic T-shirt from Veneta (8-28-82), and I'm standing about six feet from Weir as the band played. I swear he was checking me out, thinking I was a little far north. I kinda thought the shirt showed Bob that I was a true Dead Head, and we wanted the real stuff tonight. He delivered in a big way. They played all the great Weir solo material, and the band cooked! There were great versions of Easy To Slip, Heaven Help The Fool, Salt Lake City, Bomb's Away, and more than I can remember now. They even did the classic bass riff Bahama Mama! It was killer. And the whole time I'm right there in front with my beer on the stage next to his monitor.
The best part was they let us stay in for the second show for free because there was so much room. We hung out and talked to Alphonso Johnson during the break. What an epic experience. All the attitudes towards substances were slacker at that time and we were doing the 80s thing right there in the open on the table. That's what kept me going through all those beers I drank in front of the stage. Too bad I had 13 of those beers. I was passed out going through customs, and woke up in time to puke my guts out at home. But it was worth it!
12-2-99 Pompano Beach Amphitheater - Jon Lerman (Behemoth1@wbtv.net) - Friday December 3, 1999 @ 00:54:42
I've seen over 250 concerts since 1978 my first being Jefferson Starship with Bobby opening. I first saw the Dead 1-10-79 at Nassau, with Dark Star, Wharf Rat, and ST.Stephen being played in the second set, but, the Ratdog show on 12-2-99 was the best concert I've ever seen.
The sound system was unbelievable, the set list was a non-stop, blockbuster. powerhouse, hit parade, starting with a jam into Playin in The Band, into Hell In A Bucket, Back into Playin In The Band. The jamming was continuous, there were many Dead classics played superbly such as Estimated Prophet, The Wheel, The Other One, Friend Of The Devil, and, the show's highlight, Corrina.
Bobby's voice sounded as strong as ever, and the rest of his fabulous band played with the highest of spirits and energy, to the delight of this most enthusiastic audience. This was a night to be cherished by those fortunate enough to be in attendance!
4-6-97 Five Points South Music Hall, Birmingham, AL - Eric S. Crane (ChpscashdN@aol.com) - Thursday September 9, 1999 @ 01:46:59
This show was a blast! "Schoolgirl" ripped it up, and Bobby's latest version of Ratdog was smoking. It was especially nice to hear "Twilight Time" and "Victim," and I'll listen to "Maggie's Farm" anytime anyone sings it. The part of the show that made my year for me though, began with "Watchtower." This version was much more toned down than the full version the Dead provided, but finishing up the tune, Booby made those whale sounds he used to make during "Stella Blue" on guitar, and so I got to thinking, "okay Grateful Dead post drums, Watchtower>Stella>my favorite dance song ever:Sugar Magnolia!!!"
Sure enought Bobby and his Ratdog provided, playing a super hot "Sugar Magnolia" complete with a full fledged "SSDD!" I don't care what people say about Ratdog, for one, Bobby is pure misfit energy, and a talented musician, secondly, noone can do a "Sagar Mag" like him. This version will be something I will always remember, and easily one of the best Weir and Wasserman moments I have ever seen, and I remember when Ratdog was just two guys called "Scaring The Children..." Of course, when Bobby played this same venue on his birthday a few months before, they did bring out strippers during "Howlin'," and that was pretty funny...
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