Funny how a show stays with you even 13 years after the night you were there. This was my first Ratdog show - I'd seen the Weir/Wasserman duo a few times and was certainly glad they put out a disc to commemorate their live sets. If I could have any show in soundboard quality, this would be my first choice - my favorite all time show by anyone and would like to go to it again tonight, tomorrow night, the next night, ....
We were first row balcony just to the right of stage center. The band entered like a train with each member's hands on the shoulders of the man in front which translated into the cohesiveness of the band's efforts for the remainder of the evening like they were saying' "We are a jam band team." This show reminds me to this day of how good each member of a jam band has to be with his respective instrument in order to bring the whole thing together. I also much appreiate the visual aspect of a jam band - each member watching the hands of the other members until it all comes together and in Ratdog's case also with the help of Weir's hand signals. I could go for a DVD of this show!
I never liked or appreciated horns and reeds until this show. I'm forever grateful to Dave Ellis for setting me straight on this. Ellis, to me, is the epitomy of cool. I also have great respect for Jeff Chimenti at the keys. In '99 he wasn't as surrounded by keyboards like he is in later 'dog shows, but his competence and melodic abilities just stun me. Just give a listen to how he propels the boogie of Odessa and Loose Lucy - he gives these 2 tracks a real barrelhouse feel. At first I was disappointed that the first tune was Shakedown Street - always liked the lyric but was turned off by the studio GD version which to me is too restrained. On this night it has a kick, an urgency to it which it needs. Minglewood just gets punched along in fine fashion on this night.
After Odessa the band is pared down to Weir/Wasserman for an acoustic Scaring the Chilren style set of 3 acoustic tunes of Black Throated Wind, Fever,and FOTD. Glad that Weir takes these acoustic excursions because it proves that he does not get the attention, respect, and praise he should get as a guitarist. He has guitar chops! Make no mistake about that! Wasserman played his upright 6 string electric bass for this set as he did for the evening. God he makes it look so easy!
The first set's end gets the full band back for She Says and the big crowd participation pleaser Loose Lucy which in this show gets gets punched out to no end. The band was saying. "We're having a great time; hope you are too!" Lane and Karan do their jobs in a very understated way without flash and showmanship. These 5 guys are the definition of band.
Unfortunately CD2 of this show doesn't play - it has no sound. I do remember Weir coming on stage only to be wrapped up in the arms of a lady who jumped up on the stage from the first row. Bob was startled but took it in stride, and he and the stagehands saw no threat to him. He listened intently to what she said to him, and then she went back to her space. Ellis got quite a kick out of it, and wrapped his arms around Bob, and they both just broke up.
In terms of setlist this is my favorite Ratdog show - not a dud or spoiler in the mix. Thank you to Bill Graves for making this show available to those of us who were there. Hopefully the issue with the second set can be rectified and the whole show will be able to be heard. It seems that I remember that Weir said that at some point soundboards of all Ratdog shows would be available, but that seems unlikely. This show barely missed the days of being able to go home with the show playing from the CD player in the dashboard. Damn!