 Jeff Chimenti |
 Kenny Brooks |
 Bob Weir |
Story and Photos by Matt Schwenke
Bob Weir's beard may have been dusty, but the licks were clean. With the strong supporting cast that is Ratdog, fans at the Rave were treated to a little California warmth on a cool night in Milwaukee. Taking the stage in a t-shirt, shorts and Birkenstocks, Weir led the Ratdog crew in a wandering intro that eventually turned into the Grateful Dead classic "Feel Like A Stranger."After getting acquainted with the diverse Brew city crowd, the first set kept getting warmer and warmer. Representing one hot spot along the way to the two-set evening, the band threw in a well-sung version of the groove-strong Al Green original and famous Talking Heads cover "Take Me To The River." But, it was the songs that Weir knew best that really got things going. "Row Jimmy" and "Brown-Eyed Women" were noteworthy new old songs, but it was the 20-some-minute version of "Let It Grow" that sealed the deal at the end of the first set and kept the crowd tapping their feet and reciting lines all the way through the intermission.
With the cool precision of Jeff Chimenti on the keys and the fire breathing saxophone of Kenny Brooks, Ratdog took the sounds of the Dead to another level. Numerous interludes linked songs together throughout the night, and it was the jazz infusion of the aforementioned musicians that built upon the musical genius that was the tradition of the Grateful Dead. When given the nod by Weir to let their talent shine, these two took Ratdog in a beautiful new direction. Perhaps having the most difficult job in the band, Mark Karan was exceptional in conjuring up the spirit of Jerry on guitar. When Brooks matched Karan's runs of notes on guitar with a run of notes on the sax, it was an intensely satisfying sound that screamed Jerry, but hinted at something new and, dare I say, more.
With other greats like "Candyman" and "Ashes and Glass", the second set took off from where the band had left the crowd waiting and ended with an encore of "Johnny B. Goode." Ratdog were, throughout the night, a well-balanced machine that sang well together and jammed even better-- Weir and Karan even played some percussion back by drummer Jay Lane. While Weir is already a legend, the talented musicians he has surrounded himself with only add another well-written chapter to an amazing career.
Bob Weir
Ratdog
Ratdog
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