grateful dead

Opening a two-night stand at this curious Long Island theater in-the-round, Weir and his crew were in satisfaction delivery mode, going for the familiar—Dylan chestnuts, Bob-sung favorites, a few fuzzy psyche-out moments—without taking too many chances until the end. Their opening run from "Shakedown" on was fun, but cursory; it wouldn't be until a slow-burning, wholly dramatic "Loser" that they'd really lock in. Steve Kimock too, was a colorist up until that point, and only keyboardist Jeff Chimenti—absolutely this band's undersung hero—had really grabbed the limelight, leaning barrelhouse for "Minglewood Blues."

With Steve Kimock continuing to fill in for Mark Karan on guitar, RatDog kicked off a northeast tour first at the Gathering of the Vibes in Bridgeport, Conn, followed the next night by this special Jack Kerouac-themed stop in Lowell to recognize the 50th anniversary of On The Road’s release.

In a very rare U..S. club show to kick off a northeast tour featuring fellow Dead co-conspirators Bruce Hornsby and Steve Miller, Ratdog loaded their 18 wheeler full of gear into South Burlington