Bob Weir and RatDog | RatDog.Org

Now that's what I'm talking about! Three times a charm!

Jay was Silberman tonight!


Jack Straw > Dark Star > Stuff, Days Between > Two Djinn > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower (a real FT!) WOW!!!!!

Thank you Bobby!!
The Band is on fire, keep it up!

Not a bad show, but not a great show. The band didn't really seem click the First Set...for some reason it seemed like Mark was having some trouble on guitar. The whole band seemed a little sloppy and disjointed. The second set got off to a very slow start as well. Don't get me wrong, I love the acoustic stuff, but we could have used something a little more rockin' like "Corrina" or "Quinn" or "Big Iron" tonight. After the acoustic set I really wanted to see them take off, but they instead went into "Lazy River Road." I have never seen so many people sitting down for such a long time at a Ratdog show. (I was in the UPBalc)...Finally...Jack Straw! Now were talkin. Into the Second Set "Dark Star" which was much much better then the Frist Set version. That lead into "Stuff", where Jay really took over. "Days Between" was beautiful and was one of the slower songs I thought fit very well in the setlist. An average "Two Djinn" started to get things going again until Slipknot>Franklin's took things up a notch. Mark sounded the best all night on Franklin's. "One More Saturday night" encore rocked as usual, but I would have liked to have seen something a little bit more creative out of the boys in NYC.

My one complaint about the night was the lack of special guests. I couldn't go on Thur. or Fri. night and felt a little jipped that we didn't get any guests for the third night.

Overall it was a good show. Not bad, not great, but good. There were some great points throughout and it seemed like the band got very close to hitting the mark and kicking into high gear, but they fell a little short tonight. I have seen these guys rock out like no other before, but tonight just didn't jell for some reason even though they got really close a few times. This was my 11th Dead/Ratdog show and I am, nonetheless, very happy I went. Can't wait to see the boys with the Allmans this Summer! Thank you Bobby for bringing this music to us!

P.S. Jeff was stellar tonight, as was Jay.

average 3 nights at the beacon, nothing too wild tonight, sort of a continuation of last night with technical problems an an uneven setlist. lazy river in that big slot is a momentum stopper, except we had not yet gotten into any flow in the second set, jack straw dark star the same, lots of people sitting on their hands, and the franklis was just okay to be honest. sort of a beat beacon run as the amount of stars in the ratings tells ya. pick it up boys.

STROUDSBURG SHOW BLEW THIS SHOW AWAY, BOBBY DOESNT UNDERSTAND PEOPLE WANT TO BOOGIE, MY ASS HURTS FROM SITTING TO MUCH LAST NIGHT, GREAT JACK STRAW

The whole night was very low energy. One of those set lists that looks amazing on paper, but did not live up to its potential. Many of the songs felt like they were being played in slow motion.

I noticed time when Bob was looking at Mark almost as if telling him to stop. Last 3 years. Thursday night has always been the best. Seemed as if the boys were repenting for last night which frankly was one of the worst shows ever. Let it grow, weather report was sick and the continuall teasers at the beginning and end of sets of help is on the way was a nice groove. Bob being the oldest in the band had the most energy followed by Kenny. Good show but short of a "beacon performance" and please every year One more saturday night?

GREAT show! Row Jimmy was a major highlight for me. Days Between is a sentimental favorite and Bob does it justice. The band was tight.........Jack Straw, Franklin's & Saturday Night, how can you go wrong. A little mellow in the middle but that's cool too.

I was in the loge and I loved the whole show,i thought sound was great and the band was masterful. Nice to have Mark back, Jeffs keys awesome and killer drumming I thought. I thought it blew Thursday night away. My wife got her fave Maggies Farm. Looking foward to Jones Beach.

Kids....stop complaining. Dark Star - that's what you learned Saturday night.

The band was very tight - and loud. I was in the first row, leaning into the band. Ears are still ringing Sunday Noon.

Special guests are usually a distraction. Unrehearsed, tentative - I'm glad there weren't any.

Just what I needed to clean my soal.

Nice Weather Report > Let it Grow. Loved Victim>Lazy River Rd>Jack Straw and Two Ginns is always a treat and even more special with the art on the walls and celling being lit up helping the mood. I was hoping for Odessya out of Lazy River, but Jack Straw was certainlly nice. Everything from Victom on pretty much did it for me although I had a better time Tuesday in Pa. Just a better crowed for me.

This was like my 30 RD show and I still can't seem to catch Desolation Row, may be next time. Hey Bob how about Jump for Joy or the harder they come next time you are around, please...

two words:

1. dark
2. star

I caught the Friday and Saturday shows and I just wanna add my 2 cents with a comment on Mark's playing. Honestly, early on in Ratdog I didn't care much for his contributions - it just didn't do much for me. But what a change! Mark really has some nice chops and I value his effort. I am truly thankful that he is healthy again and able to shower us with such nice playing. Keep up the good work, Mark.

I: Jam > Help on the Way > Slipknot! >
Just perfect right out of the gate the band was on fire tonight
Mark and jeff really on top of it
Maggie's Farm,thought frankin the third was gonna comin in but no
bob belted this out and once again mark ripping
Row Jimmy, nice good old dead feel to this one
songs were pacing at a bit slower rate which really really was sweet
Dark Star >nice spacer
then bam dark star winds downand bob starts the first notes of Weather Report Suite Prelude/Part 1 > Let It Grow I am I am I aaaaaaaaaaaaaammmmmm just dynamite ratdog waas no hosting anyone and the boys were playing tight as a drum with each other



II: You Win Again was excellent mark playin country flavoured licks that added a real flare and jeff beautiful keys all over it ,
City Girls this ones always tricky because people love to f'in yak all over (what is wrong with the crowd when it comes to shuttin up and listeniing me thinks alcohol might be a culprit) anyway bob played some really cool leads on acoustic on this and its always nice to hear
, Victim or the Crime, was just brilliant
it didnt have the well prononced signature gnarly lead that jerry used to run through it but they played the hell out of it driving it continously through the various phrasing
at the end jay said something to the effect "everybody take care of your friends out there"
which bob responded "everybody repeat after me "your lips are moving but your not saying anything""
Lazy River Road >ratdog does this always sweet at first start jay sets the tempo hard and faster than bob wanted and he immediately gave a signal to slow it down which was absolutely the right thing to do
(I personnnaly think that bob did need to start to slow some things down when they play so they down lose the slow gd style groove of the music in ratdog in general)
sweet version
Jack Straw >once again the band slowed this one down reminding me more of the earlier 70s versions of this song it was nice
I think this appproach withthe band will bear some even sweet fruit as they grow into the new pacing
this is the number one reason Bob is so good at what he does the man is truly an artist when it comes to making music
Dark Star >just flowing and flowing
Stuff,all I can say is Jay Jay Jay
Jay goes to Jeffs keys and starts banging on the organ which still had thaat woosh sound he uses on darkstar
karan sit on jays drums and bangs around
jay goes back to his drums and EXPLODES
he just pounded the livin snot out of them
he is great
Days Between > such a meltdown
Two Djinn > Ratdog is back the band is really the unit they have grwon into here not a gd cover band but wow
Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower franklins the dominate theme of the beacon run
dance to the rythym bob brings in the chorus from last night
spot on
E: One More Saturday Night what did you expect you could predict this a year out


100% Ratdog band tonight! Just a whole lot of good gellin band meshin and an overall excellent show! Nice job guys

NICE SHOW, THE CROWD WAS DULL, STROUDSBURG WAS ELERCTRIC, EXPECT LESS YOU WILL ENJOY MORE, JACK STRAW WAS GREAT , DARK STAR GREAT

I just dont understand how people complain about shows being slow. Blows my mind. If you cant learn to appreciate slow songs and are looking for a complete rock and roll show start to finish, go find another band, not Ratdog or the Dead. Go listen to the Stones or something.
I would love to see Darkstar, Days Between, Row Jimmy, etc any night!!!!!! Darkstar last night was SWEEEET!!!!
And, love that Bobby is throwing in these Beacon trilogies, like Stagger Lee last year and Franklins this year.

Background: Approx my 25th RD show, after 131 GD shows. Saw Tuesday also, which was good energy and well performed, though not many of my fave tunes.

First set: I was in 1st row loge, and have to say that I thought that this was the best RD set I have seen. Sound was excellent. Lots of contrast, smooth transition, excellent playing, and Row Jimmy-Dark Star, well, what can you say. Mark has been consistent for a long time, and he veers in and out of Jerryesque playing, almost always tastefully. Since Wassereman left, Karan's contributions have really made the band the often great ensemble it is today. Jeff and Jay are always reliably solid also. Robin made things turn in a very positve way, though I am not clear how. I do not care either way if there is a sax.

Set two: First to be noted is that the noisy crowd often interferes with the acoustic set in a big way. This has been an ongoing problem; I remember handing out flyers for Jerry acoustic in '85 urging audience quiet when appropriate, but this will never happen. You Win Again is interesting, but seemed uninspired. City Girls I have never gotten, and Victim, always the song I wish could be forgotten. Lazy River, less than was needed to pick things up at that point, but Jack Straw was stellar, as was the follow up back into Dark Star, which is done so much better by this band than I ever would have thought possible. Days Between, nice but not what was then needed, Two Dijinn, Hmm, but the closer of Slip/Frank was suburb. Sorry but I can no longer get real psyched over the predictable and non-descript Saturday Night encore on Saturday.

There was a time (not so long ago) when an RD show did not come with much in the way of expectations; you hoped for a moment or two of innovation or nostalgia, and sometimes got that, but never much more. The band in the last few years is dramatically better, and worth the effort almost every time. They veer from very good to great, and that is a lot to be grateful for. No complaints here, and much appreciation for the fact that this is a rare band that goes out each night unrehearsed and tests itself in front of the audience. Imperfection is going to be part of the package.

Beacon has lost all appeal not because of the music but because of the people running the venue. The Nokia in Times square seems to be the place to go. What a shame.

Not the greatest Radog show I've ever seen. I really enjoyed the 1st set. Loved Row Jimmy, WRS>Let It Grow. Mark Karan sounded like he really stepped it up since his days before he got sick on those songs. The 2nd set just didn't do it for me. I've never heard Lazy River Road played with such a slow tempo. I was hoping to hear the same Mark Karan I heard in the 1st set on 2 Djinn, Franklins and Saturday night however I just didn't hear it. The show still brought a smile to my face but it won't go down as one of the top shows I've seen by the band.

Ease up! See more shows if this one wasn't your favorite. I love when Ratdog performs 'Lazy River Road' - what a great song.

UP IN THE LOGE...SOUND WAS GREAT... AWESOME 1ST SET... NICE MIX...2ND SET.... BAND WAS TIGHT AND RIGHT ON... HOWEVER IN MY OPINION THEY LAYERED
TOO MANY SLOW ONES BACK TO BACK.... ALTHOUGH JACK STRAW WAS REMINISCENT OF THE 70 SHOWS AND HOT... LOVED FRANKLINS TWIST AT THE END OF THE SHOW....
I GET THE MUSICALITY..HAVE SEEN THE DEAD AND ITS BAND MEMBERS TRIPLE DIGITS PLUS... THINK ALITTLE MORE NEEDS TO GO INTO THE 2ND SET BUILDING CRESCENDO THAT THE DEAD WERE KNOWN FOR....RATDOG CERTAINLY HAS THE BAND TO DO IT, THYE'RE DEFINITELY GELLING AND BETTER THAN EVER BUT WOULD LIKE TO SEE
ALITTLE MORE POP IN THE 2ND SET.... SAW THE DEAD IN THE BEACON BACK IN MID 70'S....THOSE WERE THOSE DAYS... THESE ARE THESE DAYS.... FORGET THE DAYS BETWEEN....I AM GRATEFUL THAT BOBBY AND RATDOG ARE MAKING THIS HAPPEN...

Yes, a low energy show, but Dark Star and Jack Straw...2 VERY NICE surprises that awakened fond memories of the mid-70's Dead.

weather report, dark star, jack straw- this was a treat for me! And how can you go wrong with You Win Again?- A classic rendition by Bobby. I thought the acoustics from where we were sitting were amazing and the band seemed tight; especially Jeff (love him!)
The crowd was definitely mellow from where we were- much more colorful and alive at the PA show, but all in all a quality time, no doubt.
Next time, a little Desolation Row for my friend who is ready- and Cassidy brings back special memories for me!

the second set was more boring than watching a slow, sloppy met game against the padres, a 6 nothing affair, in the rain. By the time jack straw came about, you could hear loud snoring and crickets. How about tryong to please the crowd, not lull them into submission. And no, I will not stay home next time, I will come back and hopefully see some LIVE ratdog.

That was awesome.
Lee and Marc -
It was great hanging out with you guys before the show!

What a great way to renew friendships. Thanks to Bob Weir, Ratdog and all you great NYC people. It will take a while for my and my Missourian friends smile to fade. You win again.

Tonight was the night that Franklins Tower died! The new araingment is horrible. After a smokin first set the second set was a real let down.

Nice to B part of The Hippies Taking Over Upper West Side Story of 2008... TY Bobby & Crew

What can you say? Six sets of the Beacon run - all unique and enjoyable. Fit for any Man of Leisure!!!

Shows made me want to run nude in the back forty! In Dog we Trust.