I apologize in advance. It is late and this post assumes some prior knowledge as I’m too tired to spend time on backstory which is pretty readily available for those who are interested.
I like good music in small indoor venues much better then in large outdoor amphitheaters and stadiums. The sound stays around you, the mood stays around you and you really can not escape. You must ride out the storm.
Ratdog tonight (3/8) was no exception and an excellent example of why many of us keep going back for more and then more. A perfect storm. Well, not quite but it was clear that the band and Weir in particular were trying. There was a fair amount of experimentation. Some of it worked and some didn’t…I saw Weir grimace several times. No not quite perfect but maybe the next show will be…and even if it is not you will know that they tried, you will be hooked by what they teased and didn’t quite play and just maybe they will play your perfect set list next time.
Let me mention just a few of tonight’s many treats.

I was ecstatic by 20 minutes in. They opened with Truckin’ which blew out into a hyper Brown-eyed Women. The whole place was shaking. The rest of the first set was fine and included strong versions of Big Boss Man and Deal.
The second set was huge! The acoustic coupling of Me and Bobby Mcgee and Victim or the Crime was both well done and wrenching. Yea, it can happen that way: loss leading to addiction if you let it. An acoustic Victim you ask. Yes, and with all the usual dissonance.
The centerpiece of the second set: a complete thundering Terrapin Station Suite enclosing a failed attempt to break into The Other One that eventually found its way into Black Peter before coming up for air with the conclusion of the Terrapin Suite. I thought it would never end, I did not want it to end.
The Goin’ Down the Road Feelin’ Bad encore was turned up and driven over the top. The audience went crazy!
Miscelaneous: Chimenti’s keyboard work was outstanding; Weir’s mic needed to be turned up or he needed to stay closer as his vocals frequently got lost in the mix: andRobin Sylvester may be a fine base player but he was so low in the mix that it couldn’t be proven tonight.
And, Scott and Kim, I thought there would be an Estimated Prophet tonight….but they played it Saturday in Vancouver.
Complete setlist here.