There was one line that was running through my head all night – and yes, it’s a little cheesy but I couldn’t shake it – Weir Back! From the opening notes of “New Speedway Boogie” it was apparent that not only were the Deadheads back in force, but so was Bobby. Looking to be in great shape both physically and vocally, Weir’s choice of songs to open his first show back from the pandemic was no happenstance as the opening trio all contained references to the odd year we’ve all endured together, and apart.
New Speedway Boogie
“One way or another
This darkness got to give”
Truckin’
“Lately, it occurs to me
What a long, strange trip it’s been”
My Brother Esau
“Shadowboxing the apocalypse
And wandering the land”
In a change from past Wolf Bros shows, this band was expanded from the trio of Bobby, Don Was (bass), and Jay Lane (drums) to include longtime Weir collaborator Jeff Chimenti on keys and Greg Leisz on pedal steel and, for more than half the show, a five piece string and horn section (known as The Wolf Pack) comprised of Sheldon Brown, Adam Theis, and Brian Switzer on the horns and Alex Kelly and Mads Tolling on the strings. It’s no secret that Bobby favors a slower approach these days, and the decet brought something new to the Grateful Dead catalog that I hadn’t heard before…and quite simply the slower tempos are much more enjoyable with this lineup.
“Peggy-O” was a welcome mid-set treat while “Black Throated Wind” and “Brown Eyed Women” got the crowd moving again as fans young and old sang along to the age old refrain of “Brown-eyed women and red grenadine, The bottle was dusty but the liquor was clean.”
The band again swelled to ten pieces as The Wolf Pack re-emerged for the set closing pairing of “Weather Report Suite” -> “Let It Grow.” While these tunes aren’t my favorites in the catalog, there was very little that could dampen the mood on this beautiful night on The Rocks so I soaked it all in as I swayed and sang along with the band as the 80 minute first set came to an end.
The second set kicked off with a slow mosey through the Kristofferson gem “Me & Bobby McGee” before The Wolf Pack came back out just as Bobby dove into a story about how a jam session with David Crosby had given him the inspiration to write “Playin’ In The Band.” The band then kicked off a mean “Playin'” sandwich that featured “Uncle John’s Band” as the meat and the crowd hung on every note.
“He’s Gone” followed and featured a little vocal jam on the song’s tail end, but it was what came next that really thrilled the Red Rocks faithful; the Wolf Bros debuts of “Lady with A Fan” and “Terrapin Station.” What a treat to hear Bobby deliver this masterful suite after such a long layoff from performing live. “Standing on The Moon” filled the ballad slot before the band closed a monster second frame with the always fun “Sugar Magnolia.”
A quick encore break allowed Bobby to sneak “Touch of Grey” in just before the 11:30 curfew. As the musicians on stage took a bow, I don’t think I was alone in thinking how great this band is. Hell, I’m gonna go out on a limb here and say that this incarnation of Wolf Bros does more justice to the catalog than Dead & Co. these days. But maybe that’s just one man’s opinion. Whatever your thoughts are, one thing’s for sure – Weir Back!
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