i have never seen ratdog live or heard any of the music and i'm curious. i know it is bob weir's band, and how much of it is just old dead songs vs. newer weir originals? because i wouldn't really be interested in seeing yet another dead nostalgia act (i.e. the dead, the other ones, phil & friends), but if he has something new to bring to the table. i just wouldn't pay to see weir up there hacking his way through "sugar magnolia"
Um, I actually have not gone to see them yet, mostly cause when they play near me it's just too expensive. but from the looks of the setlists, they play mostly dead songs, but a few songs I don't know. http://www.ratdog.org/setlists/2005.php#0328 that is some of their recent setlists... and I like the nostalgia acts anyway (not as good as the real thing was, but you take what you can get ), and from what I hear they do put a bit of a twist on the songs...but yeah, I am just excited they will be there cause I'm going anyway, and now I can see them and satisfy my curiosity. I am also happy that someone from GD will be there... The Dead's set from last year was my highlight of the festival.
I've seen nights where he's worth it... of course, Wavy Gravy got up and jammed with mark K on a fish. ??? I go to see Karan. Bobby is window dressing.
I guess I should fess up that I'm helplessly in love with Mark on occassional days. actually he's a bud of my sweetie and I. we kidnap him and feed him decent food. I go round and round with him about RD being a tribute band. He says no, and here is why. Bobby actually WROTE a good chunk of the material (with JPB) these are HIS songs, his arrangements. Fair enough. He is a tight bandleader (and crew leader, that hand goes up, and someone is RIGHT THERE) and that shines through on stage.
Karan is indeed fantastic. I remember the first Other Ones tour when both he and Kimmock were with the band. I honestly felt that Karan added more to the shows I saw then Kimmock and thats saying something. Not that Kimmock isn't fantastic, but Karan just seemed to be more loose on that tour.
LOL Steve was afraid to come out from behind his gear! They are both good people. Mark is MUCH more sociable. Zillions of people come looking for him.
