Grateful Dead founder and rhythm guitarist Bob Weir stopped by Wallingford's Oakdale Theatre for the third show of his spring tour.
The Venue
This. Place. Is. Awesome. If you have the chance, take in a show at the Oakdale. It's truly a unique place, with the dome structure serving as a concourse into the auditorium itself. The high ceilings allow for brilliant acoustics and a really wide-open atmosphere. Tickets at the backend of the floor were $80 including fees. All things considered, that's not too bad to see someone like Weir.
The Show
Here's a link to the full setlist.
The show was Weir's first time at the venue since 2005, appearing for a summer tour with RatDog.
Weir, now 71, kicked off the show with a rocking rendition of a Dead classic, 'Bertha,' which was followed up with by an edgy take on Jerry Garcia's 'Loser.' The middle of the set included 'Lay My Lily Down,' a tune from Weir's 2016 solo album, Blue Mountain, and two Bob Dylan covers, 'When I Paint My Masterpiece,' and 'She Belongs to Me.'
The trio closed out the third set with three straight Dead tunes - two interesting choices in 'West L.A. Fadeaway,' and 'Corrina,' followed by 'Touch of Grey'.
The second set was bound to be a good one after the group launched into a cover of Little Feat's, 'Easy to Slip.' It was the first time Weir had played it live since 2014.
Highlights of the second set included a top-notch 'He's Gone,' and Dead staples such as 'Playing in the Band,' 'Going down the Road Feelin' Bad,' and 'China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider' as the closer.
Following 'Playing in the Band,' the group descended into the 'Let it Grow' jam, too. Weir also paid a small tribute to Garcia by breaking out 1989's 'Standing on the Moon.'
For the encore, Weir kept things simple with an emotional 'Brokedown Palace.'
The Takeaway
Nothing we didn't already know - Weir can still rock with the best of them. If anything, this show should ramp up excitement for Dead & Company's upcoming summer tour. There's a lot to admire about Weir, who at 71, has lost a bit of his youthful voice, but has kept his guitar playing and jamming abilities more than up to par with his counterparts.
If you're looking to see him, he'll be back in the Northeast quite soon. The trio will stop in Red Bank, NJ, for two shows at the Count Basie Theatre from March 13-14. Additionally, he'll be in Philadelphia on March 8, and Buffalo, NY, on March 15.
Get excited, Deadheads.
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Phil is currently a junior at Quinnipiac University where he studies advertising and integrated communications with a journalism minor. You can find him on twitter here.
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