Bob Weir and Ratdog Keep the Spirit of the Dead Alive, While Trey Anastasio Finds New Musical Waters
Counting late Chuck Berry piano player Johnnie Johnson, longtime Weir friend and harmonica player Matthew Kelly and members of San Francisco’s Charlie Hunter Trio among its distinguished alumni, Ratdog morphed from a juke-joint blues outfit to a jazz-cum-rock ensemble before achieving what Boneheads – the Ratdog equivalent of Deadheads – now consider to be its finest, most inclusive and rockingest incarnation.
Current bassist Robin Sylvester, a native of the U.K. who took the low-end baton from the well acclaimed Wasserman in 2003, is credited as the catalyst for a change that some say has allowed Weir to express a fuller range of his musical tastes. Ratdog’s oeuvre reaches from traditional folk acoustic gems to Weir’s jazz-tinged solo material and the full-on acid-inspired electric explorations of the Grateful Dead’s legendary repertoire – all tied together, naturally, by the unique rhythm guitar inflections of the cross-eyed kid from Atherton.
In addition to Sylvester, the latest incarnation of the Dog features the diversely informed lead guitar playing of Mark Karan (who has also collaborated with artists including Jesse Colin Young, Delaney Bramlett, Dave Mason and Huey Lewis), the keyboard stylings of Jeff Chimenti (a regular in various post-Garcia formations of the Dead), the funky saxophone work of Kenny Brooks and the award winning drumming of Jay Lane. With a steady touring schedule (about 80 shows this year), a growing fanbase and several new songs in the rotation Ratdog continues to keep Weir on the road and in the zone.
For more info on the band, visit www.ratdog.org, www.markkaran.com or www.rat-dog.com
Trey Anastasio and 70 Volt Parade
With his musical hatchery now washed out, Trey Anastasio is back to swimming solo. Not that that’s a bad thing, by any means. Anastasio’s past extra-Phishular projects have included stints with Phil Lesh and Friends, as well as an acclaimed outing with power trio Oysterhead, which featured Anastasio alongside Les Claypool of Primus and Stewart Copeland of the Police.
But on his own, Anastasio has always been every bit as unpredictable as Phish in terms of keeping the crowds guessing: Last year at Bonnaroo, he pulled American Idol rocker Bo Bice up on stage – and who could forget his colorful acoustic solo performance that christened Denver’s Fillmore Auditorium back in May of 1999, when he had to ask the crowd to shut the hell up and listen? Currently on tour with his latest project, 70 Volt Parade, Anastasio and his new mates will surely have everyone hooked from the first chords.
Trey Anastasio
Shine
While Phish purists might pooh-pooh any project that falls outside the bubbling company of his erstwhile aquatic bandmates, Trey Anastasio proves himself to be a resilient and innovative musician who can stand on his own two gills. Having formed a new group, 70 Volt Parade, and recently teamed with more mainstream crooners, including Dave Matthews and Bo Bice, Anastasio continues to deliver the kind of jam-tinged super-sucking power capable of hoovering up Birkenstocks, hemp chokers and plenty of veggie-burrito proceeds. Touring in support of his latest release, Shine, Anastasio is back to display a newfound knack for songs that aren’t predicated on goofy lyrics and labyrinthine meanderings. Curious listeners might enjoy this reined-in though still buoyant, adventurous approach. While Phish had its charms, Anastasio’s attempt at finding new water just might prove propitious.
– portions of the above originally appeared in Denver’s altenative newsweekly Westword.
