Bob Weir and Ratdog

I agree, Bob got the shaft. He'll probably show up somewhere else, possibly with Mule or Panic, but it's still a shaft job on that time slot for one of the engineers of the jam scene. I'd much rather see Bob/Ratdog than Phil/Friends and they let Phil headline last year. What gives?

I'm probably not even going to go to Ratdog. Got less crowded and in my opinion better shows to catch

Ratdog isn't anything overly special to me. I will be there watching them I am sure, but they aren't as good as Phil and Friends, in my opinion. Not by a long shot.

Bobby just isn't the musician that Phil is. Besides Phil has some really really great friends and Bobby's band is just kinda.... there. Still good but not AS good as Phil.

the downloading/$$$/etc. makes me like Bobby less but if he could jam like Phil it wouldn't matter.

I have alot of respect for Bobby largely carrying the band in the 80s/90s while Jerry struggled contantly with his heroin problem. Weir took alot of the weight of Jerry's shoulders as far as both guitars and vocals went while still quietly allowing Jerry Garcia to remain the obvious centerpiece of the band.

I personally prefer Ratdog to Phil/Friends only because of Bobby's vocals, I like both acts instrumentally. Weir's recent annoying-ness in interviews and such has been rather disappointing, though.

I still don't get the whole smiting people for different tastes thing. Has always seemed very un-Roo to me. +1 for branham.

I have to chime in on this one. I thinks its really difficult to say one is a better musician than the other. I think they approach the music in very different ways. Bob is obviously looking for tightness and to get some group cohesion going. He's had this lineup together for several years now, and I think they are better now than they have ever been. The group is getting comfortable and Mark Karan is really stepping up with some epic playing. I saw the three night run at the Beacon in March, and they were on fire the whole time. Ratdog is a more reliable band, IMHO.

Phil is obviously looking to push the envelope more, and willing to experiment more with the music in terms of extended jamming and constantly bringing in new people to play with. I think this makes him very hit or miss. The two stealth NYC shows back in April are a good example of this. The first night, with Molo out sick, was just horrendous and barely worth the time. The second night was much better and the band seemed to come together more cohesively.

So while Phil may be pushing the envelope with his performances, he can be hit or miss, while Bobby will deliver a more packaged show that be more consistently solid but lacking some of the epic improvisational jamming.

The other issue with these two is simple supply and demand. In the last few years Ratdog has been touring about twice as much as Phil, so there is much more demand to see an occaional Phil show than to see one of Bobby's three tours every year.

For me, you can't go wrong with either. What do you prefer, doorways or hallways?

I like Bob because he has a better voice, but unfortunately the rest of the band currently sucks in my humble opinion, and Phil puts together a lot more talent. Does anyone know why Rob Wasserman is not in RatDog anymore? I know he has been gone for awhile, but never heard why.

Bobby spat on me once. Don't stand in the front row.

I wish they would invite DSO to do a Bonnaroo.......They would probably do the Dead better than the Dead....LOL

Don't get me wrong, I will be there for Ratdog and do not dislike them, I just think Phil's groups are better than them and that his shows are better (having seen both). That doesn't mean Bob Weir doesn't put on a good show, because he does. And his recent interviews haven't done anything to endear me to him more.

yeah, good thing they are dumbing it down for Bonnaroo

If I didn't think the show would be pretty good I would almost skip Bobby because of that interview alone. I mean, the Dead are right behind Dylan as my favorite of all time and so any opportunity to see someone from that band is hard to pass up for me, but that Weir interview (not to mention his views on sharing the soundboards, etc) piss me off. And I also don't think Ratdog is that fantastic a backing band from having seen them before.

Bobby fans are people too!!! ;D ;D
^^^ one of my fav. stickers!!

I wish Ratdog lead player was more passionate in his playing......that's what I liked about the Allman Bros a couple years ago......they tore it up and played with passion........I'm a guitar player, so I am a bit critical on the lead......I wanna hear some passionate jam get me off....Ratdogs lead player just doesn't do it for me, but since I'm so addicted to all the dead's great songsd, I enjoy it anyways......haven't kept up as much since the days of Jerry.........