Newsgroups: rec.music.gdead
Date: Tue, 21 Jul 1992 14:01:31 -0400 
From: "Chris I. Telmer" <telmerc+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: Bob/Rob: Toronto - 07.20.92

Shocked/Cockburn/Weir/Wasserman
*******************************
Ontario Place Forum  -  07.20.92
 
* An asterisk indicates that I wasn't positive about the song title.
  In these cases I guessed, or threw in what I thought was the
  dominating lyric.
 
Soundcheck
==========
 
W/W:   Desolation Row
 
Set I
=====
 
Lineup:    Michele Shocked - acoustic 6 string, mandolin
           Max (Michele's brother) - violin, mandolin
           Gary West - electric bass
           Alison Brown - lead acoustic 6 string, banjo
 
Memories of East Texas
Come A Long Way
Makin' Trouble for the VFD
Edie Bonebreak
Graffiti Limbo
Anchored Down in Anchorage
Prodigal Daughter / Cotton Eyed Joe
Soldiers Joy
Secret to a Long Life (is knowin' when it's time to go)
 
 
         Accompaniment was varied and real interesting.  First 4 tunes
              where solo M.S. with acoustic 6 string.  The rest were
              various combinations of the above line-up.
         An uninterested Dead crowd that wouldn't shut-up made for some
              major irritation.
         Nothing from "Captain Swing":  maybe she's punting that one?
         Strong vocal performance, particularly in Come A Long Way,
              Edie Bonebreak and the final tune.
         Great set, especially from the point of view of a Shocked
              rookie as myself.
         Way too short
 
Set II
======
 
Solo Bruce Cockburn the whole way.  Played either a classical style,
cutaway 6 string (steel), or something that looked Dobro-like
and had a great bluesy sound.  I sat up on the lawn where more
detail on instrument specifics is tough.
 
*acoustic instrumental
*"You were dancing"
*Great Big Land
Southland of the Heart
*Soul of a Man
*"Here that lonesome violin play"
Blues got the World by the Balls
Stolen Land
Rocket Launcher
If a Tree Falls
Waiting for a Miracle
*"Tie me at the Crossroads when I Die"
 
NOTES:  First three tunes came across a little flat after M. Shocked's
            inspired performance.  Beware of getting her to open for you!
        "Southland of the Heart" is first time performed in public
            (unrecorded as well I believe).  Things picked up
            considerably at this point.
        Great one-man-Rocket-Launcher-jam.
        "Waiting for a Miracle" had some great chunky guitar work.  A
            real soulful version that can compete anyday with the JGB.
        Standard comments about Cockburn's fabulous technical ability
        Nice to see B.C. lighten-up momentarily for "Blues got the....."
        The Dead crowd seemed marginally more interested than was the
            case with M.S..  However, it only takes one loser to yell
            "Bobbbbbyyyyy"  during a quiet part - and cast a bad
            smell on the rest of us.  Talking etc. persisted, as was
            the case (to a lesser extent) for Weir/Wass..  Nuff said
            that one I guess.  R.m.g has seen lots of this lately.
 
 
Set II:  Weir / Wasserman
=========================
 
Weir played an acoustic 6 string most of the night, and pulled out
what looked like (remember my vantage point) a hollow body semi-
acoustic for some additional raunch during Victim and Throwin'.
Wasserman played the stand-up electric bass the majority of the
night, with an occasional stint on the stand-up acoustic bass
(cello?) with or without bow.  Can't help mention Bob's green ankle
socks - interpretation left to the reader (it *was* kind of cold out).
 
Walkin' Blues
Take me to the River
Twilight Time
*Casey Road
Withcraft >
Fever
Eternity
*Fly Away (I think - an old Bobby and the Midnights number)
Masterpiece
*"Travels the Fastest who Travels Alone" (Bob goes Gothic)
*"She was a Stranger" >
*"Out in the Streets"
Heaven Help the Fool >
Wasserman solo > Spoonful (Wasserman only) >
Victim >
Throwin' Stones
 
Encore:  Cockburn/Shocked/Weir/Wasserman
========================================
 
The Weight
Spoonful
 
 
NOTES:  Bob at his cheeziest.  Lots of standard R.W. falsetto.
        Great to hear Weir play rythm accompanied only by a bass.
            Highlights a fairly unique sound.  However, as has been
            noted previously on the .net, its pretty tough following a
            solo-acoustic virtuoso like Cockburn, and Bob doesn't
            pull it off big-time.  Could really here his fingers on
            the neck too, even from the cheap seats:  note to
            rec.music.link.wray.
        Wasserman was a joy to listen to.  Certainly doesn't take the
            standard rythm-section approach.  Lots happening down below.
            Some like it, some don't.  My buddy thought it was an "odd
            pairing", with Bob basically playing songs and Wasserman
            all over the map (save the jam parts of the show).  We both
            agreed the solo was a show highlight.
        Wicked jams in Eternity, Heaven Help the Fool, and Throwin'.
        Highlight of the Set (maybe the show):  "Heaven Help the Fool":
            crunchy, precise - ass-kicking Bob weir at his best.
        Cheeziest portion of the show :-): Throwin' Stones jam (the same
            part where the G.D. meander).  The forum stage is a complete
            circle, with the audience surounding it.  With hardly any
            equipment, R.W. had lots of room to move.  During this
            segement, I'd guess he did 4 laps, probably at about a
            9 minute mile pace.  Considering the hurdles - this is
            fast.  Without a doubt, some great playing here.  :-)
 
Encore: Michele Shocked's verse in The Weight wiped the stage with
            Bruce and Bob.  A terrifically rich voice, that really
            stands out next to the relatively limited vocal range
            of Weir and, to a certain extent, Cockburn.
        Bob dropped the ball big-time with 100% falsetto reading of
            the last Weight verse.  Painful.
        Most-wicked Bruce electic (Strat.) soloing in both Weight and
            Spoonful, the latter in particular.
 
 
Worth $18.50 + $3.50 tax (gotta remind us Canadians that this is not a
$22.00 ticket!!).  Most definitely.  More than that.  Almost 4 solid
hours of great live music.  (show started at 7:30 sharp and ended
around 11:20, with *very* short set breaks :-) :-)  )  See it.
 
 
Cheers........Chris Telmer (telmerc@andrew.cmu.edu)
 
 
 

Organization: Sophomore, Math/Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA