From: jojw@uhura.cc.rochester.edu (John J. Wood)
Newsgroups: rec.music.gdead
Subject: 7/19/92 - Weir & Wasserman/Shocked/Cockburn net.rap
Date: 21 Jul 92 20:09:25 GMT
Organization: The Bob Weir Lounge Lizard Association.;-)


Five out of the last six years, I've been very lucky to spend my
birthday at a concert, and this year was no exception.  The selction
of artists certainly wasn't bad:  Santana ('87), the Dead ('89 & '90),
and the reunited Yes of last year.  Added to the birthday list this
year was the Rockin W's a.k.a. Bob Weir & Rob Wasserman, beautifully 
complemented by the double openers of Michelle Shocked and Bruce
Cockburn.

For the past week or so, upstate New York has been doused with the
wettest July in many years, and the weather forecasts predicted
a slight chance of rain.  When I looked in the sky on the way down
to Darien Lake, I smiled at the colors of blue and white.  My friend TC had 
given me a ticket as a birthday present, and I had many Rochester friends
to meet.  Pulling in the Darien Lake parking lot came the first two
good signs:  the sights of my lady friends Debbie A. and Lisa, who
presented me with a homemade birthday hat that defies description.
On top of the hat were the following contents:  two artificial roses,
a fireball candy, a Gumby keychain, two American ribbons, and two
condoms - one of them a "rough rider".;-)

Prior to Sunday, I had panned Darien Lake as Upstate New York's worst
place to see a show.  While the setting itself was nice, my gripes were
derived from the herd-style methods of crowd control, the unnecessary
searches, the rudeness of the Darien Lake staff, and the security
staff's methods of sneaking behind others in order to bust them for
anything (including *candy*).  Yes on Sunday, *all* of that was replaced
by a warm, casual, friendly setting.  A ride on Darien Lake's fabled
roller coaster, The Predator (once in Canada's Wonderland outside
Toronto), set mucho friends and I perfectly for an evening of over
three hours of acoustic music.

Because we went in early, there were no lines to speak of, and the
searches were reasonable.  A group of us gathered a great lawn spot
to the left of the soundboard, which provided both a nice view and
detailed sound.  Unlike last year's zoo, there were much fewer people
in attendance, and based on my observations, the crowd was well-behaved
and laid-back.  My kind of concert atmosphere, which to me was rare
at Darien Lake.

I admit that prior to the opening sets, I owned nothing by Michelle
Shocked and Bruce Cockburn.  After Michelle Shocked's opening set, I
became an instant fan of her well-written, edgy folk-styled songs,
as well as her distinctive voice:  sort of like Indigo Girls' Amy
Ray at *constant* full tilt.  Her sparse accompaniment provided
faithful support, and the one song that struck me most was the
raw, but poignant "Five a.m. in Amsterdam".  Looks like it's time
to invest in the four CDs Michelle has released:  I'm looking forward
to seeing her again tomorrow in Syracuse.

The same goes with Bruce Cockburn, but on a lesser scale.  I did
appreciate his opener, "The Blues Got The World By The Balls",
and Cockburn offered an impressive combination of songwriting
and guitar skills.  Again, I knew little of the material outside
the driving "If I Had A Rocket Launcher".  If both Cockburn
and Shocked ever decide to do a tour of their own, I'll definitely
attend.  

But it was now lounge lizard time, courtesy of our boy Robert.;-)
Like last year at Syracuse, the duo entered the stage to the recorded
sound of a train (complete with whistle) and the "dry ice" effect.
A tasty "Walkin Blues" opened confidently, with Wasserman's electric
upright driving Bob's rhythmic fills, and Al Green's "Take Me To
The River" turned into an acoustic rocker.  However, what hit me
early was a poignant version of McCartney's "Blackbird", handled
tastefully with care:  I took it as a birthday present.  "K.C. Moan"
proved to be a great complement.

It was time to return to Weir/Dead covers with a grooving "Spoonful",
with Wasserman's bass handling the bulk of the melodies.  However, *no*
Weir/Wasserman set is complete without a soupcon of schlock, and the
expected "Witchcraft" carefully moved from the lips of Bobby Sinatra.;-)
Actually, I'll need to hear tapes, but this wasn't half bad, and
certainly nowhere as cheesy as "Misty".  What *was* funny was that
Bob gave the appearance that he was playing the song along with his partner,
yet *only* Wasserman's bass lines were present.;-)  Guitar-synching:  a
new concept that truly proves that "it ain't easy being cheesy".;-)

When I first saw "Eternity" appear on the W/W Irvine setlist, I was 
naturally curious to hear it.  This is one song I am looking forward
to hearing tomorrow.  To those who wonder what it's like:  picture
last year's instrumental set to words, then rearranged a bit.  That
said, I really *dug* "Eternity", which to these ears contains a
helluva lot more substance than the lyrically-lightweight "Corinna."
"Fly Away", the Bobby & the Midnites standby, was given an assured
treatment, particurlarly in the changes, which the duo craftily 
handled.

I've now seen Weir three times on my birthday (twice with the Dead, of
course;-), and every time I've received "Desolation Row", and I smiled
upon the first chords.  The lone Weir lyric goof was corrected quickly,
and Weir plowed through the verses albeit no Wasserman solo.  Still, I
couldn't help but smile.  "The Winners", Rudyard Kipling's poem, was
given another strong, intense reading.  

There are a couple of Weir songs that are technically cheesy, but for
some reason, I can connect with.  "This Time Forever" is such a case,
and unlike last year, Weir controlled his voice beautifully, even hitting
the falsetto registers sans a sour note.  Its partner, "Shade Of Grey,"
benefitted from a driving jam near its close.

I had hope for one certain Weir solo song for my birthday, and I smiled
at the first notes of "Heaven Help The Fool," which was focused and
moving.  The duo shined on its final jam:  Weir on both acoustic and
falsetto shrieks, and Wasserman on his tasty bass patterns.  
This year's Wasserman solo segment is based on "Somewhere Over The
Rainbow" and "Spoonful", although I had trouble figuring out why
Wasserman would repeat the latter:  clearly part of the program. 

The remainder of the show referenced the Dead, as Weir pulled out
his yellow hollow-body electric for typically-strong readings of
"Victim Or The Crime" (which, alas, Weir has "graced" me with on my
birthday every time now;-) and "Throwing Stones".  I liked last year's
"Victim" at Darien much better (primarily because of Weir's use
of the acoustic back then), but "Throwing Stones" contained a nice
5-minute jam, with Weir utilizing slight feedback over Wasserman's
soothing accompaniment.  Yes, Weir is using the "new" bridge that he
started utilizing at the last New Year's run ("Anytime the pinstripe
bosses own the dice/ Anyway they roll, guess who gets to pay the price/
Money green, it's the only way/ Sell them guns, rape the earth today").
A sound version of "The Weight" served as the encore, but neither
Shocked nor Cockburn joined in.  No matter.

The post-show atmosphere was again very casual, with very few Dead
tour references, sans a few nitrous tanks here and there.  Still,
having approximately two dozen Rochester friends around made my
birthday "party" more special, and there was so much good karma
and love shared that when I look back on Sunday, I can't help 
but :-) :-) :-).


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| John J. Wood                                  jojw@uhura.cc.rochester.edu  |
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| "Take these broken wings and learn to fly, all your life,    		     |
|  You were only waiting for this moment to arise..."			     |
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