Evening Moods
Even a fair number of dyed-in-the-wool Deadheads will concede that a little Bob Weir goes a long way, a point driven home byEvening Moods, his sixth album as a leader. Weir and his cohorts (Jeff Chimenti on keyboards, Mark Karan on lead guitar,Rob Wassermanon bass, and Jay Lane on drums) are on solid footing musically as they lay down a sturdy groove-rock base. Faults in that foundation show, however, as the album progresses. The horn- and harmonica-driven "Odessa" illustratesEvening Moods' shortcomings; it's meant to be down and dirty ("She got a mouth put a junkyard dog to shame"), but comes across as lightly soiled, in large part because Weir is no belter--which is what the rather strained lyric demands. There are certainly moments here that champions of theGrateful Dead's alternating frontman will cherish, but even some of them might wish he'd step back from the mic with every other tune.--Steven Stolder