[Banjomike0319]

I'm a little late to the conversation but I woul like to say this...

Keller Williams is amazing, he has sucha unique sound, its not just something you can find in your local coffee shop. Every show I've seen so far has just been amazing.

He is a croud lover for sure, one of the shows I went to he had the crowd doing some mouth floogle stuff that he looped into his song at the time.

Keller is awsome.

[shakedown_04092]

Caught Ratdog last night along with the A brothers. Ratdog put on a good show but unfortunately Bob kept the reins tight on Kimock and and only gave him an extended spotlight on Playing reprise and Iko both of which rocked and were by far and away the highlights of the night. The rest of the night Kimock was relagated to quick leads and fills that could barely be heard over over Bob, the sax, and keyboard player (who is amazing) who were turned up in the mix. When Kimock is given time to set up a solo there is no one better. I can see why MK would be a better fit for Ratdog as they are a rock and roll band not a jam band by any means.

Just listened to the show on archive and it must've been your ears or where you were sitting - I can hear Kimock fine on this audience recording, and he sounds good. He rocked the show I saw in Boston on 7/10, especially considering he's learning some of this stuff on the fly.

Strummin - I think he added the sax to WRS for added effect.

[astroman99]

I like Bobby, don't get me wrong, great Bassist and drummer, I could easily see him putting the reigns on Kimmock(to protect his ego), trust me Kimmock ain't learning nothing , he knows this this stuff like the back of his hand,
As for the saxophonist, to me he is just awful, I've heard roadies(NRBQ) with bands play better then him.

[ronster]

Kimock is not turned down in the mix, just most of the time he is trying to play a lead over a rock and roll band, just saying his talent could be put to better use for most of the show.

Kimock played with Dead, DSO, and P&F so he knows most of the material. The rest he can figure out.

Bob opens with Truckin' in which they finsih up with everyone pounding away on the chords so I'm waiting for a killer solo by Kimock in E blues that never happens. Just fills and licks while everyone is pounding away. Great tune but it could have been so much better.

Next tune is Crazy Fingers. I just caught Kimock play this tune with Zero and Donna G a few months ago and Kimock played the sweatest longest lead that brought me back to watching Jerry in '77. It was magical. So I'm all kinda pumped waiting for this to be even better and they never let Kimock take off with it. They gave him 1 minute when he needed 10. Kimock is similar to Jerry in that he plays a clean tone and knows how to take his time to build up a solo. Bob just did not give him the time and space to do his thing. While it was a great tune it just left me disappointed for what could have been.

[astroman99]

THANKS
Ronster, I was maybe gonna drag my ass to Darien, but after reading what you said...no way, I would add its not by accident, Bobby has been a touring musician for over forty years, if he doesn't know how to make his band sound good, or utilize its members skills to the overall betterment of the music, its because he doesn't want Kimmock to shine and take the limelight off of him.
I guess I'll cut the grass instead.

[gratephulphish123]

i dunno i dont think bobs protecting his own ego, i think he's protecting the fans high regards of mk2 so that his coming back is a big thing. ratdog with mk was amazing last i saw and theres no reason they shouldnt be with kimock. whatever either way i get to see derek trucks so

[strumminsix]

I'm shocked to hear anyone think Bobby has an ego and that it's wrong. For 30 years he was the "other guy in the grateful dead" behind Jerry. He was underpowered through a good portion of the early years and absent or very low from the mix throughout most of the mid-80s and into the 90s. Ego, I think not.

Sax = very talented and wonderful

Kimmock = very talented and wonderful but still finding his place with Ratdog. As I watched him for the 2 shows I saw I say him not wanting to big rockstar on stage and kinda play it calmer. Was that out of respect to MK or not wanting to redefine the roll or just keep things at a nice even keel til MK returns. Don't know.

Kimmock's stage volume was low, he kept switching guitars, and amps and plugging things in and out and finger picking and playing the guitar like a dobro, etc. I'm guessing those contributed to low in the mix.

Bobby's stage volume is low and it's always low.

[astroman99]

Maybe you guys are right , I have seen Kimmock do his back of the stage, sit down with his back to the audience, playing low thing
I disagree about Bob's ''ego'' thing, do you know how many people have absolutely adored him, for years and years, even his guitar playing
I guess I am just frustrated, I know Kimmock can get the job done...

[ronster]

Don't cut the grass on my account. The show was well worth it. Both bands were very good. Kimock got caught loose for about 15 minutes on Playin' and Iko which were worth the price of admission right there. I don't blame Bobby as it would be difficult to reformat a band for a fill in guitarist, I guess it was just wishful thinking on my part.
BTW Strummin, Bobby was louder in the mix than any dead show I ever saw and you did not mention the keyboard player, he was excellent. He joined the AB's for That same thing and was intense. I would have prefered if the sax player stuck to leads and fills as opposed to wailing most of the time. That sax sound can get a little irrating and old after awhile.

[thestranger]

I saw Dog at Bonnaroo this year w/MK and it was an exellent set(too short) I'm not a fan of the sax- but I am a fan of Bobby using the sax to re-arange and breathe new life into the songs we all love. I later saw Bobby and KW in my hometown of Chicago W/Kimock and it was one of my best ratdog expieriences. I feel that Kimock captures Jerry's leads the best and have always thought that scince he played with the other ones. Keller is amazing, he loves the dead, he loves the crowd, and knows how to have fun on stage. I hope that all is well with MK and he returns to the band with good health, but in my hummble opinion Steve fills the slot better.
-Be good family

[shakedown_04092]

Ronster - gotcha, misread your interpretation. I hear ya on that Crazy Fingers...I would've felt the same now that I read your later post. That sucks, but glad the Playin & Iko were worth the price of admission. PS - had me cracking up "don't cut the grass on my account"

Astroman99 - GO SEE THEM. C'mon. What's a matterwith you? (mean that in the nicest sense) - get out and see the boys! You're not THAT old, even if you think you are! You'll have a great time - I guarantee it. Send me a bill if you find out it was a poor choice, and I'll foot it for you.

Bob = as an ego, for sure. But not a bad one, or an overpowering one, or one that stands out. A good positive one. I mean, he IS a rock star in his own mind, we all know that.

But I think you guys make some interesting points as to why we don't see the "real" Kimock - for sake of MKII, not wanting to change the dynamic drastically, etc. I'm sure all of these are coming into play, and if it's the case, Kimock has REALLY shown some huuuuuuuge class here by not wanting to be "that guy" and just doing what's right - helping out a brother/band in the time of need.

Good posts guys.

PS - Psyched to see Phil in Boston in October - 2 shows! Whooohoooooo!

[astroman99]

Thanks for the encouragemnet...shakedown, I didn't go ... but I hope you all had fun, I have seen ratdog, I think four times in the last two years or so, so I passed, if someone had written that Kimmock was over the top I would have made myself go, I am looking forward to Phil in Syracute in October, I love Larry Campbell...my friends ask me why...maybe 'cause my mom was on jury duty with him a few years back.
To clarify a previous post , I really do like Bob's playing...and song writing.