Photo Credit: Bill Kelly
Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros continued their jaunt through The Lone Star State last night, where they posted up at the Majestic Theatre in Dallas. The performance brought forth two frames of music, stacked with favorites plucked from the Grateful Dead’s live repertoire and the frontman’s solo career. During the initial set, the group landed on the traditional “Deep Ellum Blues” for the first time since a March 10, 2020, gig at The Fillmore Minneapolis in Minneapolis, Minn.
Prior to the night’s bust out, the unit of musicians commenced their Thursday night presentation with “Jack Straw” before working into “Odessa” and following up with a run-through of the Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter conceived “Loser.” Then, the group delivered their bust out, which doubled as a locationally fitting song choice. While traditionally titled “Deep Elem Blues,” last night’s rendition was altered to “Deep Ellum Blues,” as a direct reference to the Deep Ellum neighborhood in Dallas, which was home to music giants such as Blind Lemon Jefferson, Lead Belly, Bill Neely and more.
After the special moment, the band picked up Bob Dylan’s “When I Paint My Masterpiece” ahead of their return to the Dead’s songbook on “He’s Gone.” For the final tunes of the night’s initial set, the musicians paired covers of Merle Haggard’s “Mama Tried” with Bobby “Blue” Bland’s “Turn On Your Love Light.” After a break from the stage, the ensemble returned and cut into the Memphis Jug Band favorite, “Stealin’.”
Following the initial song of the second frame, the first part of “Dark Star” arrived and merged with the ensuing “Truckin’.” The latter twisted into Eddie Cooley’s “Fever” and inevitably found its way back to “Dark Star.” Next, Weir led the group into “Scarlet Begonias,” which was paired alongside another Memphis Jug Band original, this time, “Viola Lee Blues,” which the Grateful Dead released on their 1967 self-titled LP.
As the evening continued, the crowd was treated to a rousing take on “Black Peter,” which flowed into the final song of the second set, Henry Whitter’s classic number, “Going Down The Road Feelin’ Bad.” For their encore, this group of musicians decided on the Grateful Dead’s 1987 tune off their In The Dark collection, “Black Muddy River.”
Weir and company will take a night off the road before their next gig, scheduled for March 11 at the famed Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn. While the first night in Music City is sold out, tickets remain on sale for the band’s follow-up on March 12. For more information, visit bobweir.net.
Scroll down to view last night’s setlist. Steam the band’s March 9 show now.
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Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros
Majestic Theatre – Dallas
March 9, 2023
Set I: Jack Straw, Odessa, Loser, Deep Ellum Blues+, Masterpiece, He’s Gone, Mama Tried > Turn On Your Love Light
Set II: Steelin’, Dark Star > Truckin’ > Fever > Dark Star > Scarlet Begonias > Viola Lee Blues, Black Peter, Going Down The Road Feelin’ Bad
Enc.: Black Muddy River
Notes:
+ Bust out, last played by Wolf Bros on March 10, 2020
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