Guest Book

We saw DB+GS May 30 in St Louis outdoors at Ribfest. Their scheduled 2 hour set (longest scheduled set of the weekend) started an hour late due to high winds and rain that swept through the city, so we "only" got 90 minutes, and I figured that meant no Donna Maria which they did drop, but it was a pretty enjoyable performance. Being a drummer, I was naturally tuned into Frankie's playing, but also because I have the tour opener from March in Falls Church where he did actually loose it briefy during one of the peaks of Liz Reed, I was listening closely. (But not too closely, cuz it's really the voicing instruments I listen too the most.) Anyway, I thought Frankie aquitted himself well, he was fun to watch, he was obviously working hard, and I thought his style fit fairly well. I agree that Frankie and Mark were really good together, they had that floating, flowing two-drummer approach going that serves the music well. And I wish he still had both of them. That said, it was a fine show, the crowd very into it but a bit low-energy, I mean sitting down instead of standing up, on Sunday evening of the long holiday weekend, but as I walked through the crowd all the heads were bobbing. By the way, it rained again and flashed lightning right before the band came on...but during Dickey's solo in Back Where It All Begins the blue sky appeared. He played slide on 3 of the first 5 tunes, giving the show a nice laid back bluesy feel. The harmonies on Change My Way of Living were particulary nice. Girl with the Deep Blue Eyes was the only new tune we got but it was well done, with a different intro from March. "Kitchen" was especially nice (and acoustic-y) from the grass by the trees. Liz Reed has hardened a bit, always room for changing it up some, what a great tune to hear live. Those patented crescendo endings of Blue Sky and Jessica were there in all their beauty. The keyboardist adds a lot to this band, both vocally and with his playing, which is quite tasteful and moving. Dangerous Dan is playing some nice intricate leads with an interesting tone and has a good rapport with Dickey. (Last year after the St Louis show I told Dan he'd "really expanded his palette" to which he replied with a smile "I had to do something!") Jessica was really nice, with Frankie nailing the ending. (During Jessica's space breakdown/ workup into Circle, Dickey called Frankie off as he started the beat a little too soon, but Dickey motioned after only 1 beat from Frankie, who went back to the cymbals, no problem, and they went into a nice variation of Circle.) No One To Run With with Dickey on Fender was a powerful encore. While this show didn't have quite the thrill for me of last year's Mississippi Night's club show with two drummers and sax and a High Falls opener and a standing/dancing crowd, it was fun, and nothing beats the sound of Dickey's guitar in the great outdoors. I will go see this band again and again whenever I can.