Watch Bob Weir Perform Grateful Dead Classics With Stanford Symphony Orchestra At Frost Amphitheater
See stunning renditions of “Terrapin Station Suite,” “Dark Star” and more played at Frost Amphitheater on Sunday.
By Nate Todd Oct 30, 2023 • 12:11 pm PDT
Photo from 2022 at Kennedy Center by Jay Blakesberg
Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros along with The Wolf Pack string and horn section teamed with the Stanford Symphony Orchestra for a concert at the university’s Frost Amphitheater in Palo Alto, California on Sunday. The West Coast premiere of Bob Weir’s orchestral collaborations boasted a bevy of Grateful Dead classics.
Frost Amphitheater was a fitting place for the Bay Area debut of Weir’s symphonic explorations as Stanford’s Dr. Giancarlo Aquilanti provided the original arrangements for the project. Palo Alto is also where the Grateful Dead formed in 1965. GD performed at Frost 14 times between 1982 and 1989.
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In true symphony fashion, the orchestra — conducted by Stanford’s Gretchen B. Kimball and Paul Phillips — began with an “Overture.” At one point in the concert Bobby praised the student ensemble, “these kids don’t know what can’t be done,” he said. “Jack Straw” was the first Grateful Dead tune of the evening. Next came “Playing In The Band” and “Uncle John’s Band” ahead of a “Lost Sailor”/”Saint of Circumstance” pairing. The first set wrapped with a complete “Weather Report Suite.”
“Shakedown Street” launched the second set and the lead in lick to the verses sounded fantastic with a wall of horns. The orchestra also emphasized the jazzy Fmaj7 to Em7 B-part of the verse (“maybe the dark is from your eyes”). The classic coupling of “China Cat Sunflower” and “I Know You Rider” followed.
The orchestra then added pastoral shadings to “Dark Star.” After the first verse and some exploring, the second set psychedelia continued with Bobby’s signature “The Other One.” “Days Between” then came before the orchestra delivered a stunning opening to a 26-minute rendering of the “Terrapin Suite” to seal the second set.
A “Reprise” sequence that included the conclusion of “Dark Star” — which began with another amazing intro by the orchestra — along with “UJB” and “Playin” reprises brought the concert to a close.
Next up for Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros is a three-night run at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, New York.
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