Crusader Rabbit

Setlist | Photos | Review | Other Sightings

Sweetwater Saloon - Mill Valley, California
June 10, 2001
Rob Barraco - Jimmy Herring - Phil Lesh - John Molo - Bob Weir

I: Jam > Truckin > Smokestack Lightning > Friend of the Devil > China Cat Sunflower > The Eleven > Brown-Eyed Women
II: The Music Never Stopped > Jam > Get Together > Cassidy, Mason's Children > Viola Lee Blues > Maggie's Farm > Viola Lee Blues
E: Promised Land* > I Know You Rider*
*-with Warren Haynes

Photos
by Dave Clark

Review
by Arrow on DNC

When word spilled out here on dnc Sunday morning, I couldn't wait any longer to leave, I imagined 100's heading there already. This was the smoothest, most streamlined trip I've ever taken to Marin, it took me exactly two hours door to door from Santa Cruz, including the swing by scoop-up of irenie en route. Stealth was word before 11:00AM Sunday, so she hadn't heard before I knocked at her door at noon. "Bobby, what?? Okay, but can I at least change my shirt?" |:^)
In and out of there in like 5 mins. swift.

Besides the drive to secure my own place in line, DBrooks was waiting on word from re: the Sweetwater scene. We'd talk as soon as I could get there, hopefully before his flight window shuts. Drive Alive, Go.

Anyway, so we get there at 2:00 on the dot--we made incredible time like I said--check the scene and much to our delight find that there are only eight people standing in line!! LOL and a half, what was the rush? |;^)

But, no shit?!! We're dialed in good, time to give mazz a call, fill him in on the details. Soon DBrooks calls me back and I eagerly give him my report, saying "if you can get here by 7:30, I'll hold you a place in line." He's got an hour still before the flight, will check back in just before once more. Well, as soon as I hang up, I mention to those around me my plan, want them to know what I've got planned so they know ahead of time, that I'm saving a place for my friend heading down from afar.

They could give a rat's ass how far he's flying, NO SAVING PLACES!! "One body, one ticket, you wait all day here, you pay YOUR dues." Well, that cast a decidedly shadowy light on the chances for a late arrival, I tried to break the news as gently as I could. Next time, DBrooks--you're commitment is clear. Sorry I hadn't appreciated that earlier. You were there with me in spirit, bro, solid.

And so was Rose. I gave her a call, sharing the buzz, enticing her on down. As it came down things changed in the end, but a little later I talked to people at the end of the line when it was at around 60, that somebody from the Sweetwater was just there counting and told them that they were going to let in only 110, that the guest list was over 35, and the line would end around 75 or 80. Well somewhere between then and time for doors, the establishment decided to remove the tables and chairs (except for those against the wall) and ups the attendence to 240. I take it from reading above (sam e?) that there were a few people who didn't get in, but it sounds like not many.

Bobby was seen driving past--twice--during the afternoon. Guess he lives somewhere around there? This was my first time at the Sweetwater. That place is tiny. Has character, too, though, you can feel it.

So, okay, long fast day in line, and all of a sudden it's 7:10pm (no lie, I was keeping notes). I'm fussing with my stuff on the ground, hear "Arrow, Arrow, turn around," and stand up. I'm face to face with Phil Lesh, a span of two feet between us!! (Thank you, irenie) A sudden flash past he goes, w/ a swift "Hello!" I could see Phil was eagerly checking things out as he passed through the area, and was very pleased, all giddy and gleeful, bouyancy in his gait.

The Ryder truck stated unloading at 7:30, time's getting near. Mark Karan went by, sporting a fringed cordoroy jacket. I saw Parish for a second, too. Can you say, detent ? Accord. Family, lots of familiar faces everywhere you looked. Sitting in line all day, a certain comeraderie emerges.

Tickets finally went on sale around 8:00 or so, $20. The people on the list lined up separately and entered first, followed by the "unwashed masses." Irenie and I were #'s 8 and 9. We went right in, and occupied space with our bodies. Facing "Jimmy", three deep, room for two and a backpack. Ten yards away from Phil.
Center of the gawdamn GD Universe!! Time for a beer and relax, watch the place fill up....

The Crusader Rabbit Stealth Band - Set One

9:50 Band takes the stage. They're all there: Phil, Molo, Jimmy, Bobby, and Barraco.

9:54 Jam
Expecting a song to kick off the show Weir style, I thought it was gonna be "Jack Straw" for few bars somewhere in there. Turns out they were gonna take the more 'traditional' PLQ approach and open with an 8 minute jam. It wound up wildly, verily exploding into >

10:02 Truckin'
What a perfect opening song, the theme of a journey, traveling, evoked. (Phil referred to himself in gesture at one point in the evening as "Crusader Rabbit.") I think this was the Odessy Tour kickoff show. It couldn't be a finer crusade with these kind of vibes kicking it off. I am just blown away at how well Weir and Lesh function together, how they make such a powerful pair. Not sure who called the break to start the song, it seemed to coalesce naturally out of the chaos. Thundering, thundering, bursting forth, WHOOM!! Bobby even got all the words right, didn't miss a cue. |;^) We're in the groove already, right outta the blocks. So heartening to see Phil and Bobby singing together on the chorus, WALSTIB!!

10:09 Smokestack Lightnin'
One of my favorite Bobby covers, this one was just plain nasty.

10:16 FOTD
Phil and Bobby traded verses. At one point Bobby signaled a change waving his finger in the air. He missed his own cue, though, blushing a big grin and stifling embarassment with rededicated focus, they turned into...

10:25 China Cat Sunflower
Things are a little blurry on this, my notes are thin. It was good and we grooved I'm sure, but instead of the traditional "Rider" chaser, we went somewhere completely unexpected: Into The Eleven!!

10:30 The Eleven
TOO style, perfectly thrilling: "This is the season of what? Now is the time of returning. Test of the boomerang. Beyond believing." You are there, it's happening now, the jam is opening wide. Phil's notes are palpably fat, thick and meaty. I was receiving some serious throttling standing in the sound scope of those speakers. Bass notes blew through me, I was breathing them deep.

:37 I'm pretty sure that "The Other One" was quoted here, thought for a second they were going to explode into it, even....

:39 But instead they 'coasted' along, until Phil signaled...

10:41 Brown Eyed Women
Rob nailed this one, his voice suits it to a tee, IMO, his spunk infectious. Solid, solid playing. The stage as tiny as it was, he had a single keyboard, electric piano.

10:48 For the first time in an hour, the music finally stopped, or at least took a rest: Break time.

"Don't you love these sweatboxes?" --Phil Lesh

The Crusader Rabbit Stealth Band - Set Two

The boys returned to the stage @ 11:23, and proceeded to mess around with this'es and that's until they got it together and dove head first into...

11:29 The Music Never Stopped
How BIG can it possibly get, how enthusiastic?? This number was not played for the weak of heart or weary limbed. My gawd, I thought I was going to burst. Explosive, driving, bouncing, thick as mercury, the music grabbed ya deep down in the solar plexis, igniting an exurberance within you didn't know you had. Ear-to-ear grins everyweir!! This was not an unrehearsed tune, no way, no how!! My gawd they planned this!!

11:40 Jam (My notes read, "chasing the snake, riding the tiger"--this was a deep exploration, a full blown team excursion) >

11:45 Phil visibly mouths a great big (the key of) "E" for the benefit of Jimmy, Bobby, and Rob, and they morphed into...

11:46 Get Together
Phil and Bobby traded verses, and at one point directly after finishing the line, "Smile on your brother, everybody get together, try and love one another right now," Bobby couldn't supress a HUGE 'SHIT EATING' GRIN any longer. We might have otherwise only guessed that this song selection carried a measure of self reference for the musicians, but here was 'proof' of sorts that it actually did. The love and joy manifest in that room was perfectly palpable. You could reach out and touch it.

11:54 Cassidy
They did a little trick ending, pulling the crowd into the music itself. "Cassidy" finished with Weir signaling the audience to continue singing the refrain, "Let the words be yours, I'm done with mine," while the musicians on the stage apparently used that to create a 'round' effect, essentially playing another verse over what we were singing. At least that's what I sensed happening, from the second row. We were invited to participate in groove, to contribute to the music.

12:06 Full stop.

12:08 Mason's Children
Straight forward rendition of this 'oft played number <g>, Phil handling the main vocal duties, sounding remarkably well in that capacity, too. Song seems to suit his range quite well. By now, we're just getting too blown away, our enthusiastic response mechanisms have been overstimulated into inactivity, it seemed. I just stood there, agape, beginning to wonder, How much more of this sonic pleasure can the collective psyche sustain??

12:16 Jamming segue >

12:19 Viola Lee Blues
Bursting into this incredible vehicle, I'm feeling Phil's notes so intensely, I'm urging to climb up on them, they're thick enough. Now, somewhere towards ten minutes into the number, Phil intently flashes a look directly at Bobby--several times, trying (unsuccessfully) to get his attention. Bobby, meanwhile, is fixated on the floor about two feet in front of himself, absorbed in what he's playing. He misses seeing Phil's "cue" when he did look up, and instead presents his own signal to the band, calling for an end to the jam, he's got an idea.

12:30 Maggie's Farm
Now, this one was probably unrehearsed from the sound of it, easily the weakest tune of the night in terms of full blown band involvement. I'm guessing that Bobby thought to do this one right there on the spot. Weir played slide part way through it.

12:37 Perhaps the 'tapes' will bear this out, I thought I heard "The Other One" quoted, thought that they were going to burst into it, even. But, alas, they returned to...

12:39 Viola Lee Blues--reprise.

12:40 End of Set

1:03 Promised Land
Warren, who just arrived at the venue I understand, joins the others (sitting, I think, just to Jimmy's left). Rousing rendition of this killer tune. Indeed, we have all made it to the Promised Land!!

1:14 I Know You Rider

1:25 End of show. Phil glanced over to Bobby, and "mouthed" a HUGE "THANK YOU." At one point in the evening, can't recall if it was here or earlier, but Phil put his hand on Bobby's head, and gave his hair a quick tossle.

Whew!! That was a long review, thanks for allowing me the space to share my experience. It was an absolutely incredible event, a watershed moment in the long, strange, trip, for sure.

Let the words be yours, I'm done with mine!!

7/9/01 Zoo Amphitheatre, Oklahoma City, OK
The Music Never Stopped > Cassidy

7/10/01 Riverport Amphitheatre, Maryland Heights, MO
Playin in the Band > She Belongs to Me > Truckin > Playin in the Band

7/17/01 Pine Knob Music Theatre, Clarkston, MI
China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider

7/18/01 Polaris Amphitheatre, Columbus, OH
Bird Song > Cassidy > Bird Song

7/20/01 Great Woods Amphitheatre, Mansfield, MA
Friend of the Devil > All Along the Watchtower > Friend of the Devil

7/21/01 Meadows Music Theatre, Hartford, CT
Truckin > Cassidy

7/22/01 Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs, NY
The Music Never Stopped > Good Lovin

12/31/01 Kaiser Auditorium, Oakland, CA
Not Fade Away > Truckin > Playin in the Band > The Wheel > Sugar Magnolia
also with Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart

6/23/02 Bonnaroo, Manchester, TN
Liberty, Help on the Way > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower > Night of 1000 Stars > Jack Straw > No More Do I, Cryptical Envelopment > The Other One > Not Fade Away > Cryptical Evelopment > I Know You Rider
E: Not Fade Away > Sugar Magnolia > Tennessee Jed

7/23/02 Harbor Center, Portsmouth, VA
Jam > Truckin > Jam > Help on the Way > Slipknot! > Playin in the Band > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower > The Music Never Stopped
also with Bill Kreutzmann

7/25/02 Walnut Creek, Raleigh, NC
Tennessee Jed > Jam > Jack Straw > Cassidy

7/28/02 Mars Music Amphitheatre, West Palm Beach, FL
Truckin > Good Lovin