Photos and Review by Stephen Bloch

Fresh off the heels of his band, The Grateful Dead, Kennedy Center Lifetime Achievement award last week and the CBS New Sunday Morning interview with Anthony Mason the previous week,  Bob Weir and Wolf Bros. accompanied by the Wolf Pack began its four night New Year’s celebration at Broward Center for Performing Arts.  This was a fancy affair for sure, but there were far more tie dyes and Steal Your Face shirts than sequined dresses and cumberbunds.  The carving station was there in lieu of cheesy quesadillas and kind burritos and Shakedown Street took over the riverfront area. Balloons were popping and there was a sweet smell in the air.  

The night began with arguably Weir’s most notable solo number, “Greatest Story Ever Told”  from his debut album Ace. The joint was jumping right away.  Midway through the first set, the Grateful Dead’s most covered artist, Bob Dylan, got his nod with a fiery and drawn out “Desolation Row”.  Set closers were the customary “Lost Sailor”>>>”St. Of Circumstance”. 

After a half hour break, where lots of old Heads were clearly reconnecting, the band jumped right into where I had hoped they would, a jazzy “Shakedown Street”.  That was my only request.  Obviously with four nights and probably 150 songs to choose from, making predictions or manifesting requests is a fool’s errand, but our family’s co-manifesting may have helped.  The second set included hit after hit including the band’s most popular song “Truckin’” and set closer “Sugar Magnolia”.  The “Ripple” encore was certainly a treat for many.

Bob Weir no longer looks like the 16 year old who stumbled into a Mother McCree’s Uptown Jug Champions show in 1963.  Flowing white beard, Birkenstocks, a poncho, and a cowboy hat have replaced the short shorts and a t-shirt.  Sometimes Bob looks like he’d be right at home on a nearby beach.  I hope he was able to do this on his Florida trip this year.  We did. As long as Bob keeps doing this, we’ll spend our holidays with him.