by Kate Langenburg

Created on: November 13, 2008

Walking towards the Sherman Theater on April 1, 2008 might have been just as good of a show as the one inside it. As I approached the main entrance, the pungent smell of patchouli hit my nostrils like a whap in the face. Everywhere around me, people were buying tickets, selling tickets, buying drugs, selling drugs. People with long dreadlocks paced the sidewalk, an amateur band was jamming outside the venue, and the psychedelic cavern of blurred tye-dye encircled me as I reached for the front door. What band could prompt such a chaotic scene? Bob Weir and Ratdog, of course.

For those of you who don't know, Weir is the rhythm guitarist for the Grateful Dead. Good news for Deadheads is that there is life after Jerry. Weir tours often, playing all the songs of his past band, and travels to all parts of the country. After his stellar performance at the Sherman Theater last year, fans wanted more. The theater, after being bombarded with requests to have the band back, couldn't pass up the opportunity to book them again.

Weir played a shorter setlist than other shows I've seen. His choice of songs included Dead classics "Candyman," "Brown Eyed Women," and "Estimated Prophet." He even played Janis Joplin's hit "Me and Bobby McGee." His songs create such energy within the fans, you can feel it throughout the venue. Everywhere I looked, people were dancing and almost everyone was smiling.

Also, the Deadheads themselves are unique fans. They know the words to each and every single song he plays. The thing I like most about Weir's shows is that at any time, he could stop singing and the words would still be heard. The fans are like his backup singers to a certain extent.

Weir also included somewhat of a political vibe during the show, as he played one of his well-known songs entitled "Liberty." It had more bearing at the show because of the current political situation. The show also included a special voter registration in the lobby of the theater. As fans came in and out of the venue, they were asked to register. Members of the Grateful Dead have been active in the Democratic Presidential nominations, choosing Barack Obama as their candidate. Of course, signs in the lobby proclaimed "Deadheads for Obama."

The main difference between last year's show and the one on Tuesday night was the size of the crowd. Because of the Sherman Theater's growing fan base, many more people knew about the show this year - this was my main problem with the show. The venue was so packed that it

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