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February
2, 2002
Pompano Beach Amphitheater
We left our 4-month-old
baby at home with Tamara's sister so that we could go to this show. Our
original plan was to leave quite early, get a good parking spot, and check
out the parking-lot scene. Unfortunately, the baby wouldn't stop crying
when it was time to leave. Finally, when faced with skipping the show
altogether, Tamara's sister insisted that we go and not worry about the
baby. So we did. The baby fell asleep 20 minutes later. The Ratdog show
was already underway when we arrived. We could hear the music from the
parking lot, and remarked that we could have joined the lawn-folk outside
the gates for a free concert. Perhaps another time. It had been raining
all day, but now it was just misting. We got inside and were treated to
a rockin' show, much like all the others put on by Ratdog. Our seats were
excellent-- eleventh row, left side. The highlight song was "The
Wheel."
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April 4,
2001
Pompano Beach Amphitheater
 Once
again, the Pompano Beach Amphitheater delivered a well-managed event.
Our parking journey didn't take too long and included an introductory
detour through the "parking lot scene," which included earthy
people listening to music, cooking on their hibachis and vending hippie
wares.
We entered
the venue quite easily, ran into some friends on our way to our seats,
then settled in to enjoy the show. Our seats were near the aisle, which
gave us a large space for dancing. Two guys in front of us used three
seats-- one for each other and one for their tall microphone which opened
up a clear view of the stage for us.
Rat Dog's
first song rolled off the stage in a groovy and familiar way-- it was
the Grateful Dead's "Jack Straw." (A welcome sound from Bobby
Weir, who once played in the Grateful Dead). The band delivered a steady,
danceable beat for a couple of songs, but soon gave way to a slow and
mellow sound-- something I often disliked about the Grateful Dead. Many
in the audience took this opportunity to sit down, or stare at the smoky
orange clouds in the sky. I could have taken a nap. I noted to Eric that
their slow jazz tones might sound better at a bar.
The band
endured some early sound problems during one of their songs. For example,
one instrument would suddenly become too loud, then completely fade away,
and the microphone squealed at least once.
At the
break, we did like most people and went down to the restrooms and concessions.
We spoke to friends for most of the time, then ventured to buy a warm
pretzel. The line was short, but the wait was made longer by a self-serving
vendor who was selling overpriced food and drink over the fence. She halfheartedly
apologized to us for the inconvenience while she "made a living."
Then the music began. It was then that we noticed the field of people
outside the fence enjoying a free concert from their blankets. There were
dogs and dancing, and the music came through clearly. Eric and I decided
we would try it one day.
Because
it was a week night and we were both tired, Eric and I left at about 10:30
p.m., missing at least the last four songs. We are looking forward to
more Grateful Dead music from Phil Lesh and Friends, who are coming to
Sunrise Musical Theater next Friday and Saturday night (we'll be at both
shows). Stay tuned for more...
Rat
Dog set list:
Set 1: Jack
Straw, Easy to Slip > Supplication Jam > Rooster > New Speedway Boogie,
Festival, Me and My Uncle, Bury Me Standing, Schoolgirl > Ashes & Glass
Set 2: Easy
Answers > Eyes of the World > Other One > SOLOS > She Says > Two Djinn
> Corrina
Encore: Terrapin
December
2, 1999
Pompano Beach Amphitheater
 What
an incredible show at the Pompano Beach Amphitheater (we love this place)!
The night could not have been more perfect. First of all, we would like
to thank the members of Ratdog (which includes some former members of
the Grateful Dead), for playing Grateful Dead songs all night long. Sing-a-long
favorites included "Hell in a Bucket," "Playing in the
Band," "The Wheel," "El Paso" and "Not Fade
Away."
Eric and I went to the show with two of my coworkers, Ira and Claire.
It was wonderfully cold that night (perhaps in the low 50s), and this
was an open air theater. I wore a flannel shirt and Jean jacket, and when
I wasn't generating heat by dancing, I crossed my arms to keep warm. We
stayed in our seats for a very short time at the beginning of the show.
But soon enough, one of us had to use the bathroom, and another wanted
to get more food and drink, so we decided to relax at an outdoor table
on the patio for most of the show. We could hear the music perfectly,
and still hear each other as we talked because there was hardly anybody
else on the patio. Twice, we ventured back up the stairs to dance with
the "spinners" in the back rows.
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