"Happy Birthday Bobby Weir," Don Was said to the audience in Cambridge at The Sinclair on October 16. Was and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble were at the venue for their show which coincided with Weir’s 79th birthday. In addition to Was, the group featured eight heavy-hitters on stage, included Dave McMurray, on Sax, Mahindi Masai on percussion, Wayne Gerard on guitar, and the powerhouse vocals of Steffanie Christi'an. The show, which featured the band’s ‘Detroitasized’ versions of classics such “Midnight Marauders” and “This is My Country,” also included the entirety of the Grateful Dead’s Blues for Allah album.
Before the set, Don shared a story from 2018 when Bob invited him to join him in what would become Wolf Bros. The bass player was uncertain how to approach the material and at first he was trying to imitate Phil Lesh. However, Bob spoke with him after the second night, and said, “You know, all Phil was doing was being himself, so if you want to imitate Phil, just be yourself.” Thankfully, we got that and more during an incredible evening that showcased the ensemble’s talent.
Photos by Stevo Rood.
