“Summer Breeze” in Williamsburg, VA - July 14 2021 -
In a random turn of events, Suggesting Rhythm was presented with the opportunity to perform at the Williamsburg “Summer Breeze Concert Series” this past Wednesday. Always wanting to play and grateful to be able to help, the band agreed. Drummer, Jeff Rothman, regrettably couldn't reschedule prior family obligations for this impromptu show but Noel Burton was willing and capable to fill the void.
After the introduction the guys started into a nameless jam to start, and I gotta say, one of my favorite moves in the live show playbook. The smooth jam resolved into "On the Road Again" a song that originated with Mother McCree's Uptown Jug Champions in 1964. Following next was the Dead's favorite track 'Me and My Uncle'. The boys were starting to get into the flow here and after a nice peppy jam and quick ending they wasted no time heading into 'Maggie's Farm', the 'repurposed' Bentley Boys song. Certainly not directly plagiarized, lyrics do eerily resemble 'Down on Penny's Farm' to some but I'll let you form your own opinion on that. Wherever the idea originated, Suggesting Rhythm killed it as always and by the end I was almost too winded from dancing to applaud the slowing transition to 'West LA Fadeaway'. Possible hidden warnings to Jerry about John Belushi's death at the Chateau Marmont surround the lore of these mysterious Robert Hunter lyrics but that's a blog for another day.
Steve stood up after ‘West LA’ and introduced Greg Gernon, a member of the originally scheduled Blind & Dirty, to come up and do a guest spot for a couple numbers. A quick 'Iko Iko' was loaded up and it was followed by a blazing 'New Speedway Boogie' that gave Gernon a chance to flex his fingers some and show the Suggesting fans he didn't take his sit-in lightly.
Welcoming back Steve to the stage Dave gave the rest of the band introductions as well before the second consecutive Working Man's Dead track 'Easy Wind' to close the set. SR usually takes this song to another level and today was no exception. Excelling in the bluesier side of the Dead, this song never fails to please and once again reached new heights as the band was able to hit that next level they've grown so accustomed to playing at lately.
Coming back, the second set started off thunderously with the Wilson Pickett song 'In the Midnight Hour'. Adam was feeling frisky in this jam and teased a tiny 'Bathtub Gin' riff that I think was preceded by a tease of 'Poor Little Country Maid' better known as the 'Arabian Riff' or 'The Snake Charmers Song'.
We were just getting warmed up with the following 'Hey Pockey Way' when the lighting delay was called. It didn't last long before the delay turned into another cancellation due to weather. At least this time we got one hell of a set of music first with the ‘New Speedway’ and 'Easy Wind' easily taking top honors in the shortened show.
Next up is the Jerry Garcia Birthday Celebration Week with bookend shows at Richmond Harley-Davidson on 7/31 and the Lickinghole Creek Brewery rescheduled show on 8/7
