November 16, 2001
Sweet's Ballroom
Oakland, CA

Sweet’s is a Fillmore-style dance hall on Broadway in Oakland. The place is square in shape, but not in attitude. This show, which was a benefit sponsored by Musicians For Medical Marijuana, featured Dark Star Orchestra as the headliner. A full house of Deadheads was there.

Due to the gig in Boulder – and our late arrival in the Bay Area – we didn’t get a whole lot of sleep . . . but that didn’t seem to present a problem. The show was a blast. Unlike Boulder, where no one had heard us before, we saw lots of FOBheads in the audience. Pete Sears played a killer piano all night, but especially on Lowell’s Room, which was monumental.

Set list:
Constellation Rag
Clueless
Serenity
Johnny B
Dubya
Lowell’s Room

November 15, 2001
FOBs and Leftover Salmon rock Fox Theater
Boulder, CO

Leftover Salmon staged a four-day run in Colorado to raise money for Mark Vann, their banjo player, who is battling melanoma. Wed the second show – in the beautiful Fox Theatre – before a packed house. We put on our best show to date . . . and made 700 new friends in Boulder. Joining Leftover Salmon was a tremendous group of friends, including Peter Rowan, Paul Barrere and Bill Payne of Little Feat, Bill XX of String Cheese Incident, Sally Van Meter and Tony Furtado. It was a spiritual evening, with amazing vibes to speed Mark towards good health.

Pete Sears was with us on keyboards and accordion.

Set list:
Silver Lining
Clueless
Serenity
Johnny B
What Game?
Constellation Rag
Arastradero Road

October 6, 2001
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Cleveland, OH

Fortune Magazine invited us to participate in a Battle of the Corporate Bands. With seven bands in all, ranging from karaoke to all original material, the event showed that rock is alive and well in corporate America. Jutting out over the lake, the setting was eerie. Surrounded by our heroes' and friends' artifacts - Jorma's sheepskin jacket, Jack's erotic cape clasp - our minds were still on Sept. 11. Most poignant for us was reading Paul Simon's handwritten lyrics to his American Tune:

"And I don't know a soul who's not been battered. I don't have a friend who feels at ease. I don't know a dream that's not been shattered, or driven to its knees. Ah, but it's all right. It's all right. For we've lived so well so long. Still, when I think of the road we're travelin' on, I wonder what's gone wrong. I can't help but wonder what's gone wrong.

And I dreamed I was dying. I dreamed that my soul rose unexpectedly, and looking back down at me, smiled reassuringly. And I dreamed I was flying, and high up above my eyes could clearly see the Statue of Liberty sailing away to sea. And I dreamed I was flying."

Amen.

Set list:
Silver Lining
Clueless
Serenity
Johnny B
What Game?
Constellation Rag
Arastradero Road

September 2, 2001
A La Carte, A La Park
San Francisco, CA

A La Carte, A La Park is a three-day festival in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park that features food and drink from a couple dozen of the city's favorite restaurants . . . and music from dozens of bands. Wed up the program on Day 2, with the Fabulous Thunderbirds as headliner and Lady Bianca and Lucky Peterson, in weather than can only be described as perfect. The crowd was big and very enthusiastic . . . especially when tie-dyes were in the air. A great time for all!

Set list:
Lowell's Room
Serenity
Reunion
Clueless
What Game Are We Playing?
Johnny B.

Dubya
Livin' In Cyn
Happy Endings
His Shirt
Take A Ride
Arastradero Road
Tell Me It's Okay

August 18, 2001
Marin Music Festival
San Rafael, CA

The 7th annual Marin Music Festival was our kind of festival! Really well organized, blessed with great weather and easy to get to . . . The Fair had a 60s feel to it, with headliners that included some of the original members of It's A Beautiful Day (David LaFlamme, Linda LaFlamme, and Val Fuentes -- see writeup on this group and its legal travails), Joy of Cooking and Sons of Champlin. All three sounded terrific and brought back memories long lost in the mists of time. We played the second stage in the late afternoon, right between the Joy and Sons. The location and time slot turned out to be perfect. Pete Sears joined in for the entire show, on keyboards and accordian. With the sun and audience right in our eyes, we had a great time. It was awesome!

Set list:
Clueless
His Shirt
Take A Ride
Dubya
Livin' In Cyn

Happy Endings
Johnny B.
What Game Are We Playing?
Tell Me It's Okay
Arastradero Road

August 12, 2001
Coastal Protection Music Festival
San Gregorio, CA

The Coastal Protection Music Festival is a two-day affair that takes place on a hillside about a mile in from the beach in the hamlet of San Gregorio, just south of Half Moon Bay. It's a very low-key event, with a great sound system and a wonderful audience. We played in the early afternoon, with all of our Band Camp professors in attendance. Pete Sears joined in for the entire show, as Ann could only play with one hand. (Her right arm was incapacitated by tennis elbow from a tournament match the day before.) GE Smith stepped up for Dubya and Happy Endings, playing a ripping solo on the former and using a capo at the 13th fret on the latter! Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady of Hot Tuna provided the heart and soul on Constellation Rag. We weren't sure what to close the show with, but the audience provided a huge assist . . . all but begging GE Smith to join everyone else on stage and lead us in song. He chose the immortal Bob Dylan rocker, Highway 61 Revisited (which GE had performed with Johnny Winter at the Bob Dylan Tribute Concert in NYC, and had performed countless times with Bob himself), and we had a big band on stage, including both Bill and Jack on bass, Ann and Pete on keys, Bert on slide, and Roger, Jorma and GE on guitar. GE sang the lead vocal and conducted throughout. It was amazing.

FOBs set:
Take A Drive
Clueless
Serenity
Rainbow's End
Dubya
You Never Let Me Fall
Constellation Rag
Arastradero Road
Happy Endings

Jam with Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady, GE Smith, Pete Sears:
Highway 61 Revisited

August 9, 2001
Sweetwater
Mill Valley, CA

ng for Jorma Kaukonen and G.E. Smith

Our second annual Band Camp -- which once again featured professors Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady, Pete Sears (all from Hot Tuna and other bands), GE Smith (bandleader, Sat. Night Live and Bob Dylan), Jim Brunberg and Jeff Pehrson (Box Set) -- was totally amazing. Both the band and the professors were able to build on last year's experience, with results that surprised us all. We were like kids in a candy store. On the fifth day, we scheduled a two-show gig at Sweetwater, with Jorma and GE as the headliners. The first show was sold out -- and included a far larger complement of FOBheads than we would have expected. We debuted a Tony/Bert tune -- Take A Drive -- and played our best versions of just about everything else.

This was the first time we had ever done two shows -- as opposed to two sets -- in the same evening. It was a new and wonderful experience, as the Sweetwater was jammed way beyond capacity. It seems that no one wanted to go home after the first show, so they just paid again and stayed. Our second performance wasn't as crisp as the first, which was probably a good thing, as the set list allowed plenty of room for jamming. Giles' new tune, Rainbow's End, made its debut. Livin' In Cyn was a highlight, reflecting the exceptional Band Camp vocal coaching of Box Set's Jim Brunberg and Jeff Pehrson. Jim and Pete Sears sat in for the second half of the show!!!

First show:
Up Your Heart
Serenity
You Never Let Me Fall
Take A Drive
Dubya
His Shirt
Clueless
Happy Endings

Second show:
Take A Drive
Good Night Love
What Game?
Lowell's Room
Rainbow's End
Livin' In Cyn
Johnny B.
Arastradero Road
Tell Me It's Okay

June 16, 2001
Troubadour, Kensington
London U.K.

We didn't get much sleep after Friday's amazing show at the Troubadour. Everyone got up too early for one reason or another. Giles scared up some tickets to the royal parade for the Queen's "Official Birthday" - a rain-soaked extravaganza at which he, Bill, Bert and Brandon Keely sat a few seats down from Dame Judy Dench - while the rest of us watched on TV. Afternoon tea got everyone in the right frame of mind for the gig . . . and what a gig it was! The first set was amazing from start to finish. The second set was supposed to be a short one - due to early flights the following morning - but the crowd carried us on until 1:20 in the morning. Bert's highlight was trading licks with his son Brandon on Like A Rolling Stone and Old Friend. Europe 2001 was a brief tour . . . but probably produced the two best shows we have played to date.

First set:
Up Your Heart
Deal
Ocean
Harley
Lowell's Room
City of New Orleans
By My Side
You Ain't Goin' Nowhere
Silver Lining
Happy Endings
White Shoe Shuffle
What Game Are We Playing?
On My Way
Badge
Johnny B.
Music Never Stopped
Arastradero Road
Six Days On The Road

Second set:
Pilgrim
Like A Rolling Stone
Old Friend
White Rabbit
Constellation Rag
Dubya
Livin' In Cyn
Clueless
Layla
You Never Let Me Fall
Jack Straw
Paint It Black
Tell Me It's Okay

Encore:
Goin' Down The Road Feelin' Bad
We Bid You Good Night (a capella)

June 15, 2001
Troubadour, Kensington
London U.K.

The FOBs "Europe 2001" tour began and ended with a two-night stand at London's venerable Troubadour. The Troubadour is an incredible venue . . . originally a jazz club (featuring Charlie Watts before his entry into the Rolling Stones) and then a folk club (where Bob Dylan first played London), this cozy, funky venue certainly brought out the best in us! The Troubadour's owners, Simon and Susie Thornhill, served up some awesome barbecue to get us in the mood . . . and we got right into the groove. The second set was amazing fun, culminating in a Playin'>Uncle>Playin' combo that we all thought was our best yet. The encore - You Never Let Me Fall - put an exclamation point on a memorable night of rock 'n' roll.

First set:
Harley
Friend of The Devil
Greenport
White Shoe Shuffle
What Game Are We Playing?
Secret Agent Man
Pilgrim
Ticket To Ride
Dubya
Constellation Rag
Last Time
Livin' In Cyn
One Toke
Lowell's Room
Paint It Black
Johnny B.
Where Are You Now?
Tell Me It's Okay

Second set:
Happy Endings
Silver Lining
By My Side
White Room
Up Your Heart
Arastradero Road
On My Way
Back In the USSR
Ocean
Clueless
Playin' > Uncle > Playin

Encore:
You Never Let Me Fall

June 3, 2001
Camp Winnarainbow Benefit
Ashkenaz in Berkeley, CA

When Wavy Gravy asked us if we might be interested in doing a benefit for Camp Winnarainbow, the summer camp he runs for inner city kids, we jumped at the chance. When Pete Sears and Greg Anton (of Zero and Gregg's Eggs) said they wanted to play with us, we got totally pumped up. The two-drummer set up was new for us, but it worked like a charm! The Ashkenaz rocked all night long as Larry and Greg - supported by Corinne - gave us a beat to remember. As always, Pete took us to a new level with his accordion and keyboards. David Gansd, and then joined us (along with former Hot Tuna harmonica player Will Scarlett) for a wild jam at the end. By the time we played I Know You Rider, there were a dozen people on stage, including a woman who begged Bert for an opportunity to play . . . and whose vocal skills were unusual. A great time was had by all.

First set:
Arastradero Road
Harley
Clueless
By My Side
White Shoe Shuffle
Goodnight Love
What Game Are We Playing?
Music Never Stopped
Ticket To Ride
Livin' In Cyn
Constellation Rag
Johnny B.
City Of New Orleans
Dubya
Old Friend
Serenity The Angel
Happy Endings
Silver Lining
Lowell's Room
Tell Me It's Okay

Jam with Pete Sears, Greg Anton, Will Scarlett, and David Gans:
Goin' Down the Road
Death Don't Have Mercy
Playin' In the Band > Uncle John's Band > Playin' > Know You Rider

June 2, 2001
Black and White Ball
San Francisco, CA

The Black & White Ball is a bi-annual gala that raises money for the San Francisco Symphony. The ball featured something like 10 venues for music - with headliners as Ratdog, McCoy Tyner and Los Lobos - plus gourmet food served by San Francisco's finest restaurants. As the name suggests, the place was a sea of black tie. We opted for black and white tie-dye. Our gig was in the Sponsor's Tent, a venue which provided a lovely dinner during the evening's early hours, and then served as an all-night oasis for the best heeled of San Francisco's well heeled. We were the after dinner entertainment, which meant our first set started shortly before eleven. It was probably our best show to date. . . We even played some covers that hadn't heard the light of day in a long time.

Second set:
Arastradero Road
Constellation Rag
White Room
Back In the USSR
You Never Let Me Fall
His Shirt
Where Are You Now?
Playin' > Uncle > Playin'

May 31, 2001
Silver Lake Partners Annual Meeting
Beach Plum Inn
Martha's Vineyard, MA

White Shoe Shuffle
Dubya
Clueless
By My Side
Livin' In Cyn
On My Way

Johnny B.
Arastradero Road
Up Your Heart
Tell Me It's Okay
Where Are You Now? (Encore)

The Beach Plum in is at the western tip of Martha's Vineyard, half an hour from Edgartown. The Silver Lake event started with a dinner at tables whose plum-colored linens were reminiscent of the kind of bridesmaid's dress that doesn't look good even on an 18-year old Southern belle. The post-prandial gig was in a tent that provided some protection from the chill, but not from the Martha's Vineyard sound police, whose rigid 10 pm curfew was enforced by the local audio tech, who turned off the PA in the middle of Where Are You Now? Fortunately, he had no idea how to shut down the monitors, which allowed us to complete the song. This was a really fun gig, with tons of dancing and no Filene's Basement action for tie-dyes. The only bad thing was that Corinne (and Maxine) were stuck on the left coast . . .

We had some wonderful musical moments, including Greenport, Good Night Love > What Game?, Arastradero and Tell Me It's Okay, but the thing we will remember most was the lady who thought our tie dyes were on a give-away table in Filene's Basement. It was bad enough that she picked through about a dozen tie dyes - studying each one closely before leaving it in disarray - but then she took two shirts. You can take the woman out of wherever...

Another wonderful night! Sweetwater is the legendary Mill Valley music club which for over 30 years has been the premier live music location in the North Bay for nationally and internationally known acts. We played 2 sets, both times joined by legendary keyboard player (Hot Tuna) and bass player (Jefferson Starship) Pete Sears on piano and accordion. We played You Never Let Me Fall for the first time. A reporter from the local NPR affiliate came by to tape a feature.

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