Weekend at Yoshi's
(click photos to
enlarge in a new window)
In August, 2006, the Dave
Weckl Band returned to Jack London Square in Oakland, California, to play at
Yoshi's. Anyone who has ever been to Yoshi's
knows that it is truly one of the nicest jazz clubs in the country;
with a beautiful restaurant and bar, and separate
performance theater.
 The band had
been on a break from some earlier shows in Kansas City, the
first shows they had played with Jay Oliver returning on
keyboards. Jay mentioned that the couple of weeks off was a
good opportunity to work on some of the songs he had
previously learned in such a hurry.
The band spent
their first afternoon in Oakland rehearsing these songs and
three older tunes familiar to many fans: Tower '99,
the refreshed version of Dave's 1990 hit Tower of
Inspiration, Garden Wall, and Tribute, Jay
Oliver's blues/gospel driven jazz tune from Dave's 1994 solo
album Hard-Wired
 During the
rehearsal, the band received a visit from Yoshi, the owner
of the restaurant/club. She was extremely gracious and
thanked the band for playing at her club. Dave and the band
let her know how much they like Yoshi's and how thrilled
they were to be back.
At that point,
the band had finished rehearsing, but Yoshi asked Dave if
she could dance to some of their music! Dave, Tom, Gary and
Jay looked at each other in disbelief for a second, and then
almost simultaneously said "sure!"
The band played
four nights at Yoshi's, including a matinee on Sunday that
drew a young audience. The set list varied from
night-to-night, and included: "Watch Your Step" (Multiplicity),
"Just for the Record" (Transition), Toby's Blues
(Gary Meek's Step 7)), "Rhythm-A-Ning" (bass/drums
duet), "Tribute" (Hard-Wired), "Tower '99" (Synergy),
"Swunk" (Synergy), plus Dave's drum solo.
 Some interesting
twists: the band refreshed "Just for the Record" with
up-tempo verses. They also brought Tower '99 into the
next millennium with some serious solos (highlighted by
Jay's classic ripping solo). But a highlight of the shows
might have been a new tune the band worked on for the tour
entitled "Move Out."
According to the
story Dave told before performing the song, the band had
just stepped off an airplane in Germany and was making their
way back onto the airport concourse. There was a crowd of
people standing around the gate area, and while moving toward the concourse, Dave heard
a deep German voice saying, "no, no, no...move out...move
out! MOVE OUT!!!"
He looked up to
see what was going on, and there was a large German
man moving his arm back and forth at all the people telling
them to get out of the way...to move out! A source of
"inspiration" that only a weary traveler could understand,
this gentleman inspired the song "Move Out."
The band had an amazing
turnout all throughout the tour and the fans were
incredible, as always. After each set,
Dave and the band took time to sign autographs in front of
the bar area.
Of course, the signing took a while because there was a huge
autograph line! But everyone got their chance, including one
very happy young man (seen in these photos). The buzz outside
of the show was very
 positive; many comments about how much
energy the band had. One recurring comment: Jay Oliver's
incredibly melodic and dramatic playing. It seemed that Jay's
playing added a different dimension to the music, and his
incredible piano patch made it sound like he was on a grand
piano at Carnegie Hall!
After the Sunday
matinee show, while Dave was signing an autograph for a
young boy, the boy's father said "hey Dave, I have a
Corvette Z06 outside. Want to drive it?"
Many of Dave's fans know that Dave loves horsepower. His Lingenfelter Camaro has 440 ponies, and he couldn't resist a
drive in the 505 horsepower Z06. Dave put down his pen,
grabbed his jacket, and said "sure...why not?"
It was truly a
great weekend in the Bay Area. Dave and the band can't wait to get back
there!
Hangin' with
the Dave Weckl Band
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A big
line out-the-door! |
Gary
Meek warms up |
Tom
takes a moment during rehearsal |
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Gary
hanging in
the dressing room |
Tom and
soundman Dennis Moody hang backstage |
Tom
works on a song |
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Dave and
Jay Oliver
discuss
a chart |
Dave's
kit ready to go! |
The band
rehearses |
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Dave and
Jay |
(L/R)
Jean Amato, Jay Oliver, Dennis Moody |
Dave
talks to a fan |
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The Dave
Weckl Band |
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