Bob Weir hits the road with upcoming RatDog tour

The music world is still speculating about a potential Grateful Dead reunion tour in 2009, but one thing’s for sure: The Dead’s members aren’t taking any time off the road for their individual tours. Original guitarist and founding member Bob Weir will be hitting the road late in October for a 14-city East Coast tour with his jam band RatDog.

The Evening with RatDog trek kicks off with the traditional Halloween gigs on October 30-31 at Northfork Theatre in Westbury, NY, and closes November 22 at Mizner Park Amphitheatre in Boca Raton, FL. In addition to the tour opener, a couple stops along the road also include two-night stands: November 5-6 at Warner Theatre in Washington, DC, and November 14-15 at Tower Theater in Upper Darby, PA.

This is only the most recent 2008 tour for the jam band, which has been performing on the road since mid-March. Over the summer, RatDog co-headlined an extensive U.S. tour with Gov’t Mule, including appearances by special guests the Allman Brothers on select nights.

RatDog formed in 1995, shortly before Dead’s former frontman Jerry Garcia died of a heart attack. The group has more than 100 songs in its repertoire, including Grateful Dead classics and other jazz/blues tunes. RatDog has recorded only one studio album, “Evening Moods” released in 2000, though the group regularly releases live recordings for fans on the band’s Web site and during tours.

But before RatDog hits the music trail this fall, Weir will join with the remaining members of the Dead for a second Barack Obama benefit concert on October 13 in State College, PA. The band previously regrouped on February 4 for a “Deadheads for Obama” rally for the Democratic presidential nominee. The February show had been the Grateful Dead’s first since 2004.

This story was updated at 4:30 p.m. on September 9, 2008, to reflect the announced location for the Barack Obama benefit.

RatDog itinerary:
(Dates subject to change.)