Review by Shawn Perry
The Dixie Dregs, since their formation in the early 70s, have come and gone, when the moon and the sun are in balance and schedules open up. Celebrating 40 years, the lineup that graced the grooves of 1977’s Free Fall has united for the “Dawn Of The Dregs” 25-date tour. One of the stops on the tour included the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano. The sold-out house packed out early. Without an opening act, no one was quite sure when the Dregs were going on. Then, at around 8:15, the lights dimmed and we were off to the races.
Without so much as a “hello,” the Dregs — Steve Morse (guitar), Rod Morgenstein (drums), Andy West (bass), Allen Sloan, M.D. (violin) and Steve Davidowski (keyboards) — came up on the stage, one by one. Morgenstein tapped out a roll, West plucked his bass, Sloan stroked his violin, followed by Davidwoski and Morse for the opening number, “Divided We Stand” from 1981’s Unsung Heroes album.
The night would carry on as the group brought in their brand of eclectic instrumentals from most of their albums — “Free Fall” and “Holiday from 1977’s Free Fall; “Take It Off the Top,” “Odyssey,” and “What If” from 1978’s What If; “Country House Shuffle,” “Leprechaun Promenade” and “The Bash” from 1979’s Night Of The Living Dregs; “Twiggs Approved” from the Grammy-nominated Dregs Of The Earth album from 1980.
You could count on plenty of solos and trade-offs from Morse (whose day job is playing with Deep Purple and Sloan (whose day job is working as an anesthesiologist). Morgenstein also got the spotlight on a couple turns. When he wasn’t laying down a solid bass line, West introduced the songs and filled in the gaps. And Davidwoski did his best to keep the machine running smooth. There’s little doubt each member of the band is a virtuoso, yet as a unit, there’s a magical chemistry with a lot of personality that transcends the musicianship.
Unlike like other instrumental bands, like Mahavishnu Orchestra, Return To Forever, or Weather Report, the Dregs are more a hybrid that touches on a myriad of styles — rock, country, jazz, progressive and even a little classical. What may have appealed to the sold-out Coach House as much as the music would be the honesty, the lack of frills and shenanigans, and the fact that the Dregs exude an aspiring air of Americana.
Indeed, as the last notes of “Bloodsucking Leeches” echoed into the night, it became obvious to everyone that the Dixie Dregs are the consummate American band — as pure and patriotic as apple pie, baseball, hot dogs…and a side order of fried chicken to keep it as fat and greasy as possible.
