It’s certainly been quite the revolving door over in the Doobie Brothers camp over the past 40 years. Live At Wolf Trap, the group’s DVD recorded in 2004 at Virginia’s famous outdoor concert shed Wolf Trap, features original Doobies Tom Johnston, Pat Simmons, longtime guitarist John McFee, a grouping of blisteringly perfect horn players, and the last footage of drummer Keith Knudsen. We get 23 tunes running throughout the band’s history.
Beginning with Johnston’s “Rockin’ Down The Highway,” it’s evident McFee and Simmons are going to be into lots of guitar changes. In fact, McFee not only changes from guitar to dobro on “Dangerous,” but he also plays violin on the newer “People Got To Love Again,” as well as on “Black Water.” Vocals are as tight as you’d expect from a huge touring band like this where everybody sings. The Doobies really provide full vocals on “Another Park, Another Sunday,” and on the wonderful “South City Midnight Lady.” For a change of pace, “Snake Man,” “Nobody” and “Five Corners” comprises a mini acoustic set.
Without the all-too distinctive Michael McDonald vocal on “Takin’ It To The Streets,” the band simply lets sax player Marc Russo handle the melody line behind a great Guy Allison piano opening. All in all, it makes for a solid instrumental version of the hit. All the hits at the end of the show — “Long Train Running” “China Grove” and “Listen To The Music” — bring the outdoor crowd to its feet and showcases Johnston especially. In addition to the main set, there are a slew of bonus features on Live At Wolf Trap, including extra live tracks and featurettes including “Back Stage Pass,” “Doobie-aoke” “The Dropped Pick” “Outtakes” and “The Family.”
~ Ralph Greco, Jr.
