Photos by Andy Argyrakis

Up until the extensive “Dawn Of The Dregs” reunion tour, all of the original Dixie Dregs virtuosos hadn’t performed together in exactly 40 years. But on the closing night of its current leg at the Vic Theatre, guitarist Steve Morse, bassist Andy West, violinist Allen Sloan, keyboardist Steve Davidowski and drummer Rod Morgenstein could’ve fooled even the most dedicated “Dreghead” thanks to an intriguing instrumental fusion of hard, southern, progressive and jazz rock that never missed a step.

The Dixie Dregs might not have had anything new to offer, but hopefully that will change now that the chemistry’s been rekindled, and at the very least, this overview fulfilled a lifelong fantasy for its cult following.

It’s particularly remarkable considering the Dixie Dregs’ membership spans the likes of a Kansas turned Deep Purple axe man (Morse), Winger’s beat keeper (Morgenstein), a Dregs and session lifer (West), a semi-retiree (Davidowski) and an anesthesiologist (Sloan). Yet regardless of their differing walks of life after parting initial company, it sounded exactly like the mid-1970s to early ‘80s all over again with the wordless, Grammy-nominated band focusing primarily on its first six records.

That meant everything from part one powerhouses “Divided We Stand,” “Free Fall” and “Holiday” through the transcendental-flavored “What If,” the train-like chug of “Country House Shuffle” and the elaborate spacey jam “Odyssey.” Following a brief intermission, the second half settled in quietly with the tender violin solo “Rachel,” the acoustic reflection “Northern Lights” and the cheekily named slow burner “Go For Baroque.”

Any fellow musician in the club could surely sense the complicated feat of “Day 444,” and as the set escalated in volume, so did everyone’s attention to vivid detail throughout several more unusually-titled compositions (“Refried Funky Chicken,” “Leprechaun Promenade,” “Bloodsucking Leeches”). The Dixie Dregs might not have had anything new to offer, but hopefully that will change now that the chemistry’s been rekindled, and at the very least, this overview fulfilled a lifelong fantasy for its cult following.

Click here for more photos of the Dixie Dregs at the Vic Theatre.

For additional information on the Dixie Dregs, visit DixieDregs.com.

For a list of upcoming Jam Productions shows, visit JamUSA.com.

For a list of upcoming shows at the Vic Theatre, visit VicTheatre.com.

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