Oteil Burbridge’s Dire Wolf Bass Howls at The Capitol Theatre

Oteil Burbridge has always found new ways to make the bass sing, and his latest Oteil & Friends performance at The Capitol Theatre captures that perfectly. The full concert, now streaming online, features Oteil leading his band through an inspired set that balances deep groove with wide-open improvisation.

What makes this one special for bass fans is the debut of his new Dire Wolf bass, a custom instrument built by Bill Asher and certified by Doug Irwin, the original maker of Jerry Garcia’s “Wolf” guitar. The connection runs deeper than design. The first piece of wood used for Oteil’s bass came from the same batch Irwin used for Garcia’s Wolf, linking two instruments separated by decades but united in spirit.

The tone is unmistakably Oteil. It has that singing midrange and vocal phrasing that turns every line into a story. The Dire Wolf bass gives his sound a new dimension, blending warmth and definition in a way that feels both familiar and fresh.

Oteil’s performance reminds us that his greatest strength is how he brings everyone along for the ride. You can feel it in every note, every smile, and every moment where the music opens up into something bigger than the sum of its parts.