Dead and Company
June 8th (Atlanta), June 9th (Raleigh, NC)
It’s hard to believe that it’s already been 3 years since Dead and Company burst onto the scene. Original members Bob Weir, Billy Kreutzmann, and Mickey Hart recruited former Allman Brothers Band/Aquarium Rescue Unit bassist Otiel Burbridge, long time Ratdog keyboardist Jeff Chimenti, and pop megastar John Mayer on vocals and guitar. I can remember it like it was yesterday when I heard that this was actually going to be a thing and thinking that there was no way that this was going to work. Well, three years later and 12 or so shows later, I’m a believer and Mayer has without a doubt solidified himself as a member of what I consider to be one of the greatest fucking bands on the planet.
With every passing tour, Dead and Company continues to amaze me. While still adhering to some of the standard practices of the Dead when it comes to making set lists, Dead and Company have taken steps forward and created their own rules such as last summer’s Atlanta Scarlet Begonias > Shakedown Street opener. It’s just so great to see this band doing their own thing and growing by leaps and bounds.
Summer 2018 tour was a highly anticipated run and I have to say that once again, the boys didn’t disappoint. For my weekend run kicking off in Atlanta, the boys opened with “Iko Iko” which had everyone dancing in the hot, muggy Atlanta weather. “I Need A Miracle” followed but it was “Alabama Getaway” that really turned up the heat. Mayer really stepped up to the plate on this one and knocked it clear out of the field. Bobby strapped on the acoustic for probably the best “Black Throated Wind” I’ve ever heard while “West LA Fadeaway” was a Chimenti fest. He laid it down hard bringing a huge roar for the crowd.
“Lost Sailor > Saint” is always a great treat and the 2nd set was a full on burner. “Eyes of the World” was definitely the show stopper with Otiel claiming the MVP award for this performance. He took this song into full on John Coltrane mode with some exploratory playing that had him and Mayer playing off each other bringing the house down. The set closed with a 15 minute “Morning Dew” that had me (and many others) in tears. “Johnny B. Goode” was such an odd encore for me coming out such a passionate “Morning Dew” but it did send everyone out with a smile and had us all wanting more.
With Atlanta definitely being a more exploratory kind of vibe, it left a lot of room for Raleigh but again, as unpredictable as these guys are we had no idea what to expect. The vibe at Walnut Creek was way more of a family vibe than Atlanta. That may have also been because I was surrounded by amazing people. For some reason, I just had a feeling that this was going to be a real rollicking set but the band, once again, didn’t even do what I expected which is, again, why I love this band so much.
Kicking things off with “Cold Rain and Snow” had everyone grooving right out of the gates. This song has become a huge staple of Dead and Company’s performances and it suits them so well. “Greatest Story Ever Told” from Bobby’s Ace album was a real treat as this is a song that I have never heard live before. “Peggy-O”, while a gorgeous song, just seemed to pull the emergency break up and slow things down pretty drastically. “Mexicali Blues” seemed to kick things up a notch but it was the “Bird Song > Bertha > Bird Song Reprise” that really caught me off guard as the first set opener. First set was definitely a bit mellower than I was expecting but it was still an incredibly executed set.
Dead and Co came out guns blazin’ for Set II with a set that just wouldn’t quit. Bobby and the boys making a huge but very relevant political statement with “Throwing Stones”, John Mayer once again knocked it out with “Deal” and an “Estimated Prophet” that was the best I’d heard them do yet. The show stopper of the evening was an outstanding cover of The Beatles’ classic “Dear Prudence.” The Dead was always a band who was able to take any song and make it theirs without trying to outdo or showboat their abilities. This was the first time I ever heard any incarnation of this song and it literally brought me to tears. Bobby’s delivery was absolutely outstanding and it was played as if it were meant to be this 9 minute epic. Dead and Co closed appropriately with “One More Saturday Night” and returned for an absolutely gorgeous acoustic “Ripple” before taking their final bows.
There is something truly magical about Dead and Company. Bobby, Billy, and Mickey managed to find the right combination of people that shared the same level of passion, love, and respect for the music of the Grateful Dead to create something that we Deadheads have been waiting a long time for. Since Jerry’s passing I have seen every incarnation of the member’s Dead lineup ups and this one, by far, is the only one to have found a way to reach deep into me and tug on those rusty old strings in a way I never even fathomed could be possible. From here, I see no end to Dead and Company. All I see is growth and many, many more exciting, awe inspiring moments for many years to come. Keep it up fellas. Keep it up.
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