It’s been an incredible summer for Dead & Company, who returned home to kick off a two-night run at the Toyota Amphitheatre in Wheatland, CA. Dead & Company got things started in San Francisco, packing the storied Fillmore venue for a surprise free performance ahead of the tour proper. Now, just two months later, Dead & Co brought it back to Northern California for a great show in Wheatland. With the Grateful Dead born out of the Bay Area, there’s always a certain magic when the band’s members return to the region. It’s a homecoming, if you will.
Right off the bat, the band got things started with “Uncle John’s Band.” They kept things rocking with Grateful Dead classics throughout the first set, like “Tennessee Jed,” “Easy Wind,” and “Ramble On Rose.” The set continued with “Row Jimmy,” before having fun on the Jerry Garcia song, “Loser.” Finally, the band finished set one with a spirited “Touch Of Grey,” with Bob Weir and John Mayer trading vocals throughout.
The second set saw the band really let loose, opening with the Weir combination of “Lost Sailor > Saint of Circumstance.” After a breezy “He’s Gone,” Dead & Company took the jams into “China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider.” Keyboardist Jeff Chimenti laid down some soulful organ throughout, but after “Rider,” it was the Rhythm Devils of Bill Kreutzmann, Mickey Hart, and Oteil Burbridge that had their fun. With a psychedelic “Drums” into “Space,” the set rocked on when the band segued into “New Speedway Boogie.” A pair of old faithful tunes, “Morning Dew” and “Casey Jones” ended the show.
The band encored with “Ripple,” filling the air with one sweet song before calling it a night. The band concludes their tour tomorrow night, July 30th, at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, CA. Check out some video highlights, audio, and the full setlist below!
Uncle John’s Band
Morning Dew > Casey Jones
Lost Sailor/Saint of Circumstance
Ripple
Full Audio (via Quinfolk)