The Dead & Company tour kicked off last night at the Times Union Center in Albany, NY, and if opening night is any indication of what’s to come, this is going to be a very special tour. Alongside Grateful Dead members Bob Weir, Bill Kreutzmann, and Mickey Hart, guitar player John Mayer, bassist Oteil Burbridge, and keyboard player Jeff Chimenti proved to be a more than formidable supporting cast in helping honor the Grateful Dead legacy and the band’s 50th anniversary this year.

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The first set offered a healthy dose of early Dead material including a great “Playing in the Band” > “Cold Rain and Snow” opener featuring Mayer on vocals during the latter. Mayer would also take on singing duties during late set renditions of “He’s Gone” and an exceptional “Bird Song”, where Mayer would prove his pedigree. “The Music Never Stopped” punctuated the first Dead & Company set, but the best was still yet to come.

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Set two opened with an exotic selection in “Lost Sailor > Saint of Circumstance” before feeding into one of the centerpieces of the evening, a classic “Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin’s Tower” sequence. A pulsating “Drums” journey thanks to the Rhythm Devils themselves, Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart, was served up shortly thereafter with an ethereal “Space” outro on the tail end. Coming out of “Space,” the band moved themselves toward “The Other One” with Burbridge holding down those thumping Phil Lesh bass lines and “Stella Blue,” a tune that Mayer really shined on during his solos. 

A jubilant “Not Fade Away” would close the second set, and, for a night cap, Dead & Company delivered “Touch Of Grey” encore. Not too bad for a night’s work.

Stream The Full Show Via Taper Bill Goldberg:

Dead & Company plays again Halloween night at the world famous Madison Square Garden in New York City. Trick or treat!

Setlist: Dead & Company at Times Union Center, Albany, NY – 10/29/15

Set I: Playing in the Band > Cold Rain and Snow, Tennessee Jed, Feel Like A Stranger, He’s Gone, Bird Song, The Music Never Stopped

Set II: Lost Sailor > Saint Of Circumstance, Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin’s Tower, Drums > Space, The Other One, Stella Blue, Not Fade Away

Encore: Touch Of Grey

[Photo via Dead & Company]