Two months ago, Dead & Company surprised fans with a free show in San Francisco. The surprises didn’t end just there, as the band continued to debut new music throughout this summer, as well as a new part-time vocal contributor: Donna Jean Godchaux. Through all of the ups and downs that come with any summer tour, Dead & Company prevailed with the music of the Grateful Dead in tow. It was only fitting that their summer run should come to a close at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, CA, right near the Dead’s origins in the Bay Area.
The tour really came full circle last night, as the band opened with a “Help On The Way > Slipknot!” that immediately got the crowd rocking. Rather than finishing the suite, the band broke into “Shakedown Street” instead, and kept things rocking with a nice version of “Cassidy.” With hits like “Standing On The Moon,” “Me and My Uncle,” and “Brown Eyed Women” coming next, the band was loose and having themselves a great time. It was only after the full set that the band completed their opening suite, playing the “Franklin’s Tower” to close out the first set.
From the opening notes of the second set, fans knew they were in for a treat. A towering “Dark Star” got the jams underway, and big tunes like “St. Stephen” and “Eyes Of The World” kept the set flowing. From there, things only kept accelerating with an incredible version of “Terrapin Station.” The interplay between John Mayer and Bob Weir in that song, both on guitar and with their trade-off vocals, makes it a real treat for the Dead & Company catalog.
The set continued with a psychedelic “Drums/Space” that saw the band get weird for one last free-form musical exploration. Even NBA legend Bill Walton got in on the action, joining the group during their Rhythm Devils breakdown. The band returned to form with “Days Between,” but finished out the set on a light note with “Not Fade Away.” Love is real, not fade away! After a brief break, Dead & Company returned for a couple more songs, finishing off the night with “U.S. Blues” before settling on “Brokedown Palace.” With such a great summer tour under their belts, the moment was surely emotional for all involved. Considering that the band does not have any scheduled performances, and that the show was being played in the Grateful Dead’s hometown, this was a magical “fare thee well” that sent fans home smiling.
Check out some videos from the show and the full setlist, below.
Help On The Way/Slipknot!
Dark Star