Update 5/2/20: Dead & Company is re-broadcasting their 6/6/18 performance at Deer Creek as part of their One More Saturday Night archival webcast series. Tune in and follow along with our initial review of the show below:

Dead & Company – 6/6/18 – Full Show [Pro-Shot] – Live Re-Stream

On Wednesday night, Dead & Company continued their 2018 summer tour with a performance at Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center in Noblesville, IN, the fan-favorite shed known to most by its original name, Deer Creek. Throughout their a creatively-crafted set, the band continued to dig into the Grateful Dead repertoire, offering up yet another full show’s worth of tour debuts and pushing their streak of concerts without repeating a song to five.

After their customary meandering intro jam, Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart‘s drum line began to intensify, taking the familiar shape of Bob Weir-penned classic “The Other One”. John Mayer and Oteil Burbridge continued to push the band through blistering blues as “The Other One” Oteil Burbridge and the Rhythm Devils dialed in the song’s groove beneath him. It was clear from the start that the band had big intentions for this show, as after a single verse of “The Other One”, the band slid back into improv mode, foregoing the song’s second verse in favor of “Dire Wolf”. Jeff Chimenti shined on piano throughout the track, expertly imbuing it with the saloon swagger that its lyrics evoke. Watch pro-shot video of the show’s opening number below:

Dead & Company – Jam > “The Other One” (Verse 1) 

[Video: Dead & Company]

A funky “Feel Like A Stranger” followed, Bobby leading the charge with gusto on vocals, any hints of his brief struggles in Cincinnati now a distant memory. Mayer and Burbridge pushed the song’s jam forward with intention, making it one of the improvisational highlights of this strong first set.

The band took things down a notch for their next number, a beautifully bobbing “Row Jimmy”. After a quick beat, the band kicked into “Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo”, Mayer once again asserting himself as the focal point with his engaging guitar melodies over the song’s smooth slither.

Next, the band offered up another classic Jerry Garcia/Robert Hunter ballad, “Comes A Time”, sung as always with tender sincerity by Oteil. Finally, the band brought the groove back one last time for a gritty “Viola Lee Blues” featuring still more striking soloing from Mayer to cap set one.

With yet another set of tour debuts in the bag, the list of Dead & Company’s go-to songs not yet played this tour grew shorter, the “Help On The Way” > “Slipknot!” > “Franklin’s Tower” that began the second set was a predictable choice, though no less thrilling because of it. “Slipknot!”, in particular, saw the band dive into dissonant, frenetic space, amassing jazz-inspired tension to great effect. The sublime “Franklin’s” provided the release, as the audience sang along to the carefree classic.

The crowd’s cheers of appreciation as “Franklin’s” finished quickly turned into cheers of approval as the band steered smoothly into “Terrapin” country. As always, Mayer took the helm for the “Lady With A Fan” portion before Weir came in with purpose for the opus’ “Terrapin Station” climax. As the song petered out, Mickey and Billy picked up steam, signaling the start of the evening’s “Drums/Space” voyage. As the band finally rejoined the stage, the drummers began to chart a more specific course, once again adopting the distinctive time signature they had used to bootstrap the show’s first song. Finally, the band dropped back into “The Other One” in earnest, Chimenti peppering in well-placed synth pops as Bobby picked up where they had left off in set one, completing the song’s second verse to the delight of the crowd.

Dead & Company – “Lady With A Fan” >”Terrapin Station”

[Video: rdeal1999]

Next, the always-emotional “Standing On The Moon” hit its mark as a late-show breather, with Bobby singing Jerry’s vocal lead while Chimenti, Mayer, and Burbridge gave the tear-jerker reverberating sonic texture. Finally, Weir kicked into “Sugar Magnolia” as the crowd joyfully sang along. The song’s closing “Sunshine Daydream”—the first since their 2017 summer tour-closing fireworks spectacle at Wrigley Field—picked up the pace, turning into a dance party before closing strong, Bobby hamming it up in peak rockstar form. A searing “Casey Jones” encore victory lap sent fans filing out of the amphitheater singing.

Once again, the band’s setlist for the evening was comprised entirely of tour debuts, though a number of the songs played were slated to be performed in the latter part of their rain-shortened second set on night two in Camden. That now makes it 5 performances with no repeats to start the summer tour.

Dead & Company – Set Two Opener

[Video: Dead & Company]

You can listen to the full show now via nugs.net. Next up for Dead & Company is a performance at Atlanta’s Cellairis Amphitheatre at Lakewood on Friday, June 8th. For a full list of Dead & Company’s upcoming tour dates, head here.

SETLIST: Dead & Company | Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center | Noblesville, IN | 6/6/18

Set One: The Other One* > Dire Wolf, Feel Like A Stranger, Row Jimmy, Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo, Comes A Time, Viola Lee Blues

Set Two: Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin’s Tower > Lady With A Fan > Terrapin Station > Drums > Space > The Other One^, Standing On The Moon, Sugar Magnolia

Encore: Casey Jones

*first verse

^second verse