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| Dead & Company's John Mayer, Mickey Hart, and Bob Weir (Photo: Kate Haley) |
Dead & Company July 2nd, 2018. Photographing Dead & Company is not without peril. You never
know what they’ll open with and dancing while shooting with a telephoto can give you a tad of a
shiner… or so I’ve heard. This night was particularly dangerous as the "Feel Like a Stranger" that burst out
of the gate was no joke. Moving from that to "Dancing in the Street" released a collective euphoria and it
was clear that Oteil Burbridge, Jeff Chimenti, Bob Weir, Mickey Hart and Bill Krutzmann weren’t slowing
down after the much celebrated Gorge and Autzen concerts in Oregon. It was a perfect start to this
show at the
Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View, CA on a gorgeous summer night.
The setlist embraced many numbers where Weir really shines. "The Lost Sailor" and "Saint of Circumstance" brought a slightly mellower feel than many shows, especially compared to night two, reviewed below.
Oteil Burbridge on "If I Had the World to Give" keeps growing deeper and sweeter as these shows stretch
into mid-summer. We’ve all said it before, but let Oteil sing.
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| Oteil Burbridge of Dead & Company (Photo: Kate Haley) |
Set two brought us a "Help On the Way", "Slipknot!", and "Franklin's Tower" that curtailed neatly into "Drums." "The Other One" grew out of "Space", though they only sang verse one. "Wharf Rat" was the real standout of the show, in its sincerity
and creative runs. "Not Fade Away" closed out the set and Dead and Company encored with "Touch of
Grey", concluding a solid show.
Dead & Company’s July 3rd show really kicked up the intensity. If there were doors to be blown off this
beautiful amphitheater, I’d advise standing clear. With a strong "Iko Iko", "Alabama Getaway" and "Minglewood Blues" on the map, there was no doubt that Bobby
was going to roar.
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| Bob Weir of Dead & Company (Photo: Kate Haley) |
"Cassidy" was as full of spirit as ever and the "China Cat" kicking off set two is arguably one of the best I’ve
heard as it took more twists and interplays with the amassing energy between the band. What I loved
most about this show is that it was clear that the entire Dead and Co. team was really enjoying the ride. "Viola Lee Blues" had the crowd dancing wildly and it felt good to really be back in that jam. "Space" is becoming
closer to an all-hands-on-deck thing and wow did they deliver. The jam coming out was ethereally
unfolding and tight. Again, coming from an old Deadhead, I’d say that one outdid the best of the
Grateful Dead Drum>Space runs, which really is something.
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| Bill Krutzmann, John Mayer, Mickey Hart, Bob Weir of Dead & Company (Photo: Kate Haley) |
Weir delivered a "Days Between" with such deep honesty it moved. But then they threw more coal in the
engine and off they went. Ask anyone about that "Casey Jones" if you need to measure tonight against the
previous night’s energy. What was mellow on night one became a break-away train with more speed
than "Casey Jones" has gathered before. I’ve seen it for myself on this tour: The boys truly are back.
Set one also included "Brown-Eyed Women." I’ve considered this song to be one of the first ones that
Mayer really found his legs in back in 2016 and which I’d argue is, like "Althea" (played early set two),
where he’s initially really hit upon the ever–evolving fusion between his jazz and blues leanings and
decades of Grateful Dead. And it’s that evolution that we need to keep in mind as every jam grows.
The Dead in any incarnation have never been static, as they’re telling and retelling an evolving musical
history that unfold as the stories of so many long-time deadhead’s lives. We need Mayer; I know this is a
controversial view here in the SF Bay Area but it’s becoming less and less so as people are tuning in and
turning on. Jerry was a real musicologist, just as John is, and both never played the same song twice.
John’s paying attention, putting in the hours, and hopping on the bus, for which I’m grateful.
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| Dead & Company @ Shoreline (Photo: Kate Haley) |
When I told a friend I met at the Shoreline shows that I was writing a review of the show for
SF Bay Area Concerts I asked him what he’d write. Immediately he said “At Dead shows, no one is sitting down”. I
needed a moment to think that through as it seemed a little heavy on the obviously stoned logic, but
he’s profoundly right as it all comes down to the fact that people don’t go see a Dead show, they are
part of the show. That stage that stretches from the people twirling in every walkway to the very back
rigging. Kindness and community are givens and hopefully, after the "Ripple" encore, the final note rings
on as we head back home. Dead & Company have truly ensured that
the music never stops. Check out their remaining tour dates
here and I hope to see you at the jubilee!
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