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| Dead & Company @ Chase Center - Dec. 30th, 2019 (Photo: Kate Haley) |
2020: Ready or not, here we come, and Dead and Co are ready. On the final show of the Dead’s “Winter Fun Run” a strong opening of “In the Midnight Hour” (Wilson Pickett cover) let us know that we’re waiting for what would come at 12:00, which provided another opportunity for the ever impressive theatrics which, rather than ending, kicked off a third high-energy set. While I agree with the wisdom to never miss a Sunday show, this is another proof-positive event to illustrate that you should never, ever, miss a New Year’s Eve show if you can help it.
I hoped that that midnight hour doesn’t come too soon when John Mayer takes lead vocals on “Big Railroad Blues” (Cannon Jug Stomper’s cover), which led into a solid “Iko Iko” (Sugar Boy and His Cane Cutters cover). “Mr Charlie” followed, which John Mayer sang to further drive up the energy until the crowd looked like a bunch of twirling flowers, bursting into bloom. And that, folks, is the magic of the Dead as the entire field of fans turns beautifully towards the light emanating from the stage.
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| Dead & Company @ Chase Center - Dec. 30th, 2019 (Photo: Kate Haley) |
“Loser” (Jerry Garcia Band Cover), which followed, was heart-felt and Bob Weir really sold it with his ever improving vocal mastery, which says a lot that after 55 years he keeps getting better. “Tennessee Jed” and “Sugaree” followed with “New Speedway Boogie” closing out the set.
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| Dead & Company @ Chase Center - Dec. 30th, 2019 (Photo: Kate Haley) |
Set two has to be one of my favorites of all time, largely owing to having Zakir Hussain on “Drums” > “Space” > ”Milestones” (Miles Davis cover) > “Help > Slip > Frank” moving beautifully towards “Fire on the Mountain”. The set ended with a “Standing on the Moon” to a highly appropriate end to the decade’s “Not Fade Away”. I didn’t know, back in 2015, that the “Fare Thee Well” short run wasn’t it. To see them playing a hell of a three set show 4.5 years later still gets me a little teary eyed come a solid NFA… grateful indeed.
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| Dead & Company @ Chase Center - Dec. 30th, 2019 (Photo: Kate Haley) |
What’s next? Probably one of the funniest kick offs into the next Roaring 20s you’ll see. Some highlights include Bill Walton as Father Time, Wavy Gravy shirtless, and Trixie Garcia and Sunshine Garcia Becker (Jerry Garcia Band) soaring over the crowd in an airplane while dancers invoking last centuries’ Roaring 20s took to the stage. Throw in a balloon drop and you’ve got a hellva start to the decade. The first song from the Dead’s catalog was “Sugar Magnolia” (originally by the Grateful Dead, as are all songs not otherwise called out herein), followed by “Uncle John’s Band” > “Scarlet Begonias” > “Fire on the Mountain.” “Sunshine Daydream” closed the set and they returned for an encore of “Touch of Grey”. This won’t be a show anyone forgets anytime soon. Here’s to many, many more in the ‘20s!
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| Dead & Company @ Chase Center - Dec. 30th, 2019 (Photo: Kate Haley) |
Please note, all photos were taken the night before this review. Thanks for reading and be sure to follow us across our social feeds for more pictures, concert announcements and news here:
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