Happy 20th Birthday

Dead & Company - Wells Fargo Center, Philadephia, PA 11/5/2015

  Grateful Dead offshoot band Dead & Company performed at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia last night.
    Having not seen the Grateful Dead, or any of the associated bands, since 1995, I was looking very forward to seeing this show. And after the amazing things I heard about the reunion shows in July, I was hoping not to miss this current tour.
    The line up for Dead & Company consists or Bob Weir, Mickey Hart & Bill Kreutzmann from The Grateful Dead. They were joined by John Mayer on guitar and vocals, Oteil Burbridge on bass and Jeff Chimenti on keyboards. Bob Weir handled all his original vocals, and some of Jerry Garcia's, with John Mayer singing the bulk of Jerry's parts.
     The show did not let down. The first half was very good, but the second set was excellent. The show hit its peak with the China Cat Sunflower/I Know You Rider pairing. John Mayer's guitar work was remarkable throughout the night. Each solo was was faithful to the spirit of the band, but he also managed to put his own sound to them.
     And although Oteil Burbridge did not have any bass solos, his sound was very noticeable, but not overpowering. For a new band, at least half of the members anyway, they played beautifully together.
     Looking forward to seeing them again , hopefully soon. Here is the setlist:

                               
                                         Set 1

               Here Comes Sunshine - John Mayer lead vocal
               Loose Lucy - Bob Weir lead vocal
               Candyman - John Mayer lead vocal
               Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodleoo - Bob Weir lead vocal
               Bird Song - John Mayer lead vocal
               Cumberland Blues - John Mayer/Bob Weir lead vocals
               Casey Jones - John Mayer/Bob Weir lead vocals

                                    Set 2

                Iko Iko - Bob Weir lead vocals
                Feel Like a Stranger - Bob Weir lead vocals
                China Cat Sunflower - John Mayer lead vocals
                I Know You Rider - Bob Weir lead vocals
                Drums/Space
                Playing in the Band - Bob Weir lead vocals
                Standing on the Moon - Bob Weir lead vocals
                Sugar Magnolia - Bob Weir lead vocals

                                 Encore

                 U.S. Blues - John Mayer lead vocals