Dead & Company tour hit Bethel Woods Center For The Arts in Bethel, New York on Monday, a venue adjacent to where the legendary Woodstock festival was held in 1969. The sextet honored the location by performing the same setlist the Grateful Dead did at Woodstock as part of last night’s concert.
The band featuring Grateful Dead members Bob Weir, Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann along with Oteil Burbridge, Jeff Chimenti and John Mayer began the first set with a rousing “Hell In A Bucket.” Mayer then emulated Ron “Pigpen” McKernan in fronting the group on “Easy Wind.” Dead & Company took it down a notch next with Weir handling lead vocals on a tender “Loser.”
From there, the band delivered a powerful “Throwing Stones” featuring firey and emotional lead guitar work from John Mayer. The guitarist then passionately sang “Row Jimmy” before Dead & Company closed the frame with the frequently paired “Lost Sailor” and “Saint Of Circumstance.”
“Fifty some years ago, right here, we tried this next little sequence,” Weir said before the band started the second set. “And it didn’t work so well for us. So, we’re going to try it again.” Dead & Company then kicked off the frame with the exact grouping of songs the Grateful Dead did on August 16, 1969. Phil Lesh & Friends with special guest Trey Anastasio pulled off the same feat at Bethel Woods on July 9, 2006.
A 21-minute “St. Stephen” got the Woodstock recreation underway before Weir led his mates on Merle Haggard’s “Mama Tried.” Next came a stellar rendition of “Dark Star” in which the band explored multiple jam spaces including a jazzy foray. Burbridge then had a turn in the spotlight as lead vocalist on “High Time.” The six-piece finished the Woodstock segment of the night with a romp through “Turn On Your Lovelight.”
Hart and Kreutzmann were then joined by Oteil Burbridge for “Drums.” Burbridge, who celebrates his birthday today, took an impressive bass solo ahead of the evening’s “Space” excursion. “Deal” emerged out of “Space” before Weir fronted the group on the ballad “Standing On The Moon.” Dead & Company capped the memorable set with a reprise of “Turn On Your Lovelight.”
John Mayer and Bob Weir went acoustic for the evening’s “Ripple” encore. Dead & Company next play on Wednesday night at Darien Lake Performing Arts Center in Darien, New York. A livestream is available via LiveDead.co.
Watch pro-shot video featuring the start of both sets:
Stream an audience recording of last night’s concert taped by Keith Litzenberger below:
Setlist (via Dead & Company Instagram)
Set One: Hell In A Bucket, Easy Wind, Loser, Brown Eyed Women, Throwing Stones, Row Jimmy, Lost Sailor > Saint Of Circumstance
Set Two: St. Stephen > Mama Tried, Dark Star > High Time > Turn On Your Lovelight > Drums > Bass > Space > Deal > Standing On The Moon, Turn On Your Lovelight
Encore: Ripple
