Dead & Company launched their two-night run at Chicago’s Wrigley Field on Friday. Although the first set was cut short due to weather, D&C still fit in a number of Grateful Dead classics as well as covers from Bob Dylan and more.
Dead & Company started off the first set with “Let The Good Times Roll,” a classic opener at latter-day Dead shows and one D&C recently unveiled in New York City. As they’ve been doing on the tour, the Sam Cooke tune saw guitarists John Mayer and Bob Weir along with keyboardist Jeff Chimenti each handling a verse and coming together on the chorus. Dead & Company then got into “Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo” with John and Bobby sharing vocal duties. The song also featured some tasty guitar work from Mayer along with a rollicking barroom piano solo from Chimenti. Mayer then led the band through “Bertha” ahead of Weir on “Ramble On Rose” before the weather rolled in.
After the delay, the band returned to kick things off with “Dancing In The Street” ahead of one of Bobby’s signature tunes, “Playing In The Band,” which in turn led into “Scarlet Begonias,” also sung by Weir. A Mayer-led “Deal” emerged from “Scarlet” before bassist Oteil Burbridge ran the group through “Scarlet’s” usual partner, “Fire On The Mountain.” Rhythm Devils Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart then delivered “Drums,” after which “Space” gave way to a “Playin’” reprise before Bobby got into Dylan’s “All Along The Watchtower.” The jam on “Watchtower” boasted Mayer on some hot licks complimented by bubbling organ from Jeff. “Morning Dew” came next ahead of set closer “Not Fade Away.” Dead & Company would retake the stage to encore with “Ripple.”
Watch pro-shot video of “Let The Good Times Roll” and “Mississippi Half-Step” as well as audience-shot video of “All Along The Watchtower” below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnpFxBmo2dc
Setlist
Dead & Company at Wrigley Field
Set 1
- Good Times
- Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo Bertha Ramble On Rose
Set 2
- Dancing in the Street Playing in the Band Scarlet Begonias Deal Fire on the Mountain Drums Space All Along the Watchtower Morning Dew Not Fade Away
Encore
- Ripple
- Grateful Dead
Dead & Company returns to Wrigley tonight for the final show of Summer Tour 2021 with Fall Tour kicking off on October 6 in West Palm Beach, Florida.
