Dead & Company kicked off another weekend of the band’s recently extended Sphere run on Thursday with a show full of residency debuts, including a timely nod to a recent controversy within the Deadhead community.
Now several weeks into their Sphere residency, Bob Weir, John Mayer, Oteil Burbridge, Mickey Hart, Jay Lane, and Jeff Chimenti continue to keep things fresh with new setlist additions. Thursday’s show began with Sphere’s first “Man Smart, Woman Smarter”—no doubt selected to express support for women in the Grateful Dead community after a number of people bravely exposed and expelled a sexual predator from the scene. Oteil had posted an Instagram reel quoting the song along with a strongly worded plea that no one should be made to feel unsafe in the Dead community. Notably, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead opened with the same song in Hampton Beach, NH Thursday, presumably with the same message in mind.
The rest of the weekend’s first set was chock full of Sphere debuts. Following the trio of “Playing in the Band”, “They Love Each Other”, and “Tennessee Jed”, the band busted out “Dire Wolf” for the first time at Sphere and then played “Greatest Story Ever Told” for the first time since 2018. “Sugaree” finished the set on a sweeter note.
Dead & Co. stuck to songs that have become Sphere staples during set two, kicking things off with the classic pairing of “China Cat Sunflower” and “I Know You Rider”. There was nothing left to do but smile, smile, smile during “He’s Gone”, with its classic “steal your face” lyric that always seems to invite the crowd to sing along, if only for one line at a time.
Weir’s personal anthem, “The Other One”, guided the proceedings straight into “Drums” > “Space”, with “The Wheel”, “Franklin’s Tower”, “U.S. Blues”, and “Throwing Stones” capping off the set. Dead & Company ended the night on a positive note with a luminous “Turn On Your Love Light”.
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Returning on Friday, which happened to fall on the summer solstice, Dead & Company celebrated the the longest day of the year by letting the “Good Times” roll, kicking things off with the upbeat Sam Cooke classic before moving on to “Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo”. Next came a rare “Easy Wind”—another Sphere debut—which has received a single yearly outing for the past several years, followed by “Ramble On Rose”. The Band‘s “The Weight” gave everyone a chance to sing along before a Weir-led pairing of “Lost Sailor” and “Saint of Circumstance”. The band gave fans a kick in the pants before releasing them for set break with a memorable “Casey Jones” that saw Oteil physically engage the crowd as Mayer drove the train… with ample enthusiasm.
Set two got off to a heady start with “Help on the Way” and its usual partner, “Slipknot!”, which segued into a stellar “Deal” jam, followed by another classic pairing, “Scarlet Begonias” > “Fire on the Mountain”. From there, it was to infinity and beyond with “Drums” > “Space”. Weir took a moment to reflect from afar during “Standing on the Moon” before descending back down to earth to close the set with “Brown-Eyed Women” and “Eyes of the World”. The beloved if divisive “Touch of Grey” capped off the night with a healthy dose of measured optimism in the encore slot.
Check out fan-shot videos and full audio from Thursday and Friday’s shows below.
Dead & Company’s Sphere residency continues tonight (never miss a Sunday Saturday show!) before the band takes a much deserved week off leading into Independence Day Weekend. For a full list of the band’s upcoming shows, head here.
Fans hoping to get in on the action with Dead & Company at Sphere can find tons of face-value tickets for the entire run via CashorTrade. By choosing CashorTrade over other sites you are supporting real fans, not brokers trying to offload inventory. Unlike other platforms, you may even stumble upon a miracle. Browse what’s available on the site here.
Meeting up with friends at the Sphere has been amazing! There are also a few incredibly talented friends coming to the Golden Road Festival in Central California from November 8th–11th…the Friends of the Brothers! Joined by some exciting special guests, they’ll transport you to Watkins Glen and RFK Stadium, reminiscent of when The Allman Brothers performed unforgettable shows with the Grateful Dead. Like your journey to Haight/Ashbury and beyond at the Sphere, this boutique micro-festival experience will be magical and memorable. Come solo or grab your crew and head to the breathtaking foothills of the Sierras at Wonder Valley Ranch Resort for three days of rest, relaxation, rejuvenation, reunifications, and rocking out! Learn more and grab your ticket here.
Dead & Company – “Man Smart, Woman Smarter” – 6/20/24
[Video: GRUNZY CHANNEL]
Dead & Company | Sphere | Las Vegas, NV | 6/20/24
[Audio: Hunter S T 24]
Dead & Company | Sphere | Las Vegas, NV | 6/21/24
[Audio: Hunter S T 24]
Setlist: Dead & Company | Sphere | Las Vegas, NV | 6/20/24
Set 1: Man Smart, Woman Smarter (King Radio) (Residency debut), Playing in the Band, They Love Each Other (Jerry Garcia), Tennessee Jed, Dire Wolf (Residency debut), Greatest Story Ever Told (Bob Weir) (First time since 2018), Sugaree (Jerry Garcia)
Set 2: China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider (Traditional), He’s Gone > The Other One > Drums > Space > The Wheel (Jerry Garcia) > Franklin’s Tower, U.S. Blues, Throwing Stones, Old News Broadcast of the Grateful Dead
Encore: Turn On Your Love Light (Bobby “Blue” Bland)
Setlist: Dead & Company | Sphere | Las Vegas, NV | 6/21/24
Set 1: Good Times (Sam Cooke), Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo, Easy Wind, Ramble On Rose, The Weight (The Band), Lost Sailor >, Saint of Circumstance, Casey Jones
Set 2: Help on the Way >, Slipknot! >, Deal (Jerry Garcia), Scarlet Begonias >, Fire on the Mountain >, Drums >, Space >, Standing on the Moon, Brown-Eyed Women, Eyes of the World, Old News Broadcast of the Grateful Dead
Encore: Touch of Grey
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