Photo Credit: Jay Blakesberg
Returning to the round venue, Dead & Company commenced the third week of its Las Vegas residency on Thursday, May 30, at the new state-of-the-art Sphere venue. Compared to weeks past, there were slightly raised expectations going into last night’s performance, the band’s first appearance following the Monday, May 27, passing of a beloved figure in the Deadhead community, Bill Walton. The band didn’t shy from expressing admiration and profound respect for their friend–donning the basketball legend’s jersey no. 32 fixed to their guitars (in sticker form) and closing the second set with an emotive cover of Bob Dylan’s “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door.”
The first set got underway with a cover of “Iko Iko,” a live staple for the Grateful Dead, performed regularly during tours in the 1980s through mid-90s. The offshoot of the original San Francisco Jamband, consisting of Bobby Weir, Mickey Hart, John Mayer, Oteil Burbridge, Jeff Chimenti, and Jay Lane, played through “Eyes of the World” next, a typical feature of the second set, traded in for the night’s second slot, in this case. Keeping with the established momentum, the group inched into earlier archive features, snatching the 1971 debut “Betha” before Jerry Garcia’s original solo release, “Loser.”
As the initial set proceeded, Weir tapped into his cowboy roots with the arrival of Marty Robbins’ original “El Paso.” For the final offer of the six-song starter set, Dead & Company worked through “Cold Rain and Snow,” which merged into the evening’s midpoint break. Set two started in rare fashion, with a typical closer or even encore, “Ripple,” which assisted in setting a tone of remembrance–an acknowledgment of life’s great mystery and the individualized paths we take till we reach the end. As if acknowledging the heavens’ convergence with the California coast (Walton’s home state), D&C ran through “Estimated Prophet,” which segued into “Mr. Charlie” without pause and featured a tease of “The Other One.”
Sister songs: “Help on the Way” and “Slipknot!” were presented as a pair, as expected, and ultimately gave way to jam vehicle “Franklin’s Tower.” Hart’s second set staple, “Drums,” was considerably special, given the percussionist’s close relationship with Walton. Hours before the show, Hart shared a photo of himself and Walton, writing, “Tonight we pulse, we vibrate, we dance, for Bill. The BIGGEST deadhead in the world!” Staying true to his promise and keeping a palpable energy going through “Space.”
On the other side of the second set instrumental interlude, emotions struck on with the ascent into “Standing on the Moon,” with lines “Standing on the moon/ With nothing else to do/ A lovely view of heaven/ But I’d rather be with you,” taking on a whole new meaning given the context of the performance. From the depths of the Bay, D&C boosted the tempo with “Althea” and kept it lifted through “Going Down the Road Feelin’ Bad.” The night’s most otherworldly moment arrived in the form of Bob Dylan’s “Knocking On Heaven’s Door,” an ode to the lifecycle, acknowledgment of death, and the natural transition outside of our earthly plane.
For the night’s encore, the band returned to deliver “Fire on the Mountain,” a song that’s always felt like a drummer’s choice. Its throbbing backbeat demands dancing, just like Walton would have wanted. During the performance images of Big Red were displayed on the enormous venue screens, driving in the tribute nature of the performance. Also included was a display of Walton’s basketball number, adorned in red roses. Following the final song, the band came together at the center of the stage, lingering longer than what is typically expected, embracing and throwing there hands up at the displayed 32 on screen.
On location were photographers Chloe Weir and Jay Blakesberg, who shared select shots from last night’s concert. Dead & Company will return to the Sphere tonight to continue their Vegas residency. Tickets remain on sale.
Dead & Company
Sphere – Las Vegas
May 30, 2024
Set I: Iko Iko, Eyes of the World, Bertha, Loser, El Paso, Cold Rain and Snow
Set II: Ripple, Estimated Prophet > Mr. Charlie > Help on the Way > Slipknot! > Franklin’s Tower > Drums > Space > Standing on the Moon > Althea > Going Down the Road Feeling Bad > Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door
Enc.: Fire on the Mountain
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