Photo Credit: Alive Coverage
Dead & Company continued its Sphere residency in Las Vegas on Friday and Saturday nights. The ensemble picked up its current concert motif, adding classic Grateful Dead originals and associated covers to their repertoire of venue-specific pulls. Joining other seasoned materials as first-time Sin City plays were Bobby Weir’s Ace favorite, “Black-Throated Wind,” and the emotive “China Doll,” on June 14, followed by jam-catalyst “Viola Lee Blues” on June 15.
To start, Saturday presented an onslaught of beloved music, beginning with The Olympics’ original turned Dead-adapted “Good Lovin’,” followed by “The Music Never Stopped” and “Row Jimmy.” First-time Sphere addition “Black-Throated Wind” struck a chord with the line, “I was a man when all this began,” acting as a lyrically tinged perspective; a ponderous moment for then and now. More seasoned plays led to a set break, with “Shakedown Street” welcoming folks back from the mid-point of Friday’s concert.
Classically paired, “Help on the Way” and “Slipknot!” rolled into seasonal “Cold Rain and Snow.” Friday’s final Sphere debut landed next, shaping into the “China Doll.” The remainder of the night carried in typical fashion, with frequenters flanking the expected second set instrumental interlude, the Mickey Hart-led “Drums” > “Space.” From the depths of the Friday, birthed a new dawn and more music magic which ensued on Saturday night.
Set one was a mix of classics, in the same vein as the night prior, representing a blend of self-penned material and notable covers, including “Dancing in the Street” and “It Hurts Me Too.” Jerry Garcia’s “Sugaree” represented the final play before the set break. Dead & Company retook their places for the final set of weekend five of their Sphere residency, starting it with sister tunes “China Cat Sunflower” into “I Know You Rider.” Serving as the only new add to the Sphere roster was Cannon’s Jug Stompers’ jam-focused “Viola Lee Blues.”
Without pause, Dead & Company merged their Sphere debut into “U.S. Blues” and the final song of Saturday’s main frame, “Dark Star.” For their encore, the group returned to Weir’s Ace LP, nodding to the day of the week on, you guessed it, “One More Saturday Night.”
Scroll down to view setlists from the weekend. Tickets remain on sale for Dead & Company’s Sphere residency.
Dead & Company
Sphere – Las Vegas
June 15, 2024
Set I: I Need a Miracle, Eyes of the World, Dancing in the Street > It Hurts Me Too, Cassidy, Sugaree
Set II: China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Playing in the Band > Cumberland Blues, Estimated Prophet > Drums > Space > Days Between, Viola Lee Blues+ > U.S. Blues > Dark Star
Enc.: One More Saturday Night
Notes:
+ First time at Sphere
Dead & Company
Sphere – Las Vegas
June 14, 2024
Set I: Good Lovin’, The Music Never Stopped, Row Jimmy, Black-Throated Wind+, New Speedway Boogie, Deal
Set II: Shakedown Street, Help on the Way > Slipknot! > Cold Rain and Snow, China Doll+, Terrapin Station > Drums > Space > Dear Prudence > Bertha > Hell in a Bucket > Morning Dew
Enc.: Ripple
Notes:
+ First time at Sphere
Setlist via setlist.FM.
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