Dead & Company (a.k.a. Bob Weir, John Mayer, Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, Oteil Burbridge, and Jeff Chimenti) concluded their 2017 tour with two electric, sold-out nights at Wrigley Field. There were Deadheads galore (Wrigleyville has never been so colorful, nor smelled so…herbal), fireworks, some epic guitar solos (and let’s not forget the drum solos), and attendance records set.
Their two shows set the all-time record for most paid tickets for a concert in a ballpark. Over 80,000 were on hand—a whopping 43,600 on Saturday alone—to noodle dance to The Grateful Dead tunes in one of the most historic ballparks in the country.
For anyone reading this, if you ever hear me mocking John Mayer in the future, you have full permission to smack me—this man is a true talent. I mean, his guitar solo during “Sugaree” Friday night left me in tears. Literally.
It’s clear that this collaboration with members of The Grateful Dead works for all parties as John continues to grow as a guitarist and Bob, Mickey, and Bill get to do what they love—to play music and tour. Oteil fills the stage with pure positivity and joy, and every time Jeff is spotlighted, I am amazed and don’t want him to cease playing. This is a solid band and they’ve left me hoping that they’ll announce another tour in the near future.
SETLIST
Set 1:
Cold Rain and Snow
Jack Straw
Tennessee Jed
Ship of Fools (John & Oteil shared lead vocals)
Dark Star
Friend of the Devil (Bob & John on acoustic guitars)
Althea
Casey Jones
Set 2:
Sugar Magnolia
Dancing in the Street (Martha Reeves and The Vandellas cover)
Playing in the Band
Comes a Time (Oteil on lead vocals)
Scarlet Begonias
Fire on the Mountain (Oteil on lead vocals)
Drums
Space
The Other One
Days Between
Not Fade Away (The Crickets cover)
ENCORE
Brokedown Palace
Sunshine Daydream (with end of tour fireworks)
