PITTSBURGH, PA | Pittsburgh-area Deadheads said fare thee well once again to the latest iteration of The Grateful Dead, Dead & Company, on June 5th at The Pavilion at Star Lake. For those who were able to make it inside the venue despite hours of nightmarish backed up traffic (get it together, The Pavilion), it was another memorable night of psychedelic sounds and sights.
I’ll be sad to see Dead & Company dissolve, as the members have really honored the spirit and sound of The Grateful Dead while maintaining a high level of musicianship throughout their eight-year stint. Original Dead members Bob Weir and Mickey Hart have lead the way, with John Mayer lending his incredible guitar skills, multi-instrumentalist Otiel Burbridge retaining his fan favorite status, Jeff Chimenti dazzling on the keys, and Jay Lane doing an excellent job of sitting in on drums for original member Bill Kreutzmann, who opted out of the final tour due to back issues.
The night featured some tour debuts, including “China Doll” and The Band’s “The Weight,” and additional crowd pleasers in “Jack Straw,” “Bertha,” and “Althea.” The Final Tour is making its way across the country before concluding in San Francisco mid-July. But if there’s one thing we know about The Grateful Dead, it’s that the music never stops. I look forward to seeing what’s on the horizon.
SETLIST
Set 1:
Hell in a Bucket
Alabama Getaway
Jack Straw
Big Boss Man (Jimmy Reed cover) (tour debut)
Peggy-O ([traditional] cover) (tour debut)
Bertha
Cassidy (Bob Weir cover)
Don’t Ease Me In (Henry Thomas cover)
Set 2:
Viola Lee Blues (Cannon’s Jug Stompers cover)
Truckin’
China Doll (tour debut)
China Cat Sunflower
I Know You Rider ([traditional] cover)
Drums
Space
Althea
Standing on the Moon
Not Fade Away (The Crickets cover)
The Weight (The Band cover) (tour debut)
