Recap and Gallery: Dead & Company at Wrigley Field

ilentertainer | July 7, 2017

Dead & Company
Wrigley Field, Chicago
Saturday, July 1, 2017

No, Dead & Company aren’t exactly the Grateful Dead, but considering the group consists of Bob Weir, Mickey Hart, and Bill Kreutzmann, plus the originally unexpected but nonetheless exceptional John Mayer with Oteil Burbridge and Jeff Chimenti, it’s an all-star tribute to the original Dead. Between the sold out audience inside Wrigley Field and the crowded streets outside (lined by an impromptu marketplace) on Saturday, Wrigleyville did it’s part making Clark and Addison a Deadhead Shangri-La.

For those in either area, that was indeed the case as the well-matched players hosted a spontaneous marathon the final night of their 2017 Summer Tour. First half highlights included “Jack Straw,” “Ship Of Fools,” “Friend Of The Devil” and “Casey Jones,” which continued in the Dead’s trippy, peace-promoting tradition.

Come the second half, the groove kicked up several notches with “Sugar Magnolia” and “Fire On The Mountain,” while also taking a lower keyed turn on “Days Between” and “Not Fade Away.” Additional treasures included spirited takes on “Sunshine Daydream,” which helped Dead & Company round the bases as victors in keeping the vibe alive.

Recap and photos by Ed Spinelli

Set 1
Cold Rain and Snow
Jack Straw
Tennessee Jed
Ship Of Fools
Dark Star
Friend Of The Devil
Althea
Casey Jones

Set 2
Tuning/Intro
Sugar Magnolia
Dancing In The Streets
Playing In The Band
Comes A Time
Scarlet Begonias
Fire On The Mountain
Drums/Space
The Other One
Days Between
Not Fade Away

Encore Break
Brokedown Palace
Sunshine Daydream