In a month-long tour that started back East where the Grateful Dead 50th anniversary celebrations did not reach this past summer, Dead & Company dropped their last proper shows of a coast spanning fall tour last night in fabulous Las Vegas. The band has four more official shows left to play in the Golden State next month, but if fans are wondering about the future of a band that started with a major question mark, but is ending with more acclaim than many would have thought, they need only to marinate on the parting words shared by drummer Mickey Hart -“We’ll be back!”
Highlights
11/27 Set One
It took a minute for Dead & Company to get going, but after a few minutes of searching in “Shakedown Street”, guitarist/vocalist John Mayer found the groove. Building a strong energy through solid takes on “Uncle John’s Band”, “Althea”, with a clear peak in “Jack Straw”, set one from Friday is right up there with one of the better sets the band played all tour. “Row Jimmy” and a poignant “Black Throated Wind” served as the breath-catchers of the set, with a particularly on-point “Casey Jones” to close it out. The speed up towards the end of “Casey” was crisp, and showed that although there are moments when Dead & Company slows the tempo of the music, they can ramp it up in style and truly let loose.
“Dark Star”
It will always be the true test-piece for any critical, life-long Deadhead. It’s not about nailing the written components of the song so much as it is about what spirit is uniquely captured each time any musician chooses to play this song. For almost twenty-two minutes Dead & Company explored compelling territory with this set two opening masterpiece on Friday night. John Mayer led as he did through both shows with a command of the material. Perhaps in a nod to the special night that took place 50 years ago on 11/27/65, this run through “Dark Star” encapsulates the absolute fact that Dead & Company has their own way, style and sound that is more than doing justice to the timeless music of the Grateful Dead.
11/27 Set Two
Friday night’s set one was a standout, but set two turned the show into a keeper. Isolated as eight segments of music interwoven into a free, loose format, the flow was contagious. “Dark Star” had the whole MGM Grand Garden Arena in awe, and then “Playing in the Band” brought the groove back. Only the second “Let it Grow” of tour kept the dance infused energy moving with the sterling efforts of bassist Oteil Burbridge on full display. The move into “St. Stephen” was as unforced as a segue gets. Oteil stuck around for what was a brief, but deeply psychedelic “Drums” before drummer Mickey Hart took things a bit further in “Space”. Closing the set with a soaring “Wharf Rat” and rocking “Sugar Magnolia”, this set has it all and was played extremely well from note one until its close.
11/27
Fifty years ago on this day marked the first ever performance by the Grateful Dead. The show took place at the premiere public Acid Test that was held in Santa Cruz, CA. Whether intentional or not, Dead & Company channeled the spirit and made an impressive offering on Friday night. The “Dark Star” alone was enough to have those in the know smile a little extra, but when all was said and done, capped off by a tasteful acoustic “Ripple” encore, there is hardly another show from the whole tour that can stand toe-to-toe with 11/27/15.
“Ramble on Rose”
One more Saturday night in Las Vegas got going with a strong effort on “Cassidy”, but the “Ramble on Rose” stood out the most from this set. John Mayer played especially well, again, throughout the set, as did Jeff Chimenti who continues to solidify his role as the master of the keys in the present Dead universe. The energy left from Friday seemed slightly out of reach throughout this set and truly the night as a whole, but the highlights were still plentiful.
“Cryptical Envelopment”> “The Other One”>”Morning Dew”
The clear highlight from set two, Oteil really nailed the drop into “Other One”. The band played well through the beginning of “Cryptical” choosing to not bookmark “Other One” by instead dropping into “Morning Dew”. The “Dew” had moments by Mayer, and while “Lovelight” ended the set, a little extra on “Dew” could have been a tighter way to close things out.
Song Selection
Across the two shows from Las Vegas, song selection was strong, and placement was well executed. Knowing there would be a month long break between the next shows on the schedule, and that these offerings signaled the end of the fall tour proper, the band choose wisely and largely delivered. Friday’s show was particularly hot in this department boasting music that was patient, flowed and had ample room to breath for both improvisation and exploratory properties.
Rhythm Devils
Get it while you can kids! To get to see drummers Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart in their element after so many years is a treat. I joked to some friends that it’s pretty clear who the core three are on stage as opposed to the three “newbies” based on overall tempo. The pace isn’t blistering with our core brothers, and while the “Drums” and “Space” segments seemed brief during both Vegas shows, the music remains engaging and is a solid dose of pure Grateful Dead.
John Mayer
I must admit, after Santa Clara and Chicago this summer, the announcement of this tour did nothing for me. It didn’t feel right, and to spare a lengthy subjective opinion piece I’ll say in the now I’m completely fired up on how well John Mayer has filled a role that is truly impossible to fill. He seemingly grew in depth all tour, and as it stands in the present no matter how critical a fan one is, there is no denying that Mayer knows what he’s playing, is staying true to his own personal style, but perhaps most important, is finding ways to both honor and build new layers within the music. I was right up there with everyone saying how the heck could this guy be the choice for an arena tour of Dead music back when the tour was announced. I am so happy to stand corrected in the present, with a mind largely blown by what was witnessed that last two nights in Las Vegas.
Bob Weir
He was only turned up too loud for a minute or two. A few vocals slipped through the cracks, and an odd change was missed here and there-par for the course. What’s most salient here is giving credit and respect where it is due the most. Mayer may get MVP for doing such an incredible job in the role he was asked to play, but our road warrior frontman Bob Weir has shined from Albany to Las Vegas as is playing as strong as he has in years. Way to slay Bobby!
Lowlights
Overall, the Vegas shows were impressive when looking at the Dead & Company tour in total. If I had the chance to be in California for the New Years run I would most certainly jump on board in a heartbeat, when the same option presented to me some weeks ago was just as immediately passed over. That said, Friday was a much stronger show than Saturday. The songs offered on Saturday were hot-I mean, just look at the first five offerings from set two, but that goes to show that after so many years and so many shows, it’s really not about the songs so much as how they are played. That’s a tough one in Deadland since the songs themselves are in fact so special. However, Friday had more patience, room to explore, and quite simply flowed in a way that felt effortless. Saturday was a good time, but Friday makes the cut for post GD shows that deserve a place on any fans contemporary playlist.
We all know expectations create drama, so perhaps after celebrating 50 years of the name Grateful Dead topping Friday was too much. The end of “Deal” on Saturday and the missed opening in “Dew” were two times the band lost a clear cohesive gel. A lost lyric here and there, such as in “Loose Lucy” is to be expected at this stage as it was in the later years of the Dead. All that said, these were two great shows with one rising clear and true as arguably the show of tour.
After the magic of the Fare Thee Well this past summer I’m far from the only one that figured a show or too at Terrapin Crossroads would be good enough moving forward. The reality is Dead & Company has surprised most every present Deadhead that continues to seek out the music in a contemporary, live format. It’s a testament to the band members for continuing the long strange trip, and the fans are again the lucky ones that continue to be offered the spirit of experiencing music born from the greatest band that ever was, the Grateful Dead.
7 Responses
Feeling very thankful for the gift of music!!!!
Dark star took me to the docks of the city…dead to the core…see you fools in the bay
Last night was pretty darn good if ya ask me.
How is Phil Lesh doing?
I agree with everyone!!
Sunny, I think he’s doing ok, but is taking some time to rest and be with family….no shows on his calendar at present.
I agree that one of these shows was the best of the tour… but it was Saturday Night. Ramble on Rose was the beginning. The Jerrysong onslaught of Ramble,Tenessee Jed, a beautiful Sugaree and Deal, and then the fake out of thinking the set was over… and 1 more sat. night was just incredible.
Help/Slip/Franklins/Scarlet/Fire ??? Not enough… Morning Dew and Johnny (who is really amazing) dancing to Lovelight… This was my favorite show in 20 years. They finally got it together and found a guitarist who gets it, and isn’t afraid to stand out there and wail. I don’t like Phish, but I thought Trey was good in Santa Clara, but afraid. Warren is good, but too laid back to crush the energy needed. This is another level. Thanks for this wonderful review of night 1. I had a great time that night too, I just liked the 2nd one better.
The second night highlights in first set were West L.A , Ramble on Rose, Sugaree (incredible), and Deal (lots of energy) and the surprise (as one thought the set was over One More Sat Night).
Second Set highlights was the WHOLE thing. Help on the Way > Slipknot is always excellent guitar work on John did it WELL!