Photo of Dead & Co. by Erica Vining
I’ve attended somewhere around 200 shows in the last five years, and I can honestly say that I have never seen a crowd so diverse as the one packing Hollywood Casino Amphitheater to celebrate Dead & Co. on their final sendoff. Self-proclaimed “Deadheads” packed the parking lot with food trucks and impromptu performances, and I witnessed at least ten people being scooped off the ground who started their day of fun a bit too early. I could smell the skunky aroma of said fun a mile back at the stoplight, and I knew then it would be an exciting evening to observe.
While the night ended on an enjoyable note, the entry was quite the stressor. I sent no fewer than seven texts to my editor in sheer panic that I wasn’t going to make the set due to the traffic. The venue expected this and sent plenty of warning, but a busy work schedule that day meant a late trek to St Louis. I made it to the interstate exit around 6:00 with a 7:30 show time, so I was hopeful I could avoid a sprint to the box office. Alas, I pulled into the parking lot with under 10 minutes to the show and my cardio avoidance plan failed. My trusty black stepstool and I found our way to the sound booth by 7:28 and I imagine I was quite a site with panic in my eyes and sweaty hair sticking to my face. Apologies to anyone who tried to talk to me shortly after my dramatic entry, it took five full business days to catch my breath after the trek from the lot!
The band made their fashionably late entrance around 7:45 to roars of excitement from the waiting crowd. The jury is still out on if this is a true final tour, or more of a KISS “here’s part 7 of 15 of our possible final it’s really real this time farewell tour,” but regardless, they put on an incredible performance that kept concertgoers on their feet the entirety of the show. I was astonished at the stamina of the band, playing through not one but two full sets during the night. Set one saw an eight-song set, which included Grateful Dead songs as well as covers of other classics such as “Big River” by Mr. Johnny Cash (ft. a wonderful solo by John Mayer) and the cult classic “Johnny B. Goode” by Chuck Berry.
The group took a lengthy intermission before launching into their second set with “Eyes of the World.” It is captivating watching Mayer play guitar; someone once told me his guitar was an extension of his body and after this performance I’d have to agree. I’ll admit I never cared to photograph Mayer after some very questionable antics and comments he’s made in the past, but I cannot deny the appreciation for his skill and artistry as a musician. Mayer blends seamlessly in with Dead & Co., which can be difficult to do when you have such a large band. Their current roster touts two drummers, keys, bass, and two guitarists including Mr. Bob Weir, who is their vocalist as well. This was my first (and presumably last) time seeing Dead & Co. and I found myself pondering how I would describe the night to those who weren’t in attendance. While their musical genre is different, the overall composition of their music reminded me of Tool—lengthy songs, heavy on instrumentals, with vocals being used to enhance but not overwhelm. The similarities of the two end there, with Dead & Co. offering a more jazz and classic rock sound with smooth melodies and no one instrument overtaking another. I can’t think of another band I’ve seen live that plays so cohesively together: there was no separation of instruments or members, the band flowed together into one unit.
Dead & Co. finishes up their farewell tour on the 16th of July, and if you don’t have tickets, you may be out of luck as nearly all remaining dates are sold out! | Erica Vining
