September 8, 2021

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Dead and Company, featuring three original members of the Grateful Dead, Bob Weir, Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann along with John Mayer Oteil Burbridge and Jeff Chimenti brought their groovy and trippy tunes to Blossom Music Center Tuesday night. 

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Some Dead Heads arrived the night before the show to camp out on Blossom's expansive lot.  I was expecting long lines to get into to the venue and left pretty early to make sure I got in.  To my surprise, most of the folks were already there and many were parking in the lot by the road at 5:30.

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Upon arriving at the gates, fans had to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test within the last 72 hours.  There was also a rapid testing station set up for those who did not get the message.  

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The average age of the fans in attendance had to be close to sixty-five, and most of them were proudly wearing their tie-dyed Grateful Dead t-shirts from past concerts.

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When the band took the stage at 7:15 for their first set, the crowd was on their feet to dance and twirl to Sam Cooke's "Good Times."  

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Indeed, this crowd was ready for a good time and the band delivered.

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The first portion of the show was mostly cover tunes.  Three Jerry Garcia tunes, "Loser," "They Love Each Other," and " Bird Song" were mixed in with Junior Parker's "Next Time You See Me" and Bob Weir's "Cassidy."  The only Grateful Dead song in this set was "Feel Like A Stranger."

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Even though it was just a seven song set, it lasted a good ninety minutes.  The band extended those songs with long solos by Mayer and extended jams by the entire band. 

 

Just what the fans came to hear.

 

After intermission, the band returned to play some classic Dead tunes.

 

Opening with "Althea" the band also launched into "Scarlet Begonias" and "Fire On The Mountain." 

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Mickey Hart and Bill Kruetzmann took over the show with their space age drumming on "Drums" and "Space."

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At the end of the set, the band honored Buddy Holly, on what would have been his 85th birthday, by playing "Not Fade Away."

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The hippie fest concluded with "Brokedown Palace" which sent thousands of Dead Heads on the long trek back to their vehicles. 

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Photos and review by Greg Drugan

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