Photos by Andy Argyrakis

When the Grateful Dead mounted the mammoth “Fare Thee Well” at Soldier Field in 2015 to honor its 50th anniversary, demand to see the show was so unprecedented, Deadheads camped out downtown for days in hopes of at least hearing a slice of what truly wound up being the last time all the surviving core members performed together.

The time has come for its equally appreciated offshoot act, Dead & Company, to do the same, anchored by guitarist/singer Bob Weir and percussionist Mickey Hart, plus longtime co-leader/guitarist John Mayer, keyboardist Jeff Chimenti, bassist Oteil Burbridge, along with newer drummer Jay Lane, who officially took over following the amicable departure of co-founder Bill Kreutzmann.

History did indeed repeat itself as the announcement of “The Final” Tour sparked an instantaneous pair of Wrigley Field sell outs, in addition to the overflow of those who couldn’t make it inside lining the surrounding streets.

On opening night, Dead & Company divided the well over three-hour excursion into two sets with the almighty Mayer and the veteran Weir swapping leads, gradually getting into the groove by sculpting the selections to match the mood of the setting sun.

“Playing In The Band” allowed everyone to get their wheels oiled, while “Tennessee Jed,” “Ramble On Rose” and a cover of Martha And The Vandellas’ “Dancing In The Street,” complete with the beloved line “they’re dancing in Chicago,” locked into the improvisational essence of a band that’s often imitated but will never be duplicated.

Following a roughly 30-minute intermission, Dead & Company delivered what felt like a whole other concert, and thanks to darkness of the night sky, the stadium-sized light show and accompanying screens only enhanced the multi-sensory experience.

Around then, the spontaneity and subsequent twirling in the aisles really got going, thanks in part to the psychedelic likes of late Grateful leader Jerry Garcia’s “Sugaree” and “Estimated Prophet,” plus a trippy interpretation of “Terrapin Station.”

The increasingly adventurous “Drums” and the more subdued “Space” transported the masses into another plane of existence all together, though “Sugar Magnolia,” “Scarlet Begonias” and “Sunshine Daydream” picked up some serious but nonetheless bittersweet steam knowing the “long strange trip” was yet again coming to an end, but will no doubt continue to be passed down to future generations just as ready to jam.

For additional information on Dead & Company, visit DeadAndCompany.com.

For a list of upcoming Live Nation concerts, visit LiveNation.com.

Upcoming concert highlights at Wrigley Field include Dead & Company (Jun. 10); Fall Out Boy (Jun. 21); Morgan Wallen (Jun. 23); Bruce Springsteen And The E Street Band (Aug. 9 and Aug. 11); Pink (Aug. 12); Guns N’ Roses (Aug. 24) and Jonas Brothers (Aug. 25). For additional details, visit MLB.com/Cubs/Tickets/Concerts.

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