Dead & Company Brings ‘Big Boss Man,’ ‘Viola Lee Blues’ & More To The Forum

Dead & Company continued their New Year’s run at The Forum in Inglewood, California on Saturday night. The band delivered a massive “Viola Lee Blues” sandwich that kicked off the first and second sets.

“Viola Lee” then headed into “Bertha,” which contained a “Viola” reprise. “Jack Straw” came next ahead of a “Big Boss Man” bust out, the first time Dead & Co. played the Jimmy Reed number since July 2018 right down the road at Chula Vista. Next, guitarist John Mayer led the band on “Friend Of The Devil” followed by “West L.A. Fadeaway.” Bob Weir then delivered two of his latter classics in “Lost Sailor” and “Saint Of Circumstance” to close out the first frame.

“Viola” came back around again, this time a version that stretched to roughly 25 minutes that then led into the classic pairing of “China Cat Sunflower” and “I Know You Rider.” The classics kept coming with “Dark Star” and “He’s Gone.” Next, Rhythm Devils Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart got into “Drums” with bassist Oteil Burbridge joining in. The subsequent “Space” gave way to “Althea.” The stellar Bonnie Dobson anti-war tune “Morning Dew” counted as the penultimate song of the second segment ahead of a fitting closer in “One More Saturday Night.” Dead & Company would reemerge for an encore of The Band sing-along “The Weight.”

Watch pro-shot video of the first and second set openers and audience-shot footage captured by Brian James below:

Viola Lee Blues

Bertha

West LA Fadeaway

Saint Of Circumstance

I Know You Rider

He’s Gone

Althea

The Weight