Dead & Company’s Bill Kreutzmann Exits Hollywood Bowl Concert Early: Setlist, Recap & The Skinny

Dead & Company played the middle show of a three-night Halloween run at Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on Saturday night. Drummer Bill Kreutzmann sat out part of the second set and was once again replaced by Jay Lane.

“Let Good Times Roll” got the show rolling with guitarists Bob Weir and John Mayer and keyboardist Jeff Chimenti trading off singing the song’s verses. Kreutzmann, fellow drummer Mickey Hart and bassist Oteil Burbridge then laid the funky foundation for “Shakedown Street,” delivered at the band’s typically slowed-down tempo and developing into a dark and groovy jam. Juxtaposing the loping “Shakedown” with a Mayer-led “Bertha” gave the latter tune a particularly lively feel as the guitarist provided nimble soloing throughout.

Weir then led the tour’s first performance of “New Minglewood Blues,” the song the Grateful Dead covered on their 1967 self-titled debut album and again on their 1978 Shakedown Street LP. More blues were in store as Mayer took charge of a searing version of Elmore James’ “It Hurts Me Too.” The set continued with Weir steering the band through “Tennessee Jed.” A lengthy “Bird Song” served as the final song of the opening set and led to an expansive improvisation. Officially clocking in mere seconds shy of 19-minutes, “Bird Song” opened into a spacious jam and found Mayer conversing with Chimenti, while Weir embellished and the rhythm section followed across the multi-faceted jam.

Read on after The Skinny for the rest of the recap and more.

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Dead & Co. gently eased into the start of the second set, setting up the “Jack Straw” opener with a pretty intro and continuing with a reeled-back approach after fully initiating the song. The intensity and pace increased throughout the 13-minute opener, which was followed by “Sugaree.” Taking a similar trajectory as its predecessor, “Sugaree” boiled with tension and rose to a passionate peak as Mayer rapidly fired off notes from his guitar. The classic companions “China Cat Sunflower” and “I Know You Rider” provided their typical mixture of familiar tunes and improvisation, leading into the evening’s “Drums” segment.

Kreutzmann left the stage at the start of “Drums,” which was performed by Hart and Burbridge. Billy, who was replaced by Lane at four recent Dead & Co. shows in Colorado due to an undisclosed illness (other than not being COVID-19), remained off stage following the subsequent “Space” improvisation. When the full band returned for the fall tour’s first “Throwing Stones,” it was Lane sitting next to Hart, and the guest drummer remained for the rest of the set and encore.

The band proceeded with “Days Between,” the sure-thing “One More Saturday Night” and a “Not Fade Away” closer. Pressed for time, the musicians did not leave the stage before ending with “U.S. Blues” filling the encore slot.

Dead & Company celebrates Halloween by wrapping their run at Hollywood Bowl tonight. A livestream is available via nugs.tv. Watch pro-shot video featuring the first song of last night’s sets below:

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