Dead & Company Kicks Off Fall Tour 2021 In Charlotte: Setlist, Recap & The Skinny

Dead & Company began their Fall Tour 2021 on Monday night with a concert at PNC Music Pavilion in Charlotte. The six-piece band’s first show since mid-September saw the return of the rarely played “It Must Have Been the Roses” and a typically improvisation-packed second half of the evening.

The tour was supposed to have started last week, but D&C canceled a pair of concerts in Florida due to logistical issues. Monday’s tour opener in Charlotte was “Let The Good Times Roll,” marking the fifth time the song has been covered since making its Dead & Co. debut earlier this summer. The opener saw guitarists Bob Weir and John Mayer and keyboardist Jeff Chimenti trading off singing the verses of the song. Weir then led the group through a pair of Dead classics in “Cassidy” and “Tennessee Jed.”

Next came the band’s first performance of “It Must Have Been the Roses” since June 2019, with Mayer singing lead as it returned after 41 shows. Mayer was then called upon to steer a romp through the bluesy “Mr. Charlie.” Weir’s “Looks Like Rain” featured signature Bobby howls at the end of the sentimental tune. The set concluded with a sprawling “Bird Song” that opened up into an expansive 20-minute jam propelled by Mayer and Chimenti’s encouraging interplay.

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

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The second set started with “Scarlet Begonias” opening up into groovy jam. The band took a detour through “Uncle John’s Band” and another improvised sequence before making the connection with “Fire On The Mountain.” Bassist Oteil Burbridge held down the lead vocals on “Fire” and then anchored the ensuing funky jam. The band eventually arrived at “Terrapin Station” as Mayer introduced the “Lady With A Fan” segment before Weir let the inspiration flow into the remaining sections of the song.

The Rhythm Devils were then left on stage as drummers Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart pounded out exotic beats with Burbridge also participating in the “Drums” portion of the set. Hart’s Beam-induced drone enveloped the venue and introduced the free-form “Space” improvisation that followed. “New Speedway Boogie” emerged from the “Drums/Space” otherworldliness and would be connected with a heavy rendering of “Black Peter” passionately delivered by Weir. The heaviness gave way to a spirited “Casey Jones” set closer. Weir and Mayer grabbed their acoustic guitars for the “Ripple” encore.

Dead & Company will perform tonight in Atlanta. A livestream is available via nugs.tv. Watch the first songs of each of last night’s sets below:

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