Dead & Company Concludes Colorado Run Without Bill Kreutzmann: Setlist, Recap & The Skinny

Dead & Company wrapped up their Fall Tour 2021 Colorado run with the second of two concerts at Fiddler’s Green near Denver on Saturday. Drummer Bill Kreutzmann was once again absent due to a non-COVID-19 related illness with Jay Lane filling in for the fourth show in a row.

D&C kicked things off with “Iko Iko.” Guitarist Bob Weir led the band through the classic New Orleans-themed number which also featured some great backing vocals from the band as well as a tasty solo from guitarist John Mayer. The sextet then got down to business with a second song, “Shakedown Street,” which saw Mayer working the auto-wah expertly. Ballad favorite “Ship of Fools” followed. Mayer and bassist Oteil Burbridge shared vocal duties on the From The Mars Hotel closer.

Mayer then led the band through “Brown-Eyed Women” and linked up with keyboardist Jeff Chimenti on a spirited solo segment. Next, Bobby helmed a stellar rendition of the reggae-tinged “Crazy Fingers” before Mayer stepped back to the mic for “Here Comes Sunshine.” John would also deliver some funky playing on the jam section alongside Oteil’s bubbling basslines. Weir, Mayer and Burbridge then all sang on the traditional “Goin Down The Road Feelin Bad” which also featured Chimenti taking a rare lead vocal performance for a verse. Often a second set-closer, “GDTRFB” would close out the first set.

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

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Out of setbreak, Dead & Company did a bit of vibey jamming, easing their way into an expansive second set opening “Truckin” that clocked in as the longest song of the evening at nearly 18 minutes. Bobby led the band through the Dead classic which also saw Mayer reeling off some hot blues licks during the jam. The band put an exclamation point on the final build up with a dissonant chord that jumped perfectly into a “Viola Lee Blues” that saw Mayer continue his hot streak with some stellar riffage as the band also got exploratory on “Viola” as well, which nearly hit 15 minutes.

After concluding “Viola,” a brief atmospheric section followed out of which burst “Help On The Way.” Mayer steered the band through the favorite followed by a wild “Slipknot!” jam with John showcasing his will to be weird before leading the band through a triumphant “Franklin’s Tower.” Next came “Drums” and although Billy was missed on the percussive once again, Oteil joined Mickey Hart and Jay Lane. Mickey then worked The Beam with a bow to herald “Space” and also utilized some other toys as the rest of the band returned to join in on the fun.

A rollicking “Cumberland Blues” came blasting out of “Space” before Bobby presided over a beautiful “Stella Blue” ahead of his signature and date-appropriate “One More Saturday Night” to close out the second set. Dead & Company would say fare you well to Colorado with the fitting “Brokedown Palace” encore.

Dead & Company heads to Phoenix for a concert at Ak-Chin Pavilion on Monday. Livestreams are available via nugs.tv. Watch pro-shot video featuring the first song from last night’s sets below:

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