Dead & Company’s John Mayer Reflects On ‘Finally’ Playing With Trey Anastasio

Dead & Company guitarist John Mayer expressed his appreciation through social media posts about his experience at last weekend’s Grateful Dead 60th anniversary celebration at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. Mayer’s reflection on the event included gratitude for “finally” having shared the stage with Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio.

“Night 3 in Golden Gate Park celebrating 60 years of [Grateful Dead] will be a one we’ll never forget,” Mayer posted. “I finally had the chance to play with [Trey Anastasio], and beyond the full-circle moment of it all, the lock we had going was instant. Trey’s ear-to-fretboard data transfer time is unparalleled. I’m still blown away.”

Anastasio began Sunday’s festivities by leading his solo band through an opening set that included a special tribute to Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia and the Trey Anastasio Band’s debut cover of “Mission In The Rain.”

Mayer’s caption also included praise for Grahame Lesh, son of late Grateful Dead co-founding bassist Phil Lesh, who appeared with Dead & Company during each of the band’s three Golden Gate Park shows. Grahame also spent the weekend hosting the three-night The Heart Of Town concert series at Pier 48 in San Francisco.

During his sit-ins, Grahame utilized several of his father’s custom bass guitars both filling-in for Oteil Burbridge, and playing alongside the D&C bassist on “Cumberland Blues,” which was a double-bass surprise to the others onstage.

The rest of Mayer’s dispatch was dedicated to his Dead & Co. bandmates (including former member, Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann) and the legacy of the Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia. The guitarist’s note read:

“No matter how many shows we play as a band, I will always be a guest in this musical world, and I’ll never lose sight of what is the great honor of my life… Happy 60th, Grateful Dead, and long may you run, [Bob Weir], [Mickey Hart] and [Bill Kreutzmann].

“It must be said… I’ll never come close to playing like [Jerry Garcia]. But if I can somehow get you closer to him – and to the spirit he created 60 years ago – then I suppose I’ve done my job.

“Thank you for accepting me.”

Mayer also called the second show of the weekend a “magical night” that was aided by Sturgill Simpson joining Dead & Co. on an outstanding “Morning Dew.” Mayer labeled opening night, which he noted would have been Jerry Garcia’s birthday, as a “beautiful” experience while thanking Billy Strings and Grahame Lesh for their contribution.

Scroll through Mayer’s social media posts regarding the GD60 weekend below: