Dead & Company Unveil 4 Sphere Premieres During Night 8 Of Dead Forever Residency

Dead & Company delivered night eight of their Dead Forever Las Vegas Sphere residency on Friday. Following an emotional night seven honoring basketball great and legendary Deadhead Bill Walton, Friday’s show was mostly composed of classic 1970s Grateful Dead material and four Sphere debuts.

Dead & Company — Grateful Dead members guitarist Bob Weir and drummer Mickey Hart along with guitarist John Mayer, bassist Oteil Burbridge, keyboardist Jeff Chimenti and drummer Jay Lane — kicked off night eight with the funky Dead favorite, “Shakedown Street,” from inside the vault.

The doors then opened as Europe ‘72 standout “Jack Straw” lifted off from Haight Ashbury and into the cosmos. The band then brought the bluesy Workingman’s Dead cut “New Speedway Boogie” into the great dome for the first time. Next, the gentle “Row Jimmy” made its Sphere debut and ended with the psychedelic ship imagery.

The trippy ship then sailed into another Europe ‘72 classic,”Tennessee Jed,” which then pulsed with the tie-dyed visuals. Next, D&C picked up “Playing in the Band” before concluding the set with the traditional “Don’t Ease Me In,” making its first Sphere appearance. As the song was the Grateful Dead’s debut single in 1966, it fittingly featured the Grateful Dead scrapbook motif.

The second set opened with a harmonious “Uncle John’s Band.” The classic pairing of “China Cat Sunflower” and its customary partner “I Know You Rider” followed. The band then delved into the psychedelic “Dark Star,” which segued into an intense “Drums” and “Space” segment. Longtime Dead collaborator and Mickey Hart’s close friend Zakir Hussain joined his cohort during “Drums,” adding an extra percussive layer alongside Lane and Burbridge.

The hauntingly beautiful “Stella Blue” emerged from “Space” leading into the epic narrative of “Terrapin Station.” The title track from the Grateful Dead’s 1977 album set sail on a purple sea and included the colorful, swirling psychedelic visuals.

Rocker “Hell in a Bucket” came next ahead of the Sphere premiere of the poignant “Black Muddy River.” Dead & Company put an exclamation point on the concert with “Casey Jones.” Check out The Skinny and video from the show below.

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The third weekend of the 30-date Dead Forever residency comes to a close tonight. Find the full itinerary below.