Dead & Company Offer Tour Debuts In Ohio

Friday night saw Dead & Company make their farthest trip west yet as Grateful Dead members Bob Weir, Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann along with John Mayer, Jeff Chimenti and Oteil Burbridge performed at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Last evening’s performance included three tour debuts, as well as expressions of support from the stage for those affected by the terrorist attacks in Paris.

Prior to the start of the set, Weir addressed the audience regarding the concert goers targeted in the Paris terrorist attacks stating, “We should celebrate their lives and the joy that they found in music,” in advance of the show-opening “Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo.” “Brown-Eyed Women” and “Tennessee Jed” preceded the first tour debut of the night which came in the form of “Little Red Rooster.” The Bob Weir-led cover of the Willie Dixon standard gave Mayer a chance to trade blues riffs with the elder guitarist. The trio of Dead tunes “Bird Song,” “Standing On The Moon” and “Cumberland Blues” closed out the first half of the show.

After the set opening “Playing In The Band” gave way to “China”/”Rider” and an “Eyes Of The World” featuring another sublime bass solo by Burbridge, the second set staple “Drums”/“Space” portion of the night concluded with the emergence of “The Wheel.” It was at this point the second tour debut of the evening came as Weir helmed “Black Peter.” A “Playing” reprise preceded the last of the tour debuts as the set closed with the Dead & Company’s first performance of “Good Lovin’.” The emotional messages continued as the “Touch Of Grey” encore, with its poignant chorus of “we will survive,” was dedicated to the people of Paris.

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Dead & Company play again tonight at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina.

[Hat tip – The Dead Blog]