Dead & Company Wrap Mother’s Day Concert At Sphere With Rare ‘Johnny B. Goode’ Cover

Dead & Company honored the old adage “Never Miss A Sunday Show” last night in Las Vegas by delivering a memorable concert featuring four 2025 debuts and a slew of fan-favorites. The lone Sunday performance of the band’s Dead Forever 2025 residency at Sphere took on extra meaning as it was held on Mother’s Day and concluded the penultimate weekend of the run.

Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir treated fans to his Sunday sermon as Dead & Co. began the concert with the year’s first “Samson & Delilah.” Weir and bandmates drummer Mickey Hart, guitarist John Mayer, bassist Oteil Burbridge, keyboardist Jeff Chimenti and drummer Jay Lane then provided a “Truckin'” soundtrack for a visual trip to the Grateful Dead’s former home in San Francisco.

Dead & Co.’s second “Dear Mr. Fantasy” cover of 2025 followed and as usual, led into a “Hey Jude Reprise.” Next up was “Mama Tried” accompanied by scenes of the wild west. The Merle Haggard-penned classic — which was last played by the band on May 24, 2024 — was the biggest bust out of the night. From there, the sextet took “Cassidy” for a spin and unleashed the lone first set “St. Stephen” played at Sphere to end the frame.

“Shakedown Street” kicked off the second set accompanied by sparkle-tinged graphics as an animated disco ball spun. Jeff Chimenti’s swampy clav accents helped propel John Mayer’s effusive riffage on the title track from the Grateful Dead’s 1978 studio album. Weir then belted out Dead & Co.’s first “West L.A. Fadeaway” in 33 shows before Mayer helmed a “Sugaree” filled with fretboard fireworks.

The next 30 minutes was devoted to an expansive sequence of the oft-paired “Estimated Prophet” and “Eyes Of The World.” Visuals of dancing bears in rainbow colors were displayed as the six-piece patiently worked through “Eyes,” which was highlighted by a jazzy piano solo from Chimenti and a powerful bass solo from Burbridge.

Jay Lane, Mickey Hart and Oteil Burbridge were left on stage for the ensuing “Drums.” The three musicians’ percussive foray was augmented by trippy visuals on the Sphere screens. More wild imagery was displayed as Hart strummed The Beam and the instrumentalists returned for the evening’s adventurous journey to “Space.”

Lane and Hart were back in place for a gorgeous cover of the Beatles’ “Dear Prudence” fronted by Weir with sweet harmonies from Mayer and Burbridge. Bobby passed the lead vocal baton back to John Mayer for the traditional “Cold Rain & Snow.” An emotion-laden “Brokedown Palace” came next before a vintage Grateful Dead news report aired over the venue’s speakers.

The night and surprises weren’t over yet as Dead & Co. dusted off “Johnny B. Goode” to punctuate the concert. The Chuck Berry cover had only been played 11 times prior by the band and just once at Sphere.

Dead & Company opens the final weekend of their Dead Forever 2025 residency on Thursday, May 15. Scroll on for Sunday’s setlist, The Skinny and additional videos taken at last night’s Sphere show.

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