Last night, Dead & Company performed the second evening of their esteemed destination event, Playing in the Sand, at the Moon Palace in Riviera Maya, Mexico. The evening saw the beloved Grateful Dead off-shoot perform a slew of favorites, along with a sit-in by Goose percussionists Ben Atkind and Jeff Arevalo on “Drums/Space” during the second set.

Dead & Company’s second appearance at this year’s Playing in the Sand kicked off at 7:38 p.m., with Bob Weir handling lead vocals on the euphonious “Scarlet Begonias.” Already warmed up from the previous evening, the ensemble flowed right into “Bertha,” on which John Mayer took to the mic before melding the jam into The Young Rascals’ “Good Lovin’.” Next came “Black Throated Wind” before Mayer, Weir, and Jeff Chimenti united through vocal runs on Sam Cooke’s “Good Times Roll.” The frame was rounded with a pairing of “Dark Star” with “Fire on the Mountain” and closed just before 9 p.m.

The second set kicked a little over half an hour later with the namesake of the event, “Playing in the Band.” The song flowed into “Brown Eyed Women,” which featured Mayer’s vocals heralding the tune. The ensemble then performed the second “Dark Star” of the evening, which flowed into “Lady With a Fan” and then into “Terrapin Station.” Without pause, Goose’s Atkind and Arevalo took to the stage to join Mickey Hart, Oteil Burbridge and Bill Kreutzmann on percussion for “Drums/Space.” After the celebration of rhythm, Dead & Company closed the jam with “Althea.” A cover of Bob Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower” served as the frame’s penultimate song and flowed into “Morning Dew,” which closed the set.

After stepping off stage for a short repose, Dead & Company returned to the stage and performed a two-song encore comprised of “Uncle John’s Band” and a reprise of “Playing in the Band.” Playing in the Sand will continue with its final evening tonight, Jan. 17.

Enjoy a livestream of the event here.

Dead & Company
Playing in the Sand – Moon Palace – Cancun, Mexico
Jan. 16, 2023

Set I: Scarlet Begonias > Bertha > Good Lovin’, Mr. Charlie, Black Throated Wind, Good Times Roll, Dark Star > Fire on the Mountain

Set II: Playing in the Band > Brown Eyed Women, Dark Star > Lady With a Fan > Terrapin Station > Drums/Space (with Goose percussionists) > Althea, All Along the Watchtower, Morning Dew

Enc.: Uncle John’s Band > Playing in the Band Reprise