Photo Credit: Jay Blakesberg

Yesterday, Dead & Company’s destination concert event Playing in the Sand, continued at Cancún, Mexico’s Moon Palace. Jan. 15 saw Connecticut-jamband Goose–Peter Anspach, Jeff Arevalo, Ben Atkind, Rick Mitarotonda and Trevor Weekz– take the stage and cut into originals and choice covers. During the night’s initial frame, special guest, Bobby Weir took the stage and helped the band close out their first set.

After a video was posted across social media of Weir and Mitarotonda “gymming” to Phish’s “Everything’s Right,” the internet buzzed with excitement leading up to the collaborative performance, which began with a trio of originals delivered by just the billed quintet: “Hungersite,” “A Western Sun” and “California Magic.”

For their next number, Goose dug into the Vasudo-catalog, landing on “Rockdale.” “Silver Rising” was performed prior to “Pancakes.” Then, Weir took the stage and joined Mitarotonda for an acoustic duet of the traditional tune “Peggy-O.” To follow, the remaining band members returned to the stage and Weir swapped his acoustic guitar for electric and jammed on The Beatles, “Tomorrow Never Knows,” which was a part of the Dead’s live inventory in the 1990s and played by Trey Anastasio and Goose in the past. 

Before Weir left the stage, the musicians capped their first set with a full band take on Otis Redding’s “Hard to Handle.” The song choice represented a bust out for Weir, who last performed the tune on July 2, 2014 with RatDog at Los Angeles’ Greek Theatre. After returning from set break, Goose unleashed “Animal” and continued with a cover of The Band’s “Don’t Do It.” 

As the set unfolded, the ensemble delivered a take on “Thatch” followed by “This Old Sea.” For the final songs of their set, Goose tapped into “Moby” before closing the frame on “Hot Tea.” For their encore, the jammers went with “Elmeg the Wise.” In continuation of Playing in the Sand, Dead & Company is expected to take the stage this evening, Jan. 16. 

Watch the Dead & Company Playing In The Sand livestreams on nugs.net. 

Scroll down to view last night’s setlist as well as Weir and Mitarotonda workout video via Instagram. 

Goose 

Moon Palace– Cancún, Mexico

Jan. 15, 2023

Set I: Hungersite, A Western Sun, California Magic, Rockdale (Vasudo), Silver Rising, Pancakes (Great Blue), Peggy-O+^, Tomorrow Never Knows (The Beatles)+, Hard to Handle (Otis Redding)+*

Set II: Animal, Don’t Do It (The Band), Thatch, This Old Sea, Moby, Hot Tea

Enc.: Elmeg the Wise 

Note:

+ With Bobby Weir 

^ Acoustic 

* Last time Weir covered “Hard to Handle” was July 2, 2014 

Setlist via Setlist.FM.