Photo Credit: Stevo Rood

In continuation of Dead & Company’s Final Tour, the ensemble made their way to Phoenix’s Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre on Tuesday, May 23. Following a pair of Los Angeles openers, the group arrived in The Copper State positioned for another night of music flushed with fan favorites ranging from Grateful Dead originals to choice covers, which have long been a part of the original San Francisco jamband’s illustrious canon.

The mid-week event started with “Feels Like a Stranger,” igniting the notion that it would be a “Long, long, crazy, crazy night.” From one fan favorite to another, Dead & Company, comprised of Bobby Weir, Mickey Hart, Oteil Burbridge, John Mayer, Jeff Chimenti and Jay Lane, added in “Alabama Getaway” before picking up “Ramble on Rose” and proceeding with a pairing of Traffic’s “Dear Mr. Fantasy” into the instrumental renderings of The Beatles’ classic, “Hey Jude,” which traversed into the first verse of “Dark Star” and trickled over into a “My Favorite Things” jam. 

The initial frame of the night brought forth a full run-through of “Cumberland Blues” before closing on “Casey Jones.” The second half of the night picked up on a Mayer-led “Here Comes Sunshine” before Weir picked up duties on “Scarlet Begonias,” which merged with the second verse of “Dark Star,” which blended with a “Spanish Jam,” reminiscent of shows past, and something the group dusted off for the first time since August 20, 2021. 

From the cosmic depths of the band’s instrumentation emerged “Fire on The Mountain,’ which saw Burbridge take on the favored Rober Hunter-penned lyrics which warped into the Hart-led second set staple, “Drums” and “Space.” Next, the band played “I Need a Miracle” to follow the rhythmic display before a soul-filled rendition of “Death Don’t Have No Mercy.” The group capped their second set on “U.S. Blues” before returning for a “Ripple” encore to close their time in Phoenix. 

Following last night’s concert, Dead & Company will pick back up on Friday, May 26, with a sold-out appearance at Dos Equis Pavilion in Dallas. To learn more about the band’s Final Tour, visit their official website. 

For those unable to attend concerts in person, livestream options for the band’s current run are available. Learn more here.  

Dead & Company

Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre – Phoenix 

May 23, 2023 

Set I: Feels Like a Stranger, Alabama Getaway, Ramble On Rose, Dear Mr. Fantasy > Hey Jude > Dark Star (Verse 1) > My Favorite Things (jam), Cumberland Blues, Casey Jones 

Set II: Here Comes Sunshine, Scarlet Begonias > Viola Lee Blues > Dark Star (Verse 2)+ > Fire on The Mountain > Drums > Space > I Need a Miracle > Death Don’t Have No Mercy, U.S. Blues 

Enc.: Ripple 

Notes: 

+ “Spanish Jam” in “Dark Star” (Verse 2) was last played on August 20, 2021.