Photo Credit: Bill Kelly

On Sunday, June 25, Dead & Company performed their final stand at Fenway Park in Boston. The weekend capstone saw players Bobby Weir, Mickey Hart, John Mayer, Oteil Burbridge, Jeff Chimenti, and Jay Lane work through a series of songs that once frequented the storied Grateful Dead archive. During the first set, the band added in a rendition of “Comes A Time,” performed for the first time since 2021, and returned during the night’s second half with a 1973-style “They Love Each Other.”

Dead & Co. commenced their show in typical Sunday fashion with the biblically infused “Samson and Delilah” led by Weir, who crooned the traditional lyrics, emphasizing: “If I had my way/ I would tear this whole building town.” Continuing their initial frame, the crew picked up Obray Ramsey’s “Cold Rain and Snow,” followed by a pair of fan favorites, “Althea” and “Jackstraw.” A high point of the night occurred next, as the band picked up the emotive ballad “Comes A Time” sung with sincerity by Burbridge. The tune represented a bust out, last played in 2021 at Pine Knob Music Theatre in Clarkston, Mich. 

To cap the special moment, they shifted the tempo with the arrival of “Mr. Charlie.” The first set presented a stirring “He’s Gone,” where Weir and Mayer exchange the favored lyrics. Instrumentals took over and morphed into “Going Down The Road Feeling Bad” to conclude the night’s first half. Weir, Mayer, Chimenti and Burbridge exchanged lines during the final number. After a break from the stage, Dead & Company returned and noodled into a 1973-style “They Love Each Other.” 

The group added “Playing in the Band,” which fused with sister tunes “Help on the Way” and “Slipknot!” Keeping with the jammed-out theme, the sextet merged the Burbridge sung “Fire On The Mountain” into Hart’s second set staple, “Drums” and “Space.” The night’s rhythmic display kept folks on their feet until the remaining players returned and reprised “Playing in the Band.” The group concluded night one’s “The Other One” before slowing things down with the arrival of “Standing on the Moon.” 

For the final song of the main frame, Dead & Company added: “Not Fade Away.” After a mock exit, the ensemble returned for their encore. A cover of The Band’s classic number, “The Weight,” saw a collaborative delivery from the group, before “Ripple” sent the night into the cosmos. After their time in Boston, Dead & Company will take tonight off before returning to the stage tomorrow, June 27, at Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville, Ind. Tickets remain on sale and can be purchased here. For those unable to attend in person, streaming options are available via nugs.net. 

Scroll down to view last night’s setlist.  

Dead & Company

Fenway Park – Boston 

June 25, 2023

Set I: Samson and Delilah, Cold Rain and Snow, Jackstraw, Althea, Comes A Time+, Mr. Charlie, He’s Gone > Going Down The Road Feeling Bad 

Set II: They Love Each Other, Playing in the Band > Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Fire On The Mountain > Drums > Space > Playing in the Band Reprise > The Other One V. 2 > Standing on The Moon, Not Fade Away 

Enc.: The Weight, Ripple 

Notes: 

+ Last performed on Sept. 10, 2021