Photo: Alive Coverage

Last night, March 29, Dead & Company returned to the state-of-the-art Sphere venue for the third and final night of music during the close-out of their second week of residency-specific concerts. Saturday’s initial set was capped at six songs, including the traditional second set staple, “Terrapin Station,” which migrated into the performance’s initial frame–a first-time move from the band. 

From the initial six-song offering, the band multiplied their capacity by two, offering 12 movements during the latter portion of the concert, including a nod to the late Phil Lesh and his Friends unit during a tease of “My Favorite Things,” which occurred during Dead & Company’s cover of Bob Dylan’s “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall.” 

Saturday’s performance was chocked-full of well-thought-out moments for fans of Grateful Dead history and a sense of familiarity with Phil & Friend’s arsenal of covers. The band started with a strong message: “Man Smart, Woman Smarter” opened the show and gave way to “Eyes of the World.” The latter’s placement offered the first inkling at swaps, considering its typical second set arrival. Notably, during two performances in 2016, the band positioned the Wake of the Flood number in the first frame. 

From the former jam catalyst, the band moved into Jerry Garcia’s “Deal.” Dead & Company offered their first rendition of The Band’s “The Weight” during this calendar year. Their call to “Take a load off, Franny” found its way into “Terrapin.” The traditional second-set song broke unspoken boundaries, emerging as the poetic backbone during the concert’s first half and preluding the set break send-off, “Bertha.”

Party starter “Hell in a Bucket” opened the second set with the reminder, “At least I’m enjoyin’ the ride,” trailing into a series of pairings: “China Cat Sunflower” > “I Know You Rider” and “Help on the Way” > “Slipknot!” The latter bled into the second set’s effective slowdown on “Row Jimmy” before erupting into a percussive demonstration during “Drums” and, in time, “Space.” 

From Hart’s instrumental creation emerged the follow-up, Dylan’s “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall,” featuring a nod to “My Favorite Things,” which functioned as a nod to late bassist Phil Lesh, who was known to conjure a taste of the Sound of Music-associate favorite during his own And Friends live shows. The tempo shifted with “Shakedown Street” during the party dial-up to 10 before an emotive push through “Brokedown Palace.” 

A broadcast reel of the Grateful Dead engulfed the screens, reminding attendees of the original band’s long and celebrated history of the tripsters before the final song and nod toward the day of the week on “One More Saturday Night.” 

After this week’s concert series, the band will take a brief break before resuming their residency on April 17. Tickets remain on sale.

Dead & Company 

Sphere – Las Vegas 

March 29, 2025

Set I: Man Smart, Woman Smarter, Eyes of the World, Deal, The Weight > Terrapin Station, Bertha

Set II: Hell in a Bucket, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Help on the Way > Slipknot! > Row Jimmy > Drums > Space > A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall+, Shakedown Street, Brokedown Palace, One More Saturday Night 

Notes:

+ With “My Favorite Things”