On hand for the night were two founding members of the Grateful Dead, rhythm guitar player Bob Weir and drummer Micky Hart. (Ok, Keith, Hart didn’t get there until 1967.) The aging rhythm guitar playing Weir, now 77 was in top form for the evening. Even more impressive was the performance by Micky Hart, now 81, playing drums alongside Jay Lane, formerly of Bob Weir’s “side” group, Rat Dog. The Dead were one of the first and few bands with dual drummers. Hart performed an amazing song called simply enough, “Drums,”  which was accompanied by Lane and bassist/drummer Oteil Burbridge. Three drummers for one song. Our seats buzzed throughout the song.

Guitar virtuoso John Mayer was spot on for the night, making me believe  this version of the band is better with Mayer’s guitar pickin’ than when the late, great  Jerry Garcia handled the hot licks. And filling out the band for the evening flawlessly was keyboardist Jeff Chimenti.

The set list for the night included the following:

1. “Gimme Some Lovin’”

2. “Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo”

3. “Bertha”

4. “New Speedway Boogie”

5. “Brown-Eyed Women”

6. “Good Lovin’”

7. “Don’t Ease Me In”

8. “Feel Like a Stranger”

9. “Scarlet Begonias”

10. “Fire on the Mountain”

11. “Terrapin Station”

12. “Drums” (Click below to see and hear this song)

13. “Space”

14. “Standing on the Moon”

15. “Althea”

16. “Going Down the Road Feeling Bad”

17. “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door”

18. “Touch of Grey”

They slowed the pace considerably for the last two songs, “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” and “Touch of Grey.” It was a fitting ending for a concert that was nothing short of just staggering. I wish they would have included the mellow song “Ripple” in at the ending also, but maybe next time.

Folks, I’ve been to a lot of concerts in my time, but none better than the Dead & Company performance at the Sphere. If you have the opportunity to go, get tickets on the second level, then sit back for a great show.