Dead & Company change setlist for final concert of fourth week at Sphere Residency and release “West LA Fadeaway”

Photo credit: Chloe Weir

On Saturday, June 8, Dead & Company returned to the state-of-the-art Sphere in Las Vegas to close out their fourth weekend of residency. After peppering their venue-specific repertoire with special moments, sit-ins, song additions to setlist rotation, complementary visuals and tributes over the past few weeks, the band was ready to sum up the essence of their kaleidoscopic walk down memory lane during yesterday’s concert. The song presentation was rearranged, signature second set pieces were featured during the first set and “West LA Fadeaway” was played for the first time for this venue.

Popular riffs and the opening lyrics: “Well, I married me a woman, she’s been giving me trouble all my life” served as the opening for Saturday’s stand. From “Cold Rain and Snow” the band left the weather behind and beguiled feelings in favor of After the flood The song, originally based on “Mississippi Half Step,” leads into the newest song in Dead & Company’s Las Vegas rotation, “West LA Fadeaway,” which also served as a breakaway and was last played at The Pavilion at Star Lake in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania, on July 12, 2022. After “They Love Each Other” and “Jack Straw,” the band played a rare first set, “One More Saturday Night,” a typical show closer on this weekday.

The placement game continued, with the first set’s signature opener, “Good Times,” serving as the second frame’s first song. The Sam Cooke cover gave way to “Sugar Magnolia” and “Althea” before diving into the depths of “Terrapin Station,” which segued into the second set’s Mickey Hart-led instrumental interlude, “Drums” and “Space.” The rhythmic performance brought out “Standing on the Moon,” which featured complementary cosmic visuals. The band changed tempos and lifted the mood with “Good Lovin’,” before playing an ode to Sin City with “Deal.”

Dead & Company closed their second set after Bob Dylan’s “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door,” which was followed, as is typical of the residency format, by an old Grateful Dead newscast (not unlike John Mayer’s move on his solo arena tour). As the final slot before wrapping up the first four-week residency at the Sphere, the band reminded fans that they’re here to stay – a nod to their lasting legacy with “Not Fade Away.”

Scroll down to see last night’s setlist.

Dead & Company

Ball – Las Vegas

June 8, 2024

Sentence I: Cold Rain and Snow, Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo, Bertha, West LA Fadeaway+, They Love Each Other, Jack Straw, One More Saturday Night

Sentence II: Good Times, Sugar Magnolia, Althea, Terrapin Station > Drums > Space > Standing on the Moon, Good Lovin’, Deal, Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door

Garnish: Do not fade

Remarks:

+ For the first time at the Sphere venue

Setlist via Setlist.FM.