Dead and Company at The Sphere: Hot, hot, hot!

I’m back from sweltering Las Vegas where I saw two Dead & Company shows at the state-of-the-art Sphere. The $395 front row center seats were worth every penny.

That’s a lot of money for a concert or two, considering my first Grateful Dead concert in 1970 cost less than $10. It’s been a long, strange journey at those inflated prices. Luckily, I could afford to treat myself. I’m so glad I did.

Dead & Company are in the middle of a residency at the Sphere that began in May and ends in August. They play three shows every weekend. It’s the perfect venue for the aging band, which now consists of just two founders, singer/guitarist Bobby Weir and percussionist Mickey Hart. Guitarist John Mayer anchors the younger wave of players, which also includes bassist Oteil Burbridge, keyboardist Jeff Chimenti and drummer Jay Lane. It’s the perfect mix to bring the music of the Grateful Dead to the current generation of Deadheads. The crowd was a mix of baby boomers and millennials. They all came to Vegas to see their favorite band, and D&C did not disappoint.

The venue

I won’t explain the technical wizardry that makes the Sphere Theater work like it does. Its circular shape and steep tiers squeeze in about 18,000 people each night. Entry is through the Venetian Hotel, so there’s no waiting outside in the sweltering heat. The wide GA floor surrounds the front of the stage. Seating ranges from 100 to 400. Since I had great seats (106, row 12), I can’t vouch for other seats, but I haven’t heard anyone complain. Prices range from $195 to $395.

The sound and visuals are fabulous. It’s an immersive experience with walls of psychedelic imagery associated with each song. A drone view of San Francisco approaches Haight Ashbury, where the band made their first home. The stage appears to be lifting, but it’s an optical illusion. Just before the last song of the second set, the visuals return to San Francisco to provide another sensational view. Other visual highlights include the construction of the Wall of Sound, all sorts of GD iconography such as dancing bears and flying eyeballs (look out for an animated white-haired and bearded Jerry Garcia – the mystical co-founder of the group), a look back at all the band members and backstage passes and tickets from years past. Hallucinatory portals and totems rise to the roof and you ride right along with them. It’s a blast, probably aided by LSD, but there’s really no need to take a dose. The trip is included in the ticket price.

The heat

Las Vegas, like the rest of the Southwest and California, is experiencing a prolonged heat wave, with highs consistently above 100 degrees Fahrenheit and a high of 130 degrees on Sunday. Of course, it’s important to stay hydrated and avoid the sun. Those living in these areas are used to such high temperatures, but travelers on the East Coast and Northwest will need to adapt to climate factors. The heat wave is expected to continue throughout the weekend and beyond.

“Dead & Company are the role model for bands that want to extend their life by combining old and new. “

The shows

I arrived on July 4th with tickets for July 5th and 6th. Both shows were outstanding. Friday’s show was a glimpse into the band’s psychedelic history, driven by gems in the second set.China Cat Sunflower“Dark Star” and “Not Fade Away,” with the fans clapping in unison until the end. But they saved the best for Saturday, a rollicking show from start to finish that got my nearly 70-year-old legs pumping during the long jam sessions to “Shakedown Street,” “Eyes of the World,” and “Morning Dew.” It was a classic Dead Saturday night party, with the first set closing out with “One More Saturday.”

Setlists here

The stay seems to be the best thing for the band. They don’t have any touring issues, they just come three times a week. U2 was the first act to play at the Sphere. Phish followed with three shows around 4/20. The Eagles are next this fall. One can imagine Pink Floyd playing there in the future. But who else really has the music and visuals to match this unique building?

The impact

Clearly, Grateful Dead live music is not dying out. All classic bands have to deal with the loss of original members to health or other reasons; it’s hard to keep them together. Dead & Company are the model for bands that want to prolong their life by combining the old and the new. The bushy-bearded Weir is the key to connecting with the Dead’s past. While Weir looks like he just stepped off his porch, Mayer is a stylish presence on stage, rotating several beautiful guitars and even changing his expensive watches every night. The most important thing about Mayer is that he can sing and play, and he has amply filled in for Garcia. Without Mayer, Dead & Co. would be seriously weakened.

When this gig is over, they will probably sign up for next year’s Sphere residency. For them, it’s the only place worth playing.

Buy tickets until August 10

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Steve Bloom

Editor of CelebStoner.com, former editor of High Times and Freedom Leaf, and co-author of Pot Culture and Reefer Movie Madness.