“I’M ON ACID!” a man shouted. He was in a tie-dye shirt in a sea of rainbow colors. The man politely sharing his altered state of mind was one of the many colorful, wonderful characters to cross paths with at a recent Dead & Company concert. These summer tours are always unforgettable, both because of the performances on stage and off.
On the second night of Dead & Company’s tour stop at Chicago’s Wrigley Field, the atmosphere of glee was palpable hours before the show began. Old and new fans gathered in and around the stadium early, wasting no time when it came to having a good time. Sure, one or two people maybe partied a little too hard before the real party began around 6:45, but for the most part, everyone was relaxed and ready when the band—including guitarists John Mayer and Bob Weir, keyboardist Jeff Chimenti, bassist Oteil Burbridge, and drummers Mickey Hart and Jay Lane—took the stage and rocked the city of Chicago’s socks off.
The band delivered four hours of relaxation. The shows ebbed and flowed with such grace. When Dead & Company hit the stage, they’re not only playing music; they’re telling a story. That’s how it feels anyway when the band transitions from one song to the next, tying together a plethora of emotions, themes, and even protest, rightfully calling out the Supreme Court for the disastrous decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
The nearly-four hour show zipped along while still taking its sweet time. Nobody was constantly looking at their watch and few people were looking through their phones, except maybe to call fellow Deadheads to let them hear the show.
“It was voodoo magic, man!” a man exclaimed.
Speaking of Deadheads, goddamn are they …
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Author: Jack Giroux / High Times
