Dead and Company completed their terrific summer tour last night at Wrigley Field in Chicago. After an incredible show the night before, it was hard to imagine them topping the performance. I’ll let you be the judge of how the show stacked up.

Out of the gates, Mayer led the crew in a smoking “Cold Rain and Snow” which has become a staple of Dead and Company shows. In listening to the top versions of “Cold Rain and Snow” that the Dead performed, it’s easy to see Dead and Co’s performances stack up against the best of the Grateful Dead’s versions.

Oteil graced Wrigley with lead vocals on “Ship of Fools.” Mayer started out and let Oteil take over the vocals much to the delight of the audience.

Next, Dead and Co reprised the acoustic Dark Star they debuted a couple of weeks ago at Fenway. The gorgeous acoustic version gave way to “Friend of the Devil” before Dead and Co switched from acoustic to electric for an “Althea” for the ages.

The second set kicked off with a “Sugar Magnolia” and delivered hit after hit including “Dancing in the Streets,” “Scar>Fire,” “The Other One,” a hauntingly beautiful “Days Between” into a fitting “Not Fade Away” to end the second set.

Bobby and company came out for one final “Brokedown Palace” and then passed on the “Playin’ in the Band” reprise to pick up where they started the second set—”Sunshine Daydream (Sugar Magnolia Reprise).”

What a show! What a tour! What a band!

Here’s hoping for a fall tour!

Set 1
Intro/Tuning
Cold Rain and Snow
Jack Straw
Tennessee Jed
Ship Of Fools
Dark Star>
Friend Of The Devil
Althea
Casey Jones

Set 2
Tuning/Intro
Sugar Magnolia>
Dancing In The Streets>
Playing In The Band>
Comes A Time>
Scarlet Begonias>
Fire On The Mountain>
Drums/Space >
The Other One>
Days Between>
Not Fade Away

Encore Break
Brokedown Palace>
Sunshine Daydream

Notes: Fireworks launched during Sunshine Daydream.

Thanks to teamikoiko for the recording.