Farewell to Dead and Co.: Their Spirit Lives On in Local Musicians

Dead and Company played their final show at Oracle Park this past weekend, ending this incarnation of the Grateful Dead including musicians Bob Weir, Mickey Hart, John Mayer, Oteil Burbridge, Jay Lane and Jeff Chimenti. Missed the shows, don’t fret, it’s not the end of the music of the Grateful Dead or the spirit it captures. There’s lots of local talented musicians playing their version of The Grateful Dead music all over the San Francisco Bay Area.

The History: What a long, strange trip it’s been

For those that don’t know, the history of the Grateful Dead is a long one and very much tied to San Francisco. The band formed in 1965 in Palo Alto and all lived together at the 710 Ashbury House from 1965-1968. They went through a few line up changes until Jerry Garcia’s untimely heart attack in rehab in 1995 that took his life, retiring the name that Garcia coined for the band The Grateful Dead. Since then there have been many embodiments of the Grateful Dead.  Bands such as Rat Dog, Phil and Friends, The Other Ones, The Fare Thee Well tour and this current line up of Dead and Co that  formed in October 2015 with the exception of Jay Lane replacing Billy Kreutzmann this winter.  

If you want to see and learn more about the history of The Grateful Dead be sure to check out the Between Dark and Light, The Grateful Dead 1965-1995  A photo exhibit curated by rock photographer Jay Blakesburg, with exhibition text by Grateful Dead historian Blair Jackson. This free admission exhibit will be open from July 11 to September 3. 

Dead & Company at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colorado on June 9, 2017 – photo from Wiki Commons

Our love will not fade away: Events Coming up

Here are some Grateful Dead inspired events throughout the Bay Area:

Grateful Dead Tribute Night Come to Oracle Park in your best tie-dye, get a tie-dye hat and listen to a pregame concert with Sunshine Garcia ft. Dead Set.  Partial proceeds to this game will go to the Rex Foundation.  The Rex Foundation, a non-profit charitable organization, founded in 1983, members and family of the band to proactively support creative endeavors in the arts, sciences, and education to help secure a healthy environment.

Jerry Day On August 5, celebrating its 21st Anniversary, Jerry Day takes place in McLaren Park at 11:30 am.  Bands will play at the Jerry Garcia Amphitheater. This donation based family event started with hopes to rebuild the parks in the Excelsior. The party goes on and there are multiple concerts throughout the Excelsior and outer Excelsior, be sure to check the website for more details. If you plan on going, get there early and bring sunblock!

Jerry Garcia Baseball Night The Oakland A’s will also pay tribute to Jerry Garcia, offering tie-dye t-shirts, a pregame concert with Moonalice.  The National Anthem will be sung by Stu Allen, not a fan of baseball, during the breaks there will be jams with DJ DarkStar Dan. Proceeds from this game will also be donated to the Rex Foundation.

Let there be songs to fill the air

Here are some concerts in the Bay Area inspired by The Grateful Dead

Ashkenaz Music & Dance Community.  This year they have been able to bring back the weekly Wednesday Night Grateful Dead nights with rotating line ups. Including artists such as Matt Hartle, Anna Elva, Reed Mathis, and Scott Guberman. This is my favorite place to dance to the music of the Grateful Dead.  There’s a great dance floor and strong community.

Mr. Hat Presents From shows at the Ivy Room to outdoor shows and  boat cruises around lots of different ways to enjoy the music. The China Cats, members of Jerry Garcia Band, Cubensis and other musicians have played for these events and many more. Each event is unique in it’s own way and lots of fun, be sure to check the website and calendar of events.

Terrapin Crossroads Presents: Sunday Daydeam Vol. 2

Terrapin Presents Unfortunately, Terrapin Crossroads, in San Rafael, did not survive the pandemic.  In early July, Phil’s Lesh’s children planned a successful Turtle Trot event with music from Phil Lesh and Friends. Because of the success of this event, they planned another one all the way in Novato, on August 27.  It has an incredible line up with the Terrapin All-Stars, Melvin Seals, Jerry Garcia Band, Moonalice, AND MORE!

If you get confused, listen to the music play

I was fortunate enough to be given a ticket to the final Dead and Co show with a dear friend of mine I made out here in the Bay Area.  It was an incredible night filled with so much love and magic, including a drone-show with a Steal Your Face, and Dancing Bear.  Some of my favorite memories with this friend, and the music of this band, take place in smaller venues, seeing musicians tackle the song book of The Grateful Dead and get the crowd to shake, shimmy and dance.  As the week unfolds, different members of Dead and Co have posted their reflections, and they have alluded to not knowing when the next show is.  I hope they come back, but in the meantime, I am grateful for all the music inspired by San Francisco’s own, played right here with my friends.

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