After a couple hours at the office and a nice walk with Stella through Brand Park and into the Verdugo Mountains, it was finally time to get ready for the show. Let’s see… what to wear for a Saturday night dance party at LA’s Dodger Stadium?

I opted for the River+Sky Organic Cotton Gauze Indra Dress in Yucca – light, breezy, twirl worthy. Vintage necklace, a little glitter – done! Out the door and off to Eagle Rock to pick up our friend who had never seen Dead and Company before. She came out stunning in our Satin Bias dress and off we went.

Our first stop at the show was outside the stadium – Shakedown Street – a makeshift village where many of the people touring with the band come together to showcase their wares. It’s really great to see how this tradition has continued on over generations and still remains very vibrant with new takes on enduring themes of expression. After an hour or so of exploring and meeting up with new friends, one of which we hadn’t seen since high school, it was time to head in.

As we entered on the 2nd level, the scene unfolded below. The giant stage was set up in center field with seats covering the back half of the field. A large open dance floor covered the area closest to the stage – The Pit. That’s where we would be.

We settled in at the 3rd base bar for a cocktail while we waited for showtime. When the first notes of Bob Weir’s guitar signaled that the show was about to start, we headed down.

As we reached the pit, just as the first song began, there was plenty of space. Right as we got near the front a young hippie came straight over to us. Without a word he whisked our friend away and began to dance with her, twirling her about as if they had been dancing together for years. A truly random happy collision that was beautiful to watch.

When I had the chance to talk to him, he told me he was really hoping to make it the afterparty at the Troubador featuring Jerry’s Middle Finger, a stellar Jerry Garcia tribute band, but that the show was sold out. This too was just so coincidental because a few weeks before we had purchased 8 tickets to that show with no idea who we would actually be going with.

Dead and Co’s opening song was Good Times followed by Playing in the Band into Feel like a Stranger. In the 2nd set they broke out a 5-song combo I don’t think they have ever done before – Althea with John Mayer on vocals and killer guitar, into Scarlet Begonias, China Cat Sunflower, I Know You Rider then Fire On the Mountain. Epic dance energy that led into drums and so much more, closing the show with you guessed it – One More Saturday Night and a Werewolves of London Encore.

The last time we had seen them play was almost eight months before for Halloween at the Hollywood Bowl and tonight Dead and Company delivered a beautiful show to open Summer Tour. So great to see so many people of all ages gettin’ down and feelin’ happy.

Next stop – 2 nights in Boulder CO. Hope to see you there!

C&M R+S