The original trailblazers of the road set up camp in Boulder for a two-night stint Friday night. Dead & Company brought the long strange trip to Boulder’s home of Colorado Buffalo football, Folsom Field. In front of a capacity crowd on a sweltering spring evening, Bob Weir and Mickey Hart parlayed with new torch bearer, John Mayer as part of the latest incantation of the once Jerry Garcia led act.

One thing is certain, yet sad to point out: the absence of Phil Lesh isn’t breaking fans hearts. The cohesion behind the new lineup trumps (pun not intended) anything that the Other Ones or Phil Lesh and Friends ever churned out.

Related: THE WAR ON DRUGS COVER THE GRATEFUL DEAD’S “TOUCH OF GREY”
The back and forth between guitar maestro and female panty dropper, John Mayer, and Bob Weir created a playful banter for a sizable portion of Friday evening that sagely demonstrates why the heart-throb is rubbing elbows with the hippy elite. It’s important to take note of the versatility and endurance by Mayer as well on those extended jams.

Friday night started things fast with a live debut of the Martha Reeves and the Vandellas cover of “Dancing in the Street.” Despite the complexity and feel of the first set, the guys settled in for a second set that hit its’ stride in “Eyes of the World.”

Dead & Company Setlist

Set 1:
Dancing in the Street
(Martha Reeves and The Vandellas cover) (live debut by D&C) (>)
Cold Rain and Snow
(Grateful Dead cover)
Hell in a Bucket
(Grateful Dead cover)
Big River
(Johnny Cash cover)
Althea
(Grateful Dead cover)
New Speedway Boogie
(Grateful Dead cover)
The Music Never Stopped
(Grateful Dead cover)
Ripple
(Grateful Dead cover)

Set 2:
St. Stephen
(Grateful Dead cover)
Estimated Prophet
(Grateful Dead cover)
Eyes of the World
(Grateful Dead cover)
Deal
(Jerry Garcia cover)
Let It Grow
(Grateful Dead cover)
Drums
(Grateful Dead cover)
Space
(Grateful Dead cover)
The Other One
(Grateful Dead cover)
Morning Dew
(Bonnie Dobson cover)
Encore:
Touch of Grey
(Grateful Dead cover)