Last night the Grateful Dead kicked-off their five-night run of Fare Thee Well 50th anniversary concerts at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. It’s a bittersweet moment for Deadheads — the run is allegedly going to be the last time the so-called “Core Four” of Phil Lesh, Bob Weir, Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart plays together. But the storied American rock band is going out with a bang, recruiting Trey Anastasio, Bruce Hornsby, and Jeff Chimenti to sit in for all shows. Between the two shows at Levi’s Stadium and three shows this weekend at Solider Field, it’s easily one of the most highly-anticipated summer concert events in years.
Musically, this weekend was magic. Despite Deadhead fears when the shows were announced, Anastasio blended in perfectly, letting loose in a jam on “Viola Lee Blues” at the end of first set of the first show. The Dead then went full-on psychedelic with a “Dark Star” in the second set, setting the stage for a spellbinding “St. Stephen.” “The Other One” -> “Morning Dew” was about as blissful as it gets. The second show kept the highlights coming: The Hell In A Bucket, Mississippi Half-Step, Eyes of the World, Death Have No Mercy, and Sugar Magnolia were as memorable and magical as it gets. For the both Fare Thee Well setlists so far, click here.
And who was there, front and center? Bill Walton, everyone’s favorite Deadhead NBA Hall of Famer/ESPN college commentator. A head with hundreds of shows under his belt, Walton has been hyped about the this run since the announcement earlier this year, working Dead references in ESPN Pac-12 broadcasts all winter. And, as expected, he had two of the best days of his life on the field of Levi’s Stadium:
Never had such a good time in my life before, might as well, might as well pic.twitter.com/O5InphYq0z
— Bill Walton (@BillWalton) June 28, 2015
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Levi's, NRG solar energy, Grateful Dead, Meyer Sound & all of my friends & family – I'm on my way to being healed pic.twitter.com/uJVvkx9iiu
— Bill Walton (@BillWalton) June 28, 2015
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We're here!!!! pic.twitter.com/7WUOr6pGht
— Bill Walton (@BillWalton) June 28, 2015
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I have never been more excited in my life. 5 shows in 9 days, just like the old days. pic.twitter.com/HwzZynZRVB
— Bill Walton (@BillWalton) June 27, 2015
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Thanks to @globalmerch I have the coolest shirts ever #FareTheeWell pic.twitter.com/aCV5W9wU79
— Bill Walton (@BillWalton) June 27, 2015
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The scene over Levi's Stadium last night for The Grateful Dead where @BillWalton & the rest of had a great night. pic.twitter.com/Xq6beGOsOv
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) June 28, 2015
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Rainbow over the stage on an almost clear night. Only the dead could come up with this. #FareTheeWell @GratefulDead pic.twitter.com/70EEWCG3Va
— Craig L. Palmer (@craiglpalmer) June 28, 2015
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There's nothing like the Grateful Dead pic.twitter.com/AQswxU2Ct5
— Bill Walton (@BillWalton) June 28, 2015
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Save some for Chicago, Bill!
Click here for Fare Thee Well setlists…