Photo: Chloe Weir

On Thursday, March 27, Dead & Company returned to Las Vegas’ Sphere for the onset of their second week of venue-specific shows in the state-of-the-art dome location. Last night’s comeback included debut material for this specific lineup of musicians, Robbie Robertson’s “Broken Arrow,” a song the Grateful Dead covered over 30 times from February 1993 to July 1995, as well as a residency debut of “The Eleven,” and subsequently the first “St. Stephen” suite; “William Tell Bridge” clear through the final movement and aforementioned new entry. 

Set one was a relatively standard affair for Dead & Company. Go to Heaven‘s “Alabama Getaway” unlocked the concert’s entry point with a full-throttle push into “32 teeth in a jawbone/ Alabama trying for none,” as the stand-alone start before the emergence of fan favorite “Truckin’.” From the city-namin’ number, Bob Weir, Mickey Hart, John Mayer, Oteil Burbridge, Jeff Chimenti, and Jay Lane conjured Blues for Allah party starter, “The Music Never Stopped.” 

The group of seasoned players reached back into the Dead’s songbook, landing on 1970’s Workingman’s Dead cut, “Cumberland Blues,” featuring instrumental nods to Stevie Wonder’s “I Wish” before singing, “Thank you, for a real good time,” on “Loose Lucy.” Dead & Company closed their initial music set with the lauded Jerry Garcia number “Sugaree.” 

Returning for the night’s second half, they got the crowd dancing from the jump with the onset of “Mr. Charlie.” From the aforementioned starting point, Dead & Company positioned “Scarlet Begonias” with “Franklin’s Tower,” ignoring pairings, they snubbed the latter of its typical “Help” > “Slip!” placement. Instead, the band treated their audience to the sinuous spectacular, the three-way suite: “St. Stephen,” “William Tell Bridge,” and a residency debut of “The Eleven.” 

The masterful puzzle pieces fit together perfectly before Hart took over the stage for his second set interlude, the expected “Drums” and “Space,” which tipped over into “Days Between” and “All Along the Watchtower.” Dead & Company’s “Broken Arrow” debut emerged as the final song before screens unleashed memories as the concert capstone and separation between the impending encore. 

“Broken Arrow” was first performed by the Grateful Dead on February 23, 1993, at the Oakland Coliseum. Phil Lesh notoriously covered the number with some frequency in his own Friends project and on their subsequent 1999 LP, Love Will See You Through. The song continued to appear on Lesh & Friends’ setlist, particularly during his annual runs at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, N.Y. 

After last night’s debut, screens showed band history and Lesh visuals, further nods to the late bassist before the final offering, “Sugar Magnolia.” Dead & Company returns to Sphere tonight to continue the second week of their ongoing Sin City residency. Tickets remain on sale.

Dead & Company 

Sphere – Las Vegas 

March 27, 2025 

Set I: Alabama Getaway, Truckin’, The Music Never Stopped Cumberland Blues, Loose Lucy, Sugaree

Set II: Mr. Charlie, Scarlet Begonias > Franklin’s Tower, St. Stephen > William Tell Bridge > The Eleven > Drums > Space > Day’s Between, All Along The Watchtower > Broken Arrow, Sugar Magnolia