Grateful Dead Kick Off ‘Fare Thee Well’ Shows With An Eye on the Past: Video, Setlist, Photos
The Grateful Dead's "core four" began their Fare Thee Well concerts on Friday in a fitting way, with the biographical "Truckin'" – featuring the timeless lyric, "what a long, strange trip it's been." Ultimately, that would be the most recent song the Grateful Dead performed, during an evening that focused on early, well-known favorites. In fact, the only rarity was "What's Become of the Baby," though that also dated back to 1969's Aoxomoxoa.
Performing on June 27 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, Phil Lesh and Bob Weir were joined by guests including Phish's Trey Anastasio and Bruce Hornsby for the first in a five-show run to mark the Grateful Dead's 50th anniversary.
"Uncle John's Band," which found Weir joined by Lesh on vocals, included the first of several jams. Anastasio handled vocals on "Cumberland Blues" and "Cream Puff War," before joining Lesh and Weir for "Viola Lee Blues," which closed the initial set. A complete list of songs from Santa Clara is included below.
Anastasio likewise joined Lesh and Weir for a loose run through "Dark Star," while "St. Stephen" gave Hornsby – an early-'90s touring collaborator with the Jerry Garcia-led lineup – an oppportunity to shine. Weir's vocal take on "Turn On Your Love Light" gave way to a drum showcase for Hart and Kreutzmann. The Grateful Dead closed with "The Other One" and "Morning Dew," before returning for a Hornsby-sung encore of "Casey Jones."
The Fare Thee Well concerts continue today (June 28) at Santa Clara, Calif., then resume July 3-5 at Soldier Field in Chicago, the site of the Grateful Dead's final show with the late Garcia on July 9, 1995. Click right here to find out more on how to watch.
The Grateful Dead Perform at the First 'Fare Thee Well' Show
Grateful Dead Setlist, June 27, 2015
"Truckin'"
"Uncle John's Band"
"Alligator"
"Cumberland Blues"
"Born Cross-Eyed"
"Cream Puff War"
"Viola Lee Blues"
"Cryptical Envelopment"
"Dark Star"
"St. Stephen"
"The Eleven"
"Turn On Your Love Light"
"Drums / Space"
"What's Become of the Baby"
"The Other One"
"Morning Dew"
Encore: "Casey Jones"