If one walked by the Pepsi Center two Thursdays ago, it was clear that something special was taking place.
The Grateful Dead played a sold-out show of classic hits, much to the delight of the thousands of fans that journeyed to see the originators of the jam band/hippie scene.
Wading through the parking lot, the senses were bombarded with the smells of cooking food, blasting music and various forms of art.
Teenagers in tie die rubbed elbows with “Dead-heads” who had clearly been around since the Dead originated.
If one could make it through the parking lot without getting lost, the scene entering the Pepsi Center was electric, with the crowd randomly breaking out into raucous cheering before fans even got to their seats.
Although the music of the Dead is more conducive to outdoor venues such as Red Rocks, the Pepsi Center did an adequate job of maintaining the spirit of the music.
The stage was set up so that the audience was surrounding the performers on all sides and the stage, as well as the crowd, was continually lit with psychedelic lights. Minus Jerry Garcia, who died in 1995, the band included all the original members as well as special guest Warren Haynes of The Allman Brothers and Gov’t Mule fame.
The show opened with the classic “Casey Jones,” which immediately got the crowd singing along closely followed by fan-favorite “Easy Wind.”
After playing an electric set, the Dead slowed things down with an acoustic set including “Whiskey in the Jar” and “Me and My Uncle.”
After taking a short break which seemed to drag on for hours, the band returned with a final electric set, playing songs such as “Ramble on Rose” and “Cumberland Blues.”
The biggest surprise of the evening and possibly one of the most engaging performances of the night was their cover of the classic song “The Weight,” sounding as clear and as a confident as if they were playing 40 years earlier.
Before the band closed with “Ripple,” Phil Lesh came onstage and gave a candid speech expressing his thanks to the fans and how it was because of them “that we started playing together again.” One thing’s for certain; the Grateful Dead’s touring is far from in the grave.
