Remembering Dead & Company's 2023 Atlanta Tour Stop

Unlike some jam bands, Dead & Company needs no introduction. Made up of the legendary Bob Weir, pop icon John Mayer, former Allman Brothers bassist Oteil Burbridge, Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart, keyboard wizard Jeff Chimenti, and drummer Jay Lane, Dead & Company became the closest thing many fans would ever experience to seeing the Grateful Dead themselves. Years after Jerry Garcia's passing, this band has done great at preserving the spirit of the original Grateful Dead while introducing it to an entirely new generation of fans.

Before Bob Weir's passing, the band spent two years captivating audiences with a residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas, pushing the boundaries of what a live concert could be. Prior to that, they embarked on what was billed as their final national tour in 2023, filling amphitheaters, arenas, and stadiums across the country. Every stop felt like a traveling reunion, with parking lots transforming into miniature communities that echoed the culture and energy of the Grateful Dead's touring days decades earlier.

On May 28, 2023, I was lucky enough to attend my first "major" jam band show at Lakewood Amphitheatre on the southeast side of Atlanta. At the time, I honestly hadn't spent much time listening to the Dead. I knew a handful of songs, but I had no idea what kind of experience I was about to walk into. My brother-in-law surprised my brother and me with tickets for Christmas 2022, and after months of anticipation, the day had finally arrived.

My first walk through Shakedown Street. My first encounters with wooks. My first lot grilled cheese. My first time hearing Bob Weir live. Looking back now, it was the day that completely changed how I experienced live music.

Here's a look back at the night:

Date: May 28th, 2023

Location: Atlanta, GA

Venue: Cellairis Amphitheatre at Lakewood

Tour: The Final Tour: 2023

Song of the Night: Going Down the Road Feeling Bad (Traditional Cover)

Honorable Mention: Morning Dew (Bonnie Dobson Cover) & Althea (Grateful Dead)

Attendance: 18,623

Dead and Company live at Lakewood Ampitheatre in Atlanta on May 28th, 2023 (Credit: Chloe Weir)

Dead and Company - Final Tour - 5/28/23

Before the show, I was just getting back from a week-long beach trip with some of my closest friends. I'll admit it... my energy tank was running on empty, and as the day got closer, my motivation to make the trip to Lakewood was starting to fade. Still, I had committed to going, and there was no way I was missing my first Dead & Company show.

Sunday morning, our trio met at my brother's house in North Atlanta to kick off the festivities. Lunch on the Blackstone, a few cold beers, and plenty of Grateful Dead playing through the speakers was exactly what I needed to find my second wind. By the time 2:00 rolled around, the Uber had arrived and we were officially headed toward Shakedown.

Walking into Shakedown for the first time was a sight to behold. Four long rows of white tents stretched across the lot, packed with vendors selling everything from vintage shirts and handmade art to stickers, patches, and just about every Grateful Dead knickknack imaginable. Wooks wandered in every direction, music floated through the air, and the whole place felt like its own little city before the show. We claimed a corner of the lot as home base, dropped our Styrofoam cooler full of beers (naturally stocked with SweetWater 420s), and spent the next few hours exploring.

Every vendor seemed to have something different, and as we wandered the aisles, the occasional offer for "fuzzy rainbows" found its way to our group. For a first-time Dead & Company rookie, I probably bought more merchandise than I should have. Around 5:00, the gates opened, and we joined the growing line into the venue. Since we had lawn tickets, getting a good spot was a priority, and thankfully we made it in early enough to settle into what turned out to be the perfect place to watch the night unfold.

The first set opened with Bob Weir's "Cassidy" before seamlessly rolling into Jerry Garcia's "Deal." That version of "Deal" ended up being my favorite jam of the entire night. At the time, I was already a huge solo John Mayer fan. I knew plenty of people in the jam scene had mixed feelings about him stepping into Jerry's role, but hearing him play live completely changed my perspective. His confidence, phrasing, and improvisation were simply on another level. Throughout the first set, the sky stayed brilliantly blue, and time almost felt nonexistent. Dead & Company slowed things down beautifully during "Friend of the Devil," creating one of those moments where thousands of people seemed completely locked into the same feeling. A couple songs later, Bobby led the band through "Tennessee Jed," which somehow felt like the perfect soundtrack for a warm Georgia evening.

The production throughout the show was outstanding. Between the camera work, the screens, and the atmosphere inside Lakewood Amphitheatre, everything seemed to complement the music without distracting from it. During the set, my brother-in-law and I even found ourselves having one of those unexpectedly deep conversations that only seem to happen at concerts. By the time "Going Down the Road Feeling Bad" closed the first set, we had somehow solved all of life's biggest problems. Looking around the lawn during that final song remains one of my favorite concert memories. Thousands of people were dancing, smiling, and moving together, all sharing the same experience. It felt incredibly special. Set break eventually arrived, although making the journey to the bathroom through the sea of people felt like its own endurance event.

The second set wasted absolutely no time. It opened with "Althea," and once again, John Mayer completely stole the show for me. I had heard countless people say his version of "Althea" was something special, and they weren't exaggerating. Jerry's version will always be legendary, but Mayer brings his own swagger and personality to the song that makes it feel entirely fresh.

The next stretch: "China Cat Sunflower —> I Know You Rider —> Eyes of the World", felt like pure magic. Even years later, I still think back to that sequence. Looking back now after Bob Weir's passing, hearing him sing, "You're gonna miss me when I'm gone," carries an entirely different weight than it did in the moment.

Then came "Drums" and "Space." My brother and brother-in-law decided that was the perfect time for another bathroom trip, leaving me alone to experience what can only be described as controlled musical chaos. It completely freaked me out. Eventually, the band eased back into "Terrapin Station," pulling me out of whatever trance I had found myself in. Once again, Mayer impressed me, not just as a guitarist, but as a vocalist who truly respected the material while still making it his own.

To close the evening, Bobby and the band delivered a powerful "Morning Dew." It was one of those performances where Bob seemed larger than life. Sitting there watching him command the stage, it really hit me that I was witnessing a genuine living legend. One of my favorite post-show traditions with my brothers is waiting for the crowd to thin out before heading home. Instead of fighting thousands of people toward the exits, we sit for a while, soak in the atmosphere one last time, and relive everything we just witnessed. Those conversations have become some of my favorite memories from concerts over the years.

Eventually we wandered back down to Shakedown for a beer...then another...and maybe one more after that. The lot somehow became even more entertaining after the show. Everyone was swapping stories, celebrating the music, and making new friends like they'd known each other for years.

Getting out of Lakewood, however, was a different story. Closed roads, endless traffic, and almost no available Ubers made for quite the adventure. Thankfully, a slightly sketchy guy driving a black SUV accepted a handful of cash and delivered us safely back to the promised land. To cap off the night, we fired up the Blackstone one last time and made our own version of the legendary "Lot Dillas."

Cheers to the Dead, first shows, lifelong memories, and letting the four winds blow us safely home. RIP Bob Weir.

Want to Get in the Groove?

Here are some tracks to get you started with Dead & Company: