It’s been a minute since I’ve been able to post to my blog. Life’s been moving fast—between work, family, friends, life and a million tiny to-dos, I haven’t had much time to sit down and write. But some experiences demand a pause, a reflection, and a weekend in Vegas with Dead & Company at The Sphere was exactly that.
I’ve seen a lot of live music in a lot of places. But nothing quite prepared me for the opening weekend of Dead & Company at the Sphere in Las Vegas. On the weekend of March 21st 2025, I was lucky enough to be among the first in this second run to experience what happens when a band built on improvisation, psychedelia, and soul meets the most technologically advanced venue in the world. It was a fusion of past and future, where Grateful Dead’s legacy met the bleeding edge of immersive entertainment—and, yeah, it totally blew my mind.
Dead & Company: The Continuum of the Grateful Dead
For the uninitiated: Dead & Company formed in 2015 as a continuation of the Grateful Dead’s music, featuring original members Bob Weir, Mickey Hart, and Bill Kreutzmann (later replaced by Jay Lane), alongside John Mayer on lead guitar and vocals, Oteil Burbridge on bass, and Jeff Chimenti on keys. What started as a one-off turned into a touring juggernaut, bridging generations of Deadheads and welcoming a new wave of fans raised on Spotify and guitar tutorials. This 2025 Sphere residency isn’t just another stop—it feels like a spiritual culmination.
I get that, for many, the Grateful Dead ended when Jerry Garcia passed in 1995—and I respect that sentiment. There’s no replacing Jerry. But for me, Dead & Company isn’t about replicating the past. It’s about keeping the spirit of the music alive, reinterpreting it for new times and new ears. I’m okay with that. In fact, I love that the music continues to evolve.
The Sphere: Vegas’ Cathedral of Sound and Vision
Let’s talk about The Sphere. This place is less a venue and more a sensory wormhole. Officially called the MSG Sphere, it’s a 366-foot-tall, 516-foot-wide dome wrapped in 580,000 square feet of programmable LED panels capable of displaying seamless 18K resolution imagery. Inside, it boasts over 160,000 speakers with beamforming audio technology, meaning sound is custom-targeted to your seat—yes, really. The Sphere’s haptic flooring can even vibrate subtly with bass frequencies or ambient effects, adding a literal physical layer to the experience. Every seat is a good seat, thanks to the tiered vertical layout and fully immersive visuals. During “Space,” the screens wrapped us in stars, and the audio made it feel like we were floating between galaxies. It didn’t feel like a segment of a concert. It felt like collective time travel.
Night One: March 21, 2025 – A Cosmic Welcome
Friday’s show opened with “Cassidy,” a signal flare of what was to come: energy, layers, and a nod to the band’s deep cuts. Here’s how the setlist played out:
Set 1:
- Cassidy
- Bertha
- Brown-Eyed Women
- Althea
- Loose Lucy
- Tennessee Jed
- The Wheel
Set 2:
- China Cat Sunflower >
- I Know You Rider
- He’s Gone
- Drums >
- Space >
- Stella Blue
- Help on the Way >
- Slipknot! >
- Franklin’s Tower
Encore:
- One More Saturday Night
“Bertha” and “Brown-Eyed Women” kept the groove moving, but it was “Althea”—John Mayer’s signature Dead tune—that hit like a lightning bolt. The Sphere’s visuals during “The Wheel” spun like a technicolor galaxy, elevating the song’s themes of fate and motion. “Stella Blue” was hauntingly beautiful, and the “Help > Slip > Franklin’s” run brought the house to its feet. The show closed with “One More Saturday Night”—even though it was Friday. A wink. A knowing grin. Classic Dead.
Night Two: March 22, 2025 – The Band Takes Flight
Saturday’s setlist felt like a love letter to longtime fans. Here’s how it unfolded:
Set 1:
- Minglewood Blues
- Franklin’s Tower
- Jack Straw
- Big Railroad Blues
- Cassidy
- Deal
Set 2:
- China Cat Sunflower >
- I Know You Rider
- Help on the Way >
- Slipknot! >
- He’s Gone >
- Drums >
- Space >
- Stella Blue
- Playing in the Band
- Morning Dew
Encore:
- Box of Rain
From the first notes of “Minglewood Blues,” it was clear the band came to play. “Franklin’s Tower” and “Jack Straw” got the crowd moving, but it was the second set that took flight. The “China > Rider” opener brought the energy, and the “Help > Slip > He’s Gone” segment was a standout in both musicianship and emotional weight. The Sphere visuals during “Stella Blue” shimmered with mournful beauty, and “Morning Dew” brought the entire arena to stillness. “Box of Rain,” performed for the first time since the passing of Phil Lesh in 2024, was a deeply moving closer—a perfect end to a legendary night.
Comparing the Nights: March 21 vs. March 22
Both nights at the Sphere were magical in their own right, but they offered distinctly different experiences.
March 21 Highlights:
- Kicked off with “Cassidy,” signaling a set rooted in groove and depth.
- “Althea” delivered the emotional anchor early on, with Mayer at his best.
- Second set highlights included a smooth and exploratory “China > Rider,” and a crowd-lifting “Help > Slip > Franklin’s” sequence.
March 22 Highlights:
- Opened with raw energy—”Minglewood Blues” and “Franklin’s Tower” hit hard.
- The “Help > Slip > He’s Gone” section added layers of improvisation and soul.
- “Morning Dew” held the entire venue in rapt silence, and “Box of Rain” was a touching tribute to Phil Lesh.
If March 21 was a dance through the cosmos, March 22 was a journey into the heart of the Dead’s emotional spectrum. Back-to-back, they formed a complete and unforgettable arc.
The Verdict: Beyond the Show
Fantastic set of shows. The Sphere didn’t just enhance the music—it recontextualized it. It made old songs feel new and familiar lyrics feel freshly profound. Dead & Company proved once again that this music, more than 50 years on, still has new corners to explore.
Vegas is a place built on spectacle, but this was something else entirely. This was transcendence—with a ticket stub.
Would I go again? In a heartbeat. And if you’re even half a Dead fan, you owe it to yourself to make the trip.
See you on Shakedown Street.
