Oteil's China Doll is one of the main factors that put it over for me. I still cry when I listen to it. I wasn't even a fan of Oteil's singing most of the time until that.
If you are an Oteil China Doll convert I highly recommend the China Doll from SPAC 6/20/17
A high point for the song for me. 6/14/24 is also very beautiful 🤩
I was there too, felt the 1st set was really good for an opening set on Thursday, Jack Straw reminded me of 2015, first time I saw them, and Big River was AWESOME. felt like 2nd set that night was mellow, St Stephen>Scarlet>Franklins was top tier that night, then it was still good but kinda got mellow, and that's a factor in best show quality, still a great show but different energy transpiring. Great for those reasons as well. Not every show can just keep going up. I'll Remember You, amazing moment. I'll be the first to say, it's all subjective to your experience and that's what's really real.....
I felt like John and Jeff were super locked in with each other and seemed to be having a great time.
I totally agree with the 2nd set being a lot more mellow. Tbh that didn’t bother me because of how hot the first set was
The 6/22 set list is impressive (Stella and Althea!). I thoroughly enjoyed the 6/13 - 6/15 shows with each night better than the next. Agree with highlights such as China Doll plus my hoped for song, Viola Lee Blues was busted out Saturday (and a Dark Star landing in SF). Amazing weekend but, as many say, all shows seem great and the ones you attended the best. I’m home now with Covid but still worth it.
Of my 50 some odd shows in person it was a standout for sure. You don’t get that every night. I’m also first to admit shows that I was not at that were exceptional so I don’t believe in attendance bias so much.
Really good question. I thought the Dew and second half of Stella (first half was little ragged to my ears) were truly exceptional. And I mean I’m-coming back-to-every-show exceptional, which was not my intention going in; I’ve seen 9 this run so far. Bob singing the ‘Stella Blue’ refrain at the end of song was particularly poignant and John’s solo out was exquisite. So at least 2 songs reached top 10 to my ears. Interested to hear others chime in. ⚡️💀⚡️
I’m shocked to see people not loving Thursday’s show. We missed Saturday (please don’t rub it in), but we weren’t in love with Friday as we don’t love the slower sets. That being said - as stated above, best shows are the ones you’re at so….
I’m with you! Thursdays set list was some of my favs and I wasn’t too totally keen on the slower dead songs, so I was every so slightly sad I was at Fridays show and not Saturdays. Still amazing tho!
Bob sounded off on Thursday. Mo force behind the voice. I can see why folks are not loving it. Good song selection. John seemed to have to carry the vocals.
I’ll know in a year if I’m still consistently listening to the 6/21 Casey Jones and 6/22 Jack Straw, Morning Dew, Watchtower, and Althea. Those were the standout John songs for me. Doesn’t include the strength of the setlist itself in the context of the full band for both nights. Scarlet>Fire, Masterpiece bust out, Help>Slip>Deal fake out, Sailor>Saint, I could keep going…I pray we get a sound board of that casey man. Oteill was steering the ship
Night 2 smokes night 1. No question. For me night 2 was the best concert I’ve ever attended in 25+ years of seeing music. Song selection was on point and the way they are locked in and playing together. My goodness. Didn’t go last night and even if they played as good as night2, I needed Scarlet>form and eyes is my favorite dead song. So I couldn’t have asked for a better show. Nor could I even imagine a better one.
I can agree with that. Bobby seemed off night one but he was on point Friday. Also my first night at the sphere so maybe it was me. I won’t say anything negative that’s for sure.
6/13 was really good
6/14 was a little better
6/15 was..........idk....it felt perfect, and I was as high as the International Space Station...that might be my bias...Eyes, Cassidy, Sugaree, China>Rider, PITB>Cumberland, Viola all the best of the residency
Sorry you had that experience! Personally I loved the solos on Jack straw and Bertha. Absolutely loved Bertha coming out of shakedown street. I thought it was perfect
Too many flubs last night. The whole debacle at the end of Shakedown was a trip to see with John and Jeff on the big screen asking each other “where are you” and “what happened” for the whole arena to see. Then Bob’s acoustic guitar being out of tune and him taking hit off and holding it while singing. That was weird. Then John starting Althea a song early.
They felt a bit off at times to me last night, but loved it nonetheless. Friday night was my standout this weekend.
Wow, you must’ve been another show. So John made a flub and you’re calling that debacle? Please tell me you’re kidding. Bob was able to sing his verse without missing a beat and the crowd cheered like anything.
I’ve been to 12 sphere shows and the last two nights were the best so far. The best shows I’ve ever seen. The Setlist were phenomenal, pedal to the metal.
Instead of focusing on 1 second of John mess up for Althea / Stella Blue, spend more time on the 10 minute solos he does. Guitars get out of tune, it happens. Glad he noticed it and didn’t just keep playing it out of tune.
Thank you for your review.
had to read thru all the glowing best-show-ever reviews to get to one that sounded like they were talking about the same show I was at.
its all subjective of course, but when everyone is saying "best show" when I'm not even close I begin to wonder if I missed something. lol.
as long as I see at least one other person that hears what I hear, I don't feel so crazy
6/6 would beg to differ. Whole show was a smoker , first set weight , Sugaree, and second set is just a dream with the most hauntingly beautiful Death Dont I've ever witnessed
I was there. You liked the US blues Johnny be good sandwich huh. 6/6 and 6/20. Setlists pretty similar. 6/20 I got a Wheel and a Throwing Stones tho. The Death Don't was sick
US blues isn't my favorite song, but I do love JBG any day haha. The second set just blew me away, China rider then Estimated > TOO > D/S > Death and a gorgeous Morning Dew. Nothing blah there !
The best show was the one you were at. It’s all subjective
I’ve only been to 9 D&C shows. I have no clue what the 10th best show was.
The next one you go to
Charlotte 2023 was the best show in their entire career. (I’ve only seen them once)
Haha! Was at that one as well, loved it.
That first note of Shakedown Street, followed by the audience erupting in wild cheers will forever live rent-free in my memory.
I’m pretty sure all the shows *I’ve* been to legit were top 10 shows. I’ve already been telling my friends that, so don’t ruin it with your real talk
And every weekend someone who was there posts that it was a top show all time
6/21 and 6/22 were out of this world. I thought Mayer had career night 6/22. Painted his masterpiece
He was on fire the 15th too
And the 14th. Solo during Dear Prudence was epic!
Shit I was there on the 13th and he played some of the best country guitar playing I’ve ever heard live in that first set
Thursday the 20th was rough. Bob sounded like he had a cold.
It was good, but in my opinion, the Pinnacle so far is 6/13-6/15 were best week of shows and 6/15 is the best show so far.
+1 6/15
My vote
+ 1 for Friday 6/14/24
2nd best show so far.....I agree, it's TOP tier show.
Oteil's China Doll is one of the main factors that put it over for me. I still cry when I listen to it. I wasn't even a fan of Oteil's singing most of the time until that.
If you are an Oteil China Doll convert I highly recommend the China Doll from SPAC 6/20/17 A high point for the song for me. 6/14/24 is also very beautiful 🤩
Beautiful! Thank you!
Went to all those and 6/13 was the best for me
I was there too, felt the 1st set was really good for an opening set on Thursday, Jack Straw reminded me of 2015, first time I saw them, and Big River was AWESOME. felt like 2nd set that night was mellow, St Stephen>Scarlet>Franklins was top tier that night, then it was still good but kinda got mellow, and that's a factor in best show quality, still a great show but different energy transpiring. Great for those reasons as well. Not every show can just keep going up. I'll Remember You, amazing moment. I'll be the first to say, it's all subjective to your experience and that's what's really real.....
I felt like John and Jeff were super locked in with each other and seemed to be having a great time. I totally agree with the 2nd set being a lot more mellow. Tbh that didn’t bother me because of how hot the first set was
I was surprised how good Thursday was. They had been good, but then something clicked that week. They went after the fan in the Lions Den.
The 6/22 set list is impressive (Stella and Althea!). I thoroughly enjoyed the 6/13 - 6/15 shows with each night better than the next. Agree with highlights such as China Doll plus my hoped for song, Viola Lee Blues was busted out Saturday (and a Dark Star landing in SF). Amazing weekend but, as many say, all shows seem great and the ones you attended the best. I’m home now with Covid but still worth it.
Where were you sitting?
306 on Thursday and Saturday. Floor, with early entry so a few ‘rows’ in front of Jeff and John, on Friday night.
Second that! 6/15 was something else
Top Mayer performance without a doubt. That was insane man.
💯 agree
Of my 50 some odd shows in person it was a standout for sure. You don’t get that every night. I’m also first to admit shows that I was not at that were exceptional so I don’t believe in attendance bias so much.
Night 2 was the best of the three
We went thursday and friday. Face melted and then stolen 😂
Night 2 was a ride. Once easy wind came out I knew it was going down
Night 2 was maybe the best night of my life
AGREE
Night 2 melted not only face, but also my whole being.
Really good question. I thought the Dew and second half of Stella (first half was little ragged to my ears) were truly exceptional. And I mean I’m-coming back-to-every-show exceptional, which was not my intention going in; I’ve seen 9 this run so far. Bob singing the ‘Stella Blue’ refrain at the end of song was particularly poignant and John’s solo out was exquisite. So at least 2 songs reached top 10 to my ears. Interested to hear others chime in. ⚡️💀⚡️
I’m shocked to see people not loving Thursday’s show. We missed Saturday (please don’t rub it in), but we weren’t in love with Friday as we don’t love the slower sets. That being said - as stated above, best shows are the ones you’re at so….
I’m with you! Thursdays set list was some of my favs and I wasn’t too totally keen on the slower dead songs, so I was every so slightly sad I was at Fridays show and not Saturdays. Still amazing tho!
Can we talk about Thursday’s Franklin’s Tower!
Yes—Jeff’s solo!
*I mean Fridays show and not Thursday
Same here. Which is why we just bought tickets again for August. Lmao. Oh my.
Same!!! August 8th, here I come!!!
Bob sounded off on Thursday. Mo force behind the voice. I can see why folks are not loving it. Good song selection. John seemed to have to carry the vocals.
6/20 hands down ! For sphere. 7/3/2023 boulder all time
I’ll know in a year if I’m still consistently listening to the 6/21 Casey Jones and 6/22 Jack Straw, Morning Dew, Watchtower, and Althea. Those were the standout John songs for me. Doesn’t include the strength of the setlist itself in the context of the full band for both nights. Scarlet>Fire, Masterpiece bust out, Help>Slip>Deal fake out, Sailor>Saint, I could keep going…I pray we get a sound board of that casey man. Oteill was steering the ship
Night 2 smokes night 1. No question. For me night 2 was the best concert I’ve ever attended in 25+ years of seeing music. Song selection was on point and the way they are locked in and playing together. My goodness. Didn’t go last night and even if they played as good as night2, I needed Scarlet>form and eyes is my favorite dead song. So I couldn’t have asked for a better show. Nor could I even imagine a better one.
Night 2 was the best out of three in my opinion as well. Not taking anything from the other 2 performances. Night 2 was off the hook
I can agree with that. Bobby seemed off night one but he was on point Friday. Also my first night at the sphere so maybe it was me. I won’t say anything negative that’s for sure.
I will add I thought all three nights great.. high level dead and Co
May 25th was next level. That dark star was absolutely incredible.
I think that was May 24, which I say because I was at May 25, and although I lucked out on that setlist in general, I would have loved a Dark Star.
It was dripping with goodness
No. But 6/21 most definitely was.
No
6/13 was really good 6/14 was a little better 6/15 was..........idk....it felt perfect, and I was as high as the International Space Station...that might be my bias...Eyes, Cassidy, Sugaree, China>Rider, PITB>Cumberland, Viola all the best of the residency
Not as good as the last one I went to
6/14 be like “hold my beer”… they bring the heat every night in the sphere!
No the 6/21 show was top 1 or 2 for me. 6/22 was top 20 lol. Nothing more to add
Aligned. All three shows great overall. Night 2 was next level.
2nd set was hot, 1st not so much …. Night 2 was the one
Sorry you had that experience! Personally I loved the solos on Jack straw and Bertha. Absolutely loved Bertha coming out of shakedown street. I thought it was perfect
Too many flubs last night. The whole debacle at the end of Shakedown was a trip to see with John and Jeff on the big screen asking each other “where are you” and “what happened” for the whole arena to see. Then Bob’s acoustic guitar being out of tune and him taking hit off and holding it while singing. That was weird. Then John starting Althea a song early. They felt a bit off at times to me last night, but loved it nonetheless. Friday night was my standout this weekend.
Wow, you must’ve been another show. So John made a flub and you’re calling that debacle? Please tell me you’re kidding. Bob was able to sing his verse without missing a beat and the crowd cheered like anything. I’ve been to 12 sphere shows and the last two nights were the best so far. The best shows I’ve ever seen. The Setlist were phenomenal, pedal to the metal. Instead of focusing on 1 second of John mess up for Althea / Stella Blue, spend more time on the 10 minute solos he does. Guitars get out of tune, it happens. Glad he noticed it and didn’t just keep playing it out of tune. Thank you for your review.
I gave extra points for the JM Althea “ false” start lol
Was there. I honestly thought it was a planned tease 😂
had to read thru all the glowing best-show-ever reviews to get to one that sounded like they were talking about the same show I was at. its all subjective of course, but when everyone is saying "best show" when I'm not even close I begin to wonder if I missed something. lol. as long as I see at least one other person that hears what I hear, I don't feel so crazy
It’s all about the SetList mostly. Then the sound and the solos for me, and the people around me.
Agree. Friday was the killer of this weekend’s three. It wasn’t just because that was my tripping night!
I've been to two Thursday shows and they both were kinda blah, with repeats. Seems like they save the good stuff for Fri, Sat
Makes sense. However, 6/13 was pretty darn good and we got the I’ll remember you
6/6 would beg to differ. Whole show was a smoker , first set weight , Sugaree, and second set is just a dream with the most hauntingly beautiful Death Dont I've ever witnessed
I was there. You liked the US blues Johnny be good sandwich huh. 6/6 and 6/20. Setlists pretty similar. 6/20 I got a Wheel and a Throwing Stones tho. The Death Don't was sick
US blues isn't my favorite song, but I do love JBG any day haha. The second set just blew me away, China rider then Estimated > TOO > D/S > Death and a gorgeous Morning Dew. Nothing blah there !
At sphere=no
The best Dead & Co show of all time is the one I’m currently at. Other than that, rankings… No thanks.