Photos + Review: Dead & Company @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre (Chula Vista, CA)

Dead & Company (United States)
October 27th, 2021
North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre in Chula Vista, CA

When Jerry Garcia died on August 9th, 1995 Grateful Dead were done as a band. Several incarnations have popped up since Jerry’s death: The Dead, The Other Ones, Furthur, and the current formation Dead & Company. None would ever or could ever come close to the power and intensity of the Grateful Dead. To compare any of the incarnations to the Grateful Dead is simply ridiculous. Each time that surviving band members have formulated a performing group, the “Jerry role” has been played by a different guitarist, bringing a different sound and feel to the familiar songs we know and love.

Whatever your feelings are about John Mayer, the dude knows his way around a guitar. The slower pace song structure really gives Mayer the opportunity to bob and weave complementary guitar notes to the familiar rhythms.

I never got to experience the Grateful Dead live. I experienced their music through a lot of those reincarnations and through the many many stories of my husband Matt. He always says of seeing the Grateful Dead that, “there was never a show that wasn’t fun and full of life.” The same rings true with the Dead & Company experience.

The Grateful Dead spirit is clearly alive and well and there is still much fun to be had. And of course as we slowly emerge from the Covid pandemic, deadheads just like everyone else are Thankful for a Real Good Time.