Dead & Company transforms Citizens Bank Park into a giant pot of gold at the end of the rainbow

Saturday, August 21^st was another incredible evening for live music in Philadelphia, and a memorable one for all Dead Heads at Citizens Bank Park. Due to concerns about the impending storm, Dead & Company played one long set without a break and, although the rain steadily persisted throughout the night, the music never stopped.

Before the show, I made the walk over to Shakedown Street to see hundreds of happy folks and vendors buying, trading and telling stories in exchange for unique bootleg t-shirts, stickers, handmade jewelry, and, of course, grilled cheese sandwiches. 

Inside the ballpark, light raindrops fell as the band took the stage with a steady “Mississippi Half Step” opener. John Mayer took lead vocals for an unexpected “Franklin’s Tower” while the sky above the stadium was gifted with a beautiful rainbow as the setting sun took over the first baseline upper levels.

Later in the set, I made my way closer to the stage to find friends and other fans dancing in the outfield, completely unbothered by the weather. During “Sugaree,” Mayer sang out “Well in spite of all you gained, You still have to stand out in the pouring rain” to wet fans erupting with screams of joy.

Other favorites played include “Terrapin Station,” “The Other One,” “The Wheel,” and an absolutely wild “Morning Dew” before settling down for an encore of “One More Saturday Night” and “Brokedown Palace.”

Enjoy a look inside the stadium in the gallery below.

Set List
“Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo”
“Play Video”
“Alabama Getaway”
“Play Video”
“Jack Straw”
“Franklin’s Tower”
“Estimated Prophet”
“Sugaree”
“Terrapin Station”
“The Other One”
“Drums”
“Mind Left Body Jam”
“Space”
“The Wheel”
“Morning Dew”

Encore:
“One More Saturday Night”
“Brokedown Palace”