By Kate Nanavati

As we walked along the streets of the quaint town of Saratoga Springs, New York, bright multi-color tie-dies with extravagant designs of Stealies and dancing bears flooded the sidewalks. Despite the wet and cloudy weather, fans were not discouraged. The main street’s pedestrians made it clear that Dead and Company was playing a show tonight.

Dead and Company is a descendant of The Grateful Dead, was a hugely popular band founded in 1965. The band fused rock, folk, and jazz with an array of different sounds, techniques, and visuals from other groups. They toured in and outside of the country for 30 years, leaving a large influence on music in America. When the band came to an end with the death of guitarist Jerry Garcia in 1995,  their fans were disappointed. However, this didn’t last long. My dad, Mark Nanavati, is a long-time fan of the Grateful Dead and recalls that “I thought that was the end of the road for the band. However, that was only the end of a chapter, with Dead & Company forming shortly thereafter, and giving us eight more years on the road with great music and friends.”

Dead and Company was formed in 2015 and is loved by many of the Grateful Dead’s original supporters, like my dad. This year, two original members, guitarist and singer Bob Weir and drummer Mickey Hart, were a part of the tour. Original member Bill Kreutzman (drums) has played for the majority of Dead and Company’s duration but only played for the first couple of shows this past summer. The other members included were John Mayer on guitar and vocals, a well-known independent singer and musician before his stint with the band, Oteil Burbridge on bass, Jay Lane on drums, and Jeff Chimenti on keyboards. 

At 5 o’clock on June 17, my brother, Charlie (‘23), my dad, and I pulled into the parking lot of Saratoga Performing Arts Center. Nestled in the Saratoga Spa State Park, the venue is surrounded by hot springs and hiking trails. Gray clouds and a light mist occupied the air, but the dreary weather didn’t affect us. We were filled with excitement, unlike the feeling from the past three shows I had been to. This was different; it was our last Dead and Company summer tour show. 

After making the 15-minute trek through the towering trees and muddy puddles from the car, we reached our first stop, Shakedown Street. A Grateful Dead tradition from the early 1980s, Shakedown consists of rows of vendors in tents and vans selling goods that range from freshly grilled burgers to eclectic clothing items. Some of the band’s most avid followers set up early in the day and welcome customers strolling between the tents that display vivid colors and spread savory smells.

Once we crossed the bridge to Shakedown Street, we were surrounded by people, all with the same goal of either grabbing a souvenir to take home or getting a quick bite to eat before the show. My brother and I purchased a quesadilla freshly made by a man and his family out of a van. The melted cheese and tender chicken warmed me up from the dreary weather. We made a lap around the tents and decided to hold off on buying anything until we got into the venue.

The lawn of Saratoga Performing Arts Center during the Dead and Company show.

30 minutes prior to the beginning of the show, we made our way into the venue. We waited patiently for the band to come out, hoping for a good first song. As Weir and Mayer began to sing “Let The Good Times Roll,” the crowd roared in pure joy. 20,000 people covered the sloped lawn, and 5,200 people filled the seats inside. The sea of rainbows was breathtaking.

During the show, I looked over to see my dad completely immersed in the music. His eyes closed, and we swayed to the tune of “Bird Song.” He and the crowd were focused solely on the music and nothing else. Everyone danced freely, totally present in the moment. No one sat down, and the singing never stopped. There was a constant rush of energy shared amongst the crowd. Sydney Petty (‘25) attended a Dead and Company show at Jiffy Lube Live in Bristow, Virginia in early June, and she observed that, “The fans are very free. It’s like everyone is connected to the earth and each other.”

The passion that the fans have for the band creates an instant connection. This has been true since the 1960s. Before the show, the old man sitting next to my brother made sure to talk to us. He explained the band’s history and his experiences throughout his lifetime. We listened closely to each detail he recalled. It was obvious that he loved the band’s incomparable music. Charlie and I shared our favorite memories from the last couple of years attending summer Dead and Company shows and explained our similar appreciation for the music. At the concert in Bristow, Martha Jamison (‘23) noticed this same vibe. She explained that “it seemed like there was an understanding friendship, just because we were all there to hear the same people on stage.” 

Dead and Company playing on June 17, 2023 to the crowd in Saratoga Springs. 

By the second set, I was starting to get tired. After the fourth song came to a close, my favorite part, “Drums/ Space” dissolved my tiredness. “Drums/Space” is a segment in the show when the band exits the stage to let drummer Mickey Hart improvise melodic sounds. After Hart played a composition of catchy beats, Space started. Captivating lights beamed from place to place. He produced an indescribable combination of sounds from the Beam, an instrument that produces shockingly low notes. The notes he played caused the whole venue to vibrate. The bass rattled through my ears, and goosebumps filled my skin. I couldn’t hear anything but that single note. I felt isolated from the crowd. It was the most captivating moment I’ve had at a Dead and Company show.

Throughout the encore my brother, dad, and I sang as loud as we could. We danced to the upbeat tune of “One More Saturday Night” and watched the band have fun playing for their audience. The lyrics rang from the lawn behind us. People got out of their seats and filled the venue’s aisles, letting their bodies move with freedom along to the song. The encore came to a close, and, after the longest applause I’ve ever experienced, they stood on the stage all together, bowed, and walked off. Everyone yelled and clapped, taking a minute to take it all in. It was a fantastic show and one I will never forget. 

Photos by Mark Nanavati.