Folsom finale: Dead and Company says goodbye to Boulder

Under the cover of a dark gray July sky, more than 30,000 fans of Dead and Company gathered Monday at Folsom Field to say goodbye to the last remaining vestiges of the legendary rock band.

Dead and Company, a continuation of the iconic Grateful Dead, has been captivating audiences with their unique blend of rock, folk and psychedelic improvisations since their formation in 2015. Comprising original Grateful Dead members Bob Weir and Mickey Hart, along with John Mayer, Oteil Burbridge, Jay Lane, and Jeff Chimenti, the band has carried forward the spirit and musical ethos of the Dead, enchanting old and new fans alike.

After two nights at the football field, guests of the July 3 show looked a bit disheveled and rather disgruntled as they filed into the venue, but as soon as the opening notes to the first song started playing, all bets were off. This night was to be the third and final evening of the tour’s Boulder leg, and fans wanted to soak in every single moment.

“I can’t believe this is really it,” said Katrina Minette, 30, whose hair was peppered with sparkly rainbow streaks to commemorate the occasion.

Minette, traveling from North Carolina, bought tickets to see Dead and Company all three evenings in Boulder. “Of course I went all of the nights. Who knows when we are going to see them again? This is a special kind of magic,” Minen mused.

As Bob Weir struck up the opening notes of “Bertha,” Minette became engrossed in the performance. “I’m so sorry, but this is my favorite song in the entire world. I can’t talk anymore. But I love you.”

A feeling of hazy, lazy, indulgent happiness seemed to hang in the air, as people all around danced, hugged, laughed and hollered with increasing abandon. On more than one occasion, fans pulled out pieces of paraphernalia that probably cost more than one month’s rent in Colorado and passed them around. At one point, a glassy-eyed, middle-aged man wearing a shirt that read “Make IPA Clear Again” and an indulgent grin produced a tray of chocolate cookies and distributed them to the surrounding Deadheads.

A baby, clad in giant headphones and a tie-dyed onesie with Jerry Garcia’s face stamped onto the front, stared at the stage with open-eyed awe as if he was seeing god for the first time. After Jeff Chimenti played a long, tickling riff from “New Speedway Boogie,” the Deadhead baby audibly gurgled.

Lauren Amico, 19, of Boulder, admitted that she had only come to the shows because she has a crush on John Mayer.

Amico, who also attended all three of the Boulder dates, told the Camera that the weekend converted her into a full-fledged Grateful Dead fan.

“I have loved John Mayer since I was 5. He is so talented! But I didn’t really get what the Dead were all about until I got to see them play in real life this weekend. Now I get it. I’m sad I caught on so late,” Amico said. “But my Dad told me, it’s better late than never. And it’s never too late to become a Dead fan. Because even if this is the last tour, the music never dies.”

Feelings of skepticism were echoed by a handful of other concert attendees, many of whom were hesitant to believe that this really would be the Dead’s last tour.

“They’ve done this many times. They said the Fare Thee Well tour would be the last one. And we all know how that turned out,” said Bill Grossman, 67, of Longmont.

“A year after the Fare Thee Well Tour wrapped up, Dead and Company announced they were going to do a tour. You can’t trust what these guys say,” Grossman said, laughing.

Of all of the stops on Dead and Company’s “final” tour, Boulder was originally the only location to host more than two shows. In the last month, the band announced that they would be adding a third date to the San Francisco leg of the tour, making San Francisco and Boulder the only two locations to feature three concerts.

The Dead have had a lengthy, symbiotic relationship with Boulder, having played at Folsom Field first in 1972 and again in 1980. Since first forming in 2015, Dead and Company have stopped in Boulder every year, with the exception of 2020 and 2021.

Boulder has long been a hub for counterculture and music. The vast open spaces, outdoor venues, and lively music scene in Boulder make it an ideal destination for fans who seek an immersive and unforgettable concert experience.

As the final Boulder concert moved into the second set, the profound impact it had on the audience was tangible. The euphoric atmosphere of the concert, punctuated by the sounds of thunder and flashes of summer lightning, had converted a fresh wave of fans, welcoming them with open arms into the tight-knit Deadhead community. As Folsom Field says goodbye to its most popular musical performer, it is evident that the deep connection between the band and the city remains unyielding. But who knows? The Dead may live to return to Folsom again.

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