Allman Brothers’ guitarist Warren Haynes (r) jams with drummer Mickey Hart and Bob Weir during the Dead’s sold-out “Change Rocks” concert Monday.
Playing their first show together since 2004, the Dead (formerly the Grateful Dead) treated a sold-out crowd of 15,000 at Penn State University’s Bryce Jordan Center to a two-hour-plus show Monday night. The show, dubbed "Change Rocks," was a benefit for presidential candidate Barack Obama ― who delivered a pre-recorded message to the audience between acts ― and also included a full opening set by recent Billboard Live Award winners the Allman Brothers Band.
“The Grateful Dead does not take this lightly,” drummer Mickey Hart said in a dressing room interview before Monday’s benefit show. “We’ve never really done something quite like this.” The Dead dropped “Grateful” from their name in honor of their late co-founding singer/songwriter/guitarist Jerry Garcia, who died in 1995.
A photo montage from the Allmans' Monday night “Change Rocks” set. L-R: Derek Trucks, Gregg Allman, guest Susan Tedeschi
The Allmans opened with a 13-song set highlighted by many familiar favorites, including “Statesboro Blues,” “Midnight Rider,” “One Way Out,” “Melissa,” and “Trouble No More,” before concluding with a typically feverish encore of “Whipping Post.” Blues singer Susan Tedeschi joined the band midway through the show for “Anyday” and a cover of Dylan’s “Don’t Think Twice.”
Allman Band/Govt. Mule guitarist Warren Haynes also joined the Dead line-up during their energetic, typically sprawling set, joining original Grateful Dead members Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Bill Kreutzmann, Mickey Hart and new keyboardist Jeff Chimenti in a show that featured many familiar Dead favorites. The enthusiastic crowd ― an eclectic mix of college students, veteran Deadheads and Obama supporters ― were on their feet from the opening notes of “Truckin’” to the final encore, “Not Fade Away.” In between, the legendary band served up a rich selection of Dead live staples, including “U.S. Blues,” “Playin’ in the Band,” “St. Stephen” and “Touch of Grey.” The set also included an extended workout on the band’s psych-tinged “Dark Star,” long a beloved live touchstone for Deadheads the world over.
The Allman Brothers Band’s set list:
Revival – Statesboro Blues – Who's Been Talking – Midnight Rider – One Way Out – And It Stoned Me – Dreams (with Ron Holloway, sax) – Don’t Think Twice (with Susan Tedeschi, guitar & vocals; Ron Holloway, sax; James van der Bogert, drums) – Anyday (with Susan Tedeschi & Oteil, vocals) – Melissa – Trouble No More – Ain’t Wastin’ Time No More – Jessica – Encore: Whipping Post
The Dead’s set list:
Truckin’ – U.S. Blues – Help on the Way – Slipknot – Franklin’s Tower – Playin’ In The Band – Dark Star – St. Stephen – Unbroken Chain – Other One – Throwin’ Stones – Playin’ In The Band (Reprise) – Encores: Touch of Grey, Not Fade Away