20,000 Deadheads at the Gorge
After playing a benefit concert for Barack Obama's presidential campaign, The Grateful Dead reunited for a 2009 summer tour for the first time in five years
Lancelot Purdue
Issue date: 6/4/09 Section: A & E
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The Dead, who changed their name from The Grateful Dead after the death of Jerry Garcia in 1995, played to a sold out crowd at the Gorge on May 16.
The Dead is comprised of original members Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Bill Kreutzmann, and Mickey Hart. Warren Haynes from The Allman Brothers Band was filling in for Jerry Garcia and Jeff Chimenti from Ratdog was playing the keyboards.
After a one-hour set by The Doobie Brothers and a brilliant two-hour plus set by The Allman Brothers Band, The Dead took the stage shortly after 8 p.m.
The crowd rose to their feet and started applauding as the well-aged musicians walked onto the stage. The Dead opened their first set with "Loose Lucy," but in the old jam band tradition they transitioned into "Crazy Fingers," and the first verse of "Dark Star," making it sound like one entire song.
As soon as The Dead had started the crowd didn't hesitate to fall back on some of their own traditions. The aroma of marijuana quickly filtered through the air as the band played.
The rest of the first set included "Dire Wolf" from their 1971 album "Workingman's Dead," Bob Dylan's "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues," and Van Morrison's "Into the Mystic."
The second set started while the sun was setting behind the basalt cliffs that hang over the Columbia River.
The Dead continued on with more classics from their endless repertoire. "Passenger," "Hell In a Bucket," and "Althea" played on as the sun disappeared and the stars came out.
Around 11 p.m. The Dead played the crowd favorite "Drums," and yes, the song is a 15-minute drum solo. Go figure.
Before the start of "Drums" the crowd had been standing and cheering non-stop. The crowd finally sat down and some audience members started to drift off during the solos. "Drums" evolved into "Space" and the two songs were turned into one seamless 45-minute jam session.
After a three and a half hour set the concert came to an end with the "American Beauty" album classic, "Box of Rain." Bob Weir said a few kind words to the audience, thanked his band, and walked off the stage.
The crowd headed back to the grass field parking lot by the aid of the moon and stars, packed up the Volkswagens, and faded into the night.
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