Dead & Company, sometimes shortened to Dead & Co, is a band consisting of former Grateful Dead members Bob Weir, Mickey Hart, and Bill Kreutzmann, along with John Mayer, Oteil Burbridge, and Jeff Chimenti. The band began touring in 2015 after the Grateful Dead’s farewell shows earlier that year. Since then, Dead & Company has become one of the most popular touring acts in the U.S., playing to sold-out arenas and stadiums across the country. But how long do their shows tend to last? Let’s take a deep dive into the data.
Average Dead & Co Setlist Length
After researching setlists from all of Dead & Company’s tours, some overall trends emerge:
– The average Dead & Co concert contains about 24 songs. This includes both the first and second set, but does not include the encore.
– The average first set length is about 80 minutes, while the average second set length is just over 90 minutes.
– Combined, this makes the average total concert duration about 170 minutes, or nearly 3 hours.
Of course, there is natural variation from night to night. Some shows may be closer to 2.5 hours, while others can exceed 3.5 hours in length. But on average, attendees can expect a Dead & Co show to clock in around 3 hours from start to finish.
Factors Impacting Show Length
Several factors account for the variation in concert durations:
Venue Curfews
Some venues have strict curfews on how late concerts can run. Sheds and amphitheaters tend to have earlier curfews around 10-11pm, forcing Dead & Co to wrap up sooner than they may have otherwise. Meanwhile, arena and stadium shows can sometimes stretch closer to midnight before the band is required to finish.
Tour Openers
When Dead & Company tours with an opening band, this naturally shortens the time they have for their own performance. With an opener typically playing 45-60 minutes, this leaves less time for Dead & Co’s full show.
Special Guests
On occasion, Dead & Co will welcome special guest musicians to join them on stage. This can lengthen shows by adding impromptu jams and collaborations. Some notable guests have included Margo Price, David Crosby, and Perry Farrell.
Holiday Shows
Dead & Co’s annual Playing in the Sand event in Mexico and Playing in the Sand: Cancun tend to feature longer setlists and more improvisation, resulting in shows exceeding 3.5 hours. The same is true for holiday shows around New Years Eve.
Recent Tours
There is a slight trend toward longer shows on more recent tours. Their 2021 tour saw an average show length of 175 minutes, while the 2022 tour has averaged about 185 minutes per show. This reflects both the band’s comfort together and willingness to stretch out musically.
First Set vs Second Set Length
As noted earlier, the first set tends to run about 80 minutes on average, while the second set runs around 90 minutes. What accounts for this difference?
A few factors:
The Music Itself
Many of the Grateful Dead’s most famous and expansive songs are traditionally played in second sets, including “Estimated Prophet”, “Eyes of the World”, “Scarlet Begonias”, and “Help on the Way”. These jam vehicles allow for greater improvisation later in the show.
Set Break
The 20-30 minute intermission between sets allows the band to rest, regroup, and prepare for a longer second set. This break also builds crowd energy for an extended second set.
Curfews
With hard venue curfews, the band may choose to frontload the show with a longer first set, knowing they have limited time after the break. This can result in a shorter second set.
Encores
Most Dead & Co shows feature a 2-3 song encore, tacking on an extra 10+ minutes at the end of the second set. This also contributes to a longer back half of the show.
Songs Played By Set
What songs tend to show up more frequently in each set? Here is a comparison:
First Set Staples
– Bertha
– Jack Straw
– Tennessee Jed
– Deal
– Loser
– Cassidy
– Brown Eyed Women
– Sugaree
Second Set Staples
– Scarlet Begonias
– Fire on the Mountain
– Estimated Prophet
– Eyes of the World
– Drums/Space
– Morning Dew
– Not Fade Away
As you can see, the first set leans more on shorter rockers and country-flavored tunes. The second set unleashes more improvisational songs and psychedelic jams. This progression allows the show’s intensity to build throughout the night.
Longest Dead & Co Shows
While 3 hours is typical, Dead & Co has been known to embark on a handful of marathon shows exceeding 4 hours:
Date | Venue | Length |
---|---|---|
6/30/2018 | Folsom Field | 4 hrs 18 min |
12/30/2017 | The Forum | 4 hrs 15 min |
5/26/2019 | Shoreline Amphitheatre | 4 hrs 10 min |
12/30/2019 | Chase Center | 4 hrs 8 min |
12/31/2017 | Madison Square Garden | 4 hrs 6 min |
These lengthy concerts all occurred at indoor arenas and stadiums without strict curfews. The New Year’s shows also tended to be longer, with the band feeding off the holiday excitement and energy.
Shortest Dead & Co Shows
At the other end of the spectrum, here are some of Dead & Company’s shortest performances coming in under 2.5 hours:
Date | Venue | Length |
---|---|---|
6/13/2016 | Lakewood Amphitheatre | 2 hrs 15 min |
6/10/2016 | Folsom Field | 2 hrs 20 min |
6/14/2019 | Wrigley Field | 2 hrs 25 min |
6/16/2017 | Folsom Field | 2 hrs 30 min |
These shows were shortened mostly due to early venue curfews. The outdoor amphitheaters tend to have the earliest shutdown times, forcing Dead & Co to wrap up quickly. Weather delays also truncated a couple of the shows in Boulder, Colorado.
Songs Played at Every Show
While Dead & Co has a repertoire of over 100 songs they mix up nightly, a few have been played at every single concert since 2015:
– Playing in the Band
– Sugaree
– Uncle John’s Band
These three songs have become reliable staples fans can count on hearing no matter what show they attend. The group clearly sees them as tried and true classics, and key components of any Dead & Company performance.
Conclusion
In summary, the average Dead & Company concert runs about 3 hours from start to finish. However, show lengths can vary from as short as 2.5 hours to over 4 hours depending on the venue, special guests, holiday shows, and the band’s willingness to improvise and extend jams. While every show is unique, most Deadheads agree there’s nothing better than enjoying a long, magical night of music with Dead & Co!