In case you missed it, the surviving members of The Dead reunited Monday for the first time in four years and performed with The Allman Brothers Band before 15,000 fans in a Barack Obama benefit at Penn State called “Change Rocks.”
Original Grateful Dead members Bobby Weir (pictured), Phil Lesh, Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart played a 15-song set that included “U.S. Blues,” “Franklin’s Tower,” “Playin’ in the Band,” “Dark Star,” “St. Stephen,” and “Touch of Grey.” See setlists below, courtesy dead.net and allmanbrothersband.com.
“I believe [Obama] enough to be able to get up in front of my constituency, these people out there, and tell them ‘I believe,'” Hart told The Associated Press. “That’s really important. The Grateful Dead does not take this lightly. We’ve never really done something quite like this.”
According to dead.net, The Dead had last performed in 2004. They have regrouped in various combinations to support Obama since.
The Allmans played what looks to be a terrific set featuring “Revival,” “Statesboro Blues,” “Midnight Rider,” the Van Morrison classic “And It Stoned Me,” “Ain’t Wastin’ Time No More,” and “Whipping Post.”
Obama appeared in a video-taped message between Dead sets and said:
“For twenty months, I’ve been traveling this country from town to town-even developing a ‘Touch of Grey’ of my own. And on that journey, I’ve seen Americans who are hurting under the politics and policies of Washington. They need change, and I am running for President to bring about that change.
“On November 4th, you’ll get to make a choice between two different candidates with two dramatically different visions for our future. You’ll get to choose which direction you want to take our country. I believe that now is the time to put Americans back to work and rebuild our middle class; to live up to the promise of affordable health care for everyone; to guarantee a quality education for all our children; to end our dependence on Middle East oil; and to bring this war in Iraq to a responsible end. We can do all that. And on November 5th, I hope to announce that we ‘Ain’t Wasting Time No More.’”
THE DEAD
CHANGE ROCKS SETLIST
Bryce Jordan Center
Pennsylvania State University
State College, PA
October 13, 2008
Filmed greeting by Senator Barack Obama
Truckin’>
U.S. Blues
Help On The Way>
Slipknot!>
Franklin’s Tower
Playing In The Band>
Dark Star
St. Stephen>
Unbroken Chain>
The Other One>
Throwin’ Stones>
Playing Reprise
Encore:
Touch of Grey>
Not Fade Away
Bob Weir, Warren Haynes, gtr; Phil Lesh, bs; Bill Kreutzmann, Mickey Hart, dms; Jeff Chimenti, kbds.
ALLMANS SETLIST
Revival
Statesboro Blues
Who’s Been Talking
Midnight Rider
One Way Out
And It Stoned Me
Dreams
Don’t Think Twice
Anyday
Melissa
Trouble No More
Ain’t Wastin Time No More
Jessica
Whipping Post
