Big Cat Describes Seeing Dead & Company at the Sphere & his Love of Music: Barstool Backstage

[@UAPReportingCenter]

Said it exactly. The music is always there to come back too. It’s a constant in life.

[@katzpdx]

About Bobby. He is obviously slow now, but while living under the shadows of Jerry, he was/is arguably one of the greatest and most unique rhythm guitarists ever.

[@MaureenObrien-h1e]

Bobby was always slow compared to Jerry Garcia! Jer was the fastest guitar player in the West!! Bob was putting his arm up trying to slow the guys down, who all promptly ignored him, lol!😅❤

[@mcformica]

Bobby played cowboy music. Still does. He's not slow. He's in his own groovy pocket. Its wonderful!

[@gregbunt9000]

Is, and it’s not arguable

[@katzpdx]

@@gregbunt9000 I was trying not be too presumptuous :-).

[@katzpdx]

@@mcformica Agree! He also brought a lot of jazz elements to the band when he was trying to find his place in the group.

[@UAPReportingCenter]

Brent Mydland is def my favorite Dead era! Brent was just incredible

[@kalebno9518]

I was at that concert 07/06/2024 at the Sphere in Las Vegas. Went in, not a fan, walked out a Deadhead! John Mayer blew my mind as a fellow guitarist; he’s one of the best of our time 💀

[@tylerellwein4164]

Vegas deadhead here, thank you for doing this show. Been to the sphere every week, truly a transcendental experience every show. and hearing big cat and co share the love is awesome, have always wanted to talk dead with him

[@williamswanson6424]

I saw Dead & Co 6/6-6/8 for 3 nights at the Sphere and it was like nothing I have ever experienced. I first saw the Grateful Dead for the 1st time Sept 69 and it has always been fun!

[@samholt3997]

Great listen, more jam band content!!

[@davidfinn3799]

The bass player is Oteil Burbridge, not Otis 😂. That aside, great conversation

[@Sher0420-v]

I was SO on board up till this. Shame he never got to see Gary either. 😂

[@ivyjlayman5568]

I didn't get into the dead until four years ago. I'm 65 and love them now . Wish I had 50 years ago.

[@melaniezachau5320]

John was guest hosting a late night show and interviewed Bobby. They played Althea together and they hit it off.and the rest is history.

[@neurodiversityininsurance]

“Without a Net” late 80s, easy entry, full Brent

[@sherryraiford9044]

I loved Brent so much soul that man had and so underestimated

[@robertstein3770]

I saw 2 Dead & CO shows at the Sphere in June. I was blown away by the band and the venue and I was worried it ruined future concerts for me. I saw Dark Star Orchestra a couple nights ago and loved every minute of it. Whew!

[@jquam726]

Didn’t even realize barstool had a music podcast so thrilled to have found this through big cat coming on. Don’t get enough big cat jam band talk on PMT and always been curious about his Grateful Dead fandom.

[@BarstoolBackstage]

🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@kevinborchers3522]

Here is how dead and co formed. John was super into the dead during 2012-2013 and while at Columbia studios one day his producer Don Was introduced John to Bob and Mickey. A few months later John was guest hosting the Late Night Show and had Bob on as a musical guest and they played Althea and Truckn. They gelled immediately and thats when talks of Dead and co started. John attended the Fare Thee Well shows backstage and hung with the band. That summer Mayer literally lived in an RV in Bobbys drive way while they rehearsed daily.

[@420bengalfan]

I was at the Saturday show last weekend best concert experience I have had in my life. Wasn’t the best musically but this is a completely different experience

[@GloriousSong24]

Phil & Friends 2001 was really awesome. One of my all time favorite shows any band. 7/27/2001 Phil and Friends great show!

[@williamswanson6424]

The Q was great. But that was over 20 years ago. Phil doesnt play with them anymore.

[@GloriousSong24]

@@williamswanson6424 Correct. Completely different band. better vocals than Dead & Co.

[@GloriousSong24]

@@williamswanson6424 Played with them in March 2024

[@spencerlappi7616]

I went to the 6/6-6/8 run of shows and it was so amazing! Dan let’s go again!

[@spencerlappi7616]

Also if anyone wants a good dead & company song check out their St Stephen from the Gorge July 2023 it’s on all streaming platforms

[@kingofhain7336]

It’s always organic - You never know what they’re going to play . It’s sooooo in the moment - THAT IS PART OF THE EXPERIENCE

[@josephs2640]

Long time DH here since the early 80's seeing Jerry and the boys many, many times. I didnt understand the whole Mayer thing at first, but after seeing DeadCo a few times, putting away my preconceptions about him and opening myself up to whats possible ..... John Mayer was, is and always will be Dead to me! Having said that ..... and i dont place the reason for this upon anyone ..... but ...... I do very much miss the faster, high energy shows that Jerry and the boys could manifest ..... but we are all getting older, slower and need to pace ourselves ..... Im just grateful for what they still offer after all these years. I do think that if DeadCo collaborated upon a new album of original songs ..... It could get mighty interesting indeed!! Without love in the dream, it will never come true!

[@davegibbs7665]

Dead and company are fantastic. The grateful dead vibe is alive and well. And the community continues to evolve, but the cause always remains the same....peace, love, community and fun. Peace ❤

[@MaureenObrien-h1e]

Otis???? Its OTeil Burbridge!!! He's F'king Great!!! Otis was Weir's Old dead dog!!!? 😮😮😮😂😂

[@adamtrigger5558]

Mayer was filling in as host of Late Late Show and part of his thing was also guest playing with the musical guest Player Althea with Weir and I believe the whole thing took off from there He did cover a few dead songs on Born and Raised tour kzbin.info/www/bejne/g5-4cqR9rquApZIsi=8loOiMzkdpg-k4EO

[@WildSatoriForest]

Ain’t no time to hate, barely time to wait ✌️

[@sherryraiford9044]

Got on the bus so to speak in 1989, did Europe in 90 too, was a Travel agency Mgr took 60 Deadhead from across the US, going to LAS for my bday and going to Sphere Jul 11 so excited haven't been to a Dead show since 1990

[@JoeBlutenKat]

This podcast was fucking AWESOME.

[@sambassil]

Crimson, White and Indigo is a great live album. Loser, Ramble on Rose and Iko Iko are great on that album

[@gregdahlke6997]

Great show guys! Really enjoy the conversation about The Dead and Company sphere shows. Thank you!

[@altfiwithleighlommen310]

I've seen The Grateful Dead and Dead and Co. There are eras I don't like as much, but I love the band and fall in love with them every decade or so.

[@MaureenObrien-h1e]

@@altfiwithleighlommen310 How can you say there were eras of The Grateful Dead You didn't like if you Weren't there to experience them?? I was there 1973 on right through every member's incarnations! There Ain't Nothing Like A Good Ol GRATEFUL DEAD CONCERT WITH JERRY GARCIA Fastest Guitarist In the West!!! LEADING The BOYS!

[@erichehe799]

Just discovered this. Nice. God, I wish I could afford the Sphere. The tix are the least of the worries. Flight/hotel are just out of my reach. Long time fan. First show was Deer Creek ‘89 and it was straight to Alpine a week later. Next year will be the 60th anniversary. Who knows? Maybe Phil will join Bobby one more time.

[@latch1030]

Wonderful show. Great listen. Big Cat rocks

[@RSherm25]

This was amazing.. subscribed.. Went to a sphere show 6/6. Was unreal

[@paulwarren8936]

I was at that Philly 89 Show and it was a great one!

[@ryanwagner5041]

Great call out for Isbell and DBT! Great episode!

[@tmeeks9398]

Bob Weir had an informal jam session with Jon Mayer and enjoyed it so much that he invited him for more. Check out a book called Fare Thee Well: The Final Chapter of the Grateful Dead's Long, Strange Trip

[@anna42059]

john was guest host of the tonight show and bobby was the musical guest and bobby seen right away that john can play

[@jcsilves19]

Love this podcast, don’t get me wrong. The comment about John Mayer gaining credibility is a joke. At this point he’s had a 25 year career with 7 Grammys, not to mention the collaborations with artists throughout all genres (not just music, see: Dave chappelle). He has evolved and stayed relevant for 25 years. Like Big Cat says - he is deserving to be considered one of the greatest guitarists of all time. He’s a great artist and playing in Dead and Co further proves that. His ability to fit with the band is not surprising to anyone who’s been a fan of his for a long time.

[@DBurns0941]

I agree with the comment. John Mayer doesn’t want to be remembered as the guy who wrote daughters (which won a Grammy, btw).

[@paulwarren8936]

Wharf Rat is my fave. Hope they play it when I go to the Sphere on 8-8.

[@shawnela7246]

Brent Dead rules!

[@Bufws1824]

This is a great conversation. Thank goodness that Kenny guy wasn’t there with his ignorance.

[@foxtrotthegetdown9522]

correct take

[@SpenDoc757]

Great conversation. Wish it was longer lol

[@Pittsburghbad]

Ratdog was my first show

[@eastab]

Mayer would slap him for calling Oteil ... Otis😂

[@danavicich7273]

Phil and Friends, Bob Dylan and Widespread on 7/15/00 at Alpine?

[@UAPReportingCenter]

Never knew Big Cat was a head!

[@MrFlapgargle]

My last deadshow was LA Coliseum 1991. Crowd and whole scene was ghetto, people there just for drugs and to cause problems. After that just JGB until Jerry passed. The Sphere convinced me to finally see Dead and Co. It got pretty weird, in a good way if you know what I mean, especially from Althea on. It brought me back to shows from the 80's and I had forgotten that feeling. Incredible. I saw the 6/13 show btw. Will be returning in August

[@nikralm]

Otis 🤦‍♂️

[@MaureenObrien-h1e]

Weir's Dead old dog who I petted & loved at NYE!!!

[@nikralm]

@@MaureenObrien-h1e He meant Oteil

[@WildSatoriForest]

28:54

[@GreenCloudArtOrg420]

Have guitar wizard Billy Strings on the show 🙏🛸🚀🌈

[@christrexler7502]

Bring back the dog!

[@foxtrotthegetdown9522]

🐐🐐🐐

[@juniorthe3rdjuniorthe3rd]

I am not rich. Never will be. Don’t care. Came close. Had health issues. But I will say music is subjective. Just find what you love. I have shared so much of this from back in the days when we all shared tapes. I barely got to see Jerry. 30 shows. Blew me away always. ❤ed it. I can listen to any formula of the Dead and know what year going back to 1965. How amazing. And sometimes I do take breaks but because I play music and their music is something I play a lot that I can’t imagine not jamming The Grateful Dead.

[@Lukerichards18]

Its Oteil not Ottis… come onnnn Cat

[@Chris-qk7gr]

I cringed when he said that

[@zachstarr44]

Big cat is my dad

[@eastab]

APRIL?

[@billa5289]

Ottis on Bass? You lost me there man!

[@hashburystumble8808]

"Deadheads are diehards" 😂 Deadheads are dye hards.

[@joergie6008]

Weir Everywhere ☝️ 💀🌹😊

[@barbarascotto3873]

Oteil*** not Otis.

[@kevbotchill]

Check out goose guys!

[@Chris-qk7gr]

Honk

[@harryhood7515]

Nah Chill kevbot

[@josephs2640]

Long time DH since the early 80's and saw Dead/Jerry countless times Saw Goose twice at DeadCo's playing in the sand in Mexico First time was pre covid and they played one of the bigger pool side stages after the main DeadCo show one night ..... We danced, we smiled,we laughed and this band went on my radar. The second time they played PITS, they headlined the main stage on the night DeadCo took a break ...... And we danced so hard that after the show we couldn't help notice we actually dug ourselves a hole in the sand! Completely blown away and now a big fan!

[@cdawg8325]

If he actually goes to a live show he will completed change his stance. Jam bands radio vs live you cant compare one bit.

[@Whatitdoshawty]

GOOSE

[@eastab]

OTIS?

[@joerapp8443]

take a peek into widespread panic lads

[@littermonks]

This is like watching Scientologists except they are talking about a GD cover band. Jerome Garcia would never approve - I hope his estate is benefitting. The spirit is about traversing the unknown not canned experiences. The bus was called "Furthur" not "Backwards".

[@Ray-b7l]

Started seeing the Dead in 83,seen over 100 with Jerbear.Phil,Dog other ones,and The dead with Herring,Haynes.This lineup since with Mayer,needs to be called Slow Low and Dead.This is so boring now.When people mention the energy of the crowd instead of the energy of the band,you know they suck.

[@cardinalchiropractic7439]

These guys are newbs but ok

[@adelelove7358]

Bull crap this dude actually goes 6 months without listening to the Dead. He's listening weekly at the least.

[@johnr8820]

Jerry Garcia WAS the Dead…anything else is just eh

[@tylerellwein4164]

Vegas deadhead here, thank you for doing this show. Been to the sphere every week, truly a transcendental experience every show. and hearing big cat and co share the love is awesome, have always wanted to talk dead with him

[@bresnato2319]

Have you sat in GA? I’m debating getting tickets in the seats or in GA and I can’t decide what to get

[@420bengalfan]

@@bresnato2319300s are the best seats then 400 or 200. Floor and 100 are to low and you end up looking up all night