Fare Thee Well: Celebrating 50 Years of Grateful Dead at Chicago’s Soldier Field July 3rd, 4th, and 5th, 2015

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11182765_10204650566806498_692502102750723995_oI just finished producing a short video presentation documenting the “Fare Thee Well: Celebrating 50 Years of Grateful Dead” which occurred over July 3rd, 4th, and 5th, here in Chicago.

These three shows marked the remaining original members’ (Bob Weir, Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, and Phil Lesh) last-ever performance together without Jerry Garcia. The band was joined by Trey Anastasio on guitar, Jeff Chimenti on keyboards, and Bruce Hornsby on the piano.

I’m a “second wave” Dead fan, as I attended shows back in the 80’s and 90’s. I personally attended around a dozen shows while Jerry Garcia was still alive, making this weekend a moving experience for myself, as well as for everyone else that was “there” back in the day. The following is my small contribution to the documentary record.

While this may have been my last Dead show, it was my first attempt at mixing still images, audio, and video within a single production using PowerDirector 13. The creative process takes lots of work, but it’s fun as well. I hope to improve the more I learn the equipment. Here’s a short production I made using what I gathered during the event. I also have hours of raw audio from out in the lot that i may use in a still image slideshow. Video is a whole new world for me. Please excuse any flaws in the video.

Setlist for the July 5, 2015 Grateful Dead Chicago Show

First Set:

  • China Cat Sunflower
  • I Know You Rider 
  • Estimated Prophet
  • Built to Last
  • Samson and Delilah
  • Mountains of the Moon
  • Throwing Stones

Second Set: 

  • Truckin’
  • Cassidy
  • Althea
  • Terrapin Station
  • Drums
  • Unbroken Chain
  • Days Between
  • Not Fade Away

Encore:

  • Touch of Grey
  • Attics of My Life

Here are a few additional shots:

"I came all the way from Philly to see the last show."
“I came all the way from Philly to see the last show.”
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JULY 3, 2015 - Deadheads Messy, Shawnee, and Ashley (from left to right) gather in Chicago early Friday morning before the Dead's "Fare Thee Well: Celebrating 50 Years of Grateful Dead" farewell tour in Chicago
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JULY 3, 2015 – Deadheads Messy, Shawnee, and Ashley (from left to right) gather in Chicago early Friday morning before the Dead’s “Fare Thee Well: Celebrating 50 Years of Grateful Dead” farewell tour in Chicago
View of the crowd during the last Grateful Dead show
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JULY 5, 2015 View of the crowd during the second set of the last Grateful Dead show.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JULY 4, 2015 - Second generation Deadheads,Tennessee Jed and Cassopia, embrace before the Grateful Dead's second Chicago show.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JULY 4, 2015 – Second generation Deadheads,Tennessee Jed and Cassopia, embrace before the Grateful Dead’s second Chicago show.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JULY 4, 2015 - Hundreds of Deadheads gather on the steps of Chicago's Soldier Field to view fireworks during the Grateful Dead's second "Fare Thee Well" show.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JULY 4, 2015 – Hundreds of Deadheads gather on the steps of Chicago’s Soldier Field to view fireworks during the Grateful Dead’s second “Fare Thee Well” show.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JULY 4, 2015 - Friends embrace each other while on Shakedown Street before the Grateful Dead's 4th of July "Fare Thee Well"
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JULY 4, 2015 – Friends embrace each other while on Shakedown Street before the Grateful Dead’s 4th of July “Fare Thee Well”
Have a grateful day! The last Grateful Dead show
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JULY 5, 2015 Dead fans gather on the steps of the Field Museum before the last show in Chicago. Have a grateful day! The last Grateful Dead show
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Kevin Caldwell
Kevin Caldwell
8 years ago

great stuff. I saw the last show and really enjoyed it. I hadn’t seen them since Chicago 1993 (which frankly, wasn’t very good). My trip to the US from HK for meetings was timed perfectly so I could catch the show on the 5th before flying back to Hong Kong on July 6th. Even though the set list was weak in the second set, the performance was very good. I was really hoping for a Dark Star, but had to make do with Mountains of the Moon. It really is hard to believe that it has been 31 years since my first Grateful Dead show. A long, strange trip, indeed.

Chuck Jines
8 years ago
Reply to  Kevin Caldwell

It was a good show. Glad you were there!

alexandra
alexandra
8 years ago

I am so glad I found your video, and then this! I’m in the picture of the hippies and the banjo and I saw one of the pictures in the video, and I didn’t make that picture, but I found myself here! I know you took more pictures, how do I get them? I don’t care if they are edited or not, I’ve been looking since the show!

alexandra
alexandra
8 years ago
Reply to  alexandra

thank you for capturing all of these though! that video brought me right back to Chicago! thank you thank you!