Golden Gate Park became a swirling sea of tie-dye and denim as tens of thousands of Deadheads descended on the Polo Field for the opening night of Dead & Company’s three-night residency, marking the Grateful Dead’s 60th anniversary.
A thick blanket of fog draped the park — a fitting curtain for a band born in the Bay Area and forever entwined with its weather, ethos and mythology.
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The show on Friday, Aug. 1, opened on what would have been late guitarist Jerry Garcia’s 83rd birthday. His daughter, Trixie Garcia, took the stage to introduce the band, setting the tone for an evening steeped in remembrance but focused squarely on the music.
Many fans had traveled from across the country to be there. Around the venue, Dead-themed vendors lined JFK Promenade, with T-shirt stalls, incense sellers and patch dealers doing brisk business, adding to the festival’s nostalgic energy…