Introduction
The Dead & Company Summer Tour poster by AJ Masthay is a remarkable piece of art commemorating the 2017 tour of Dead & Company. Created at the request of CID for VIP package purchasers, the poster is inspired by the Dead tune "Wharf Rat," a song that holds personal significance for Masthay, reflecting the themes of compassion and empathy.
Key Features
- Artist: AJ Masthay
- Year: 2017
- Edition: NA
- Numbering: 5713/7075
- Signature: Signed by the Artist
- Dimensions: Approximately 18" x 24"
- Material: Original Screen Print
- Venue: NA
The Artist: AJ Masthay
AJ Masthay is an American artist and printmaker who specializes in creating gig posters, concert prints, and rock art. He's best known for his detailed and vibrant illustrations, often featuring iconic band imagery and psychedelic themes.
Masthay's artistic journey began in 2001 when he established his own letterpress studio, Masthay Studios, in Hartford, Connecticut. He describes himself as "as much of a craftsman as an artist," meticulously crafting his prints using the reduction block printing technique, also known as "suicide prints." This method involves carving away sections of a single block of wood for each color, making it a labor-intensive but rewarding process that allows for rich, layered effects.
Masthay's passion for music, particularly the Grateful Dead, shines through in his work. He's created posters for countless bands, including Phish, The Flaming Lips, Wilco, and of course, the Dead. His Dead and Company prints are particularly sought-after by collectors, often selling out quickly and fetching high prices online.
The Band: The Dead and Company
Dead & Company is an American rock band formed in 2015. The band consists of former Grateful Dead members Bob Weir (guitar and vocals), Mickey Hart (drums), and Bill Kreutzmann, along with John Mayer (guitar and vocals), Oteil Burbridge (bass, percussion, and vocals), and Jeff Chimenti (keyboards).
Dead & Company primarily perform Grateful Dead covers and is credited with popularizing Grateful Dead music to a younger audience. In 2023, Jay Lane replaced Kreutzmann as the band's second drummer for their final tour. Their final tour was attended by over 840,000 fans with the final show taking place in San Francisco, the birthplace of the Grateful Dead. At the tour's conclusion, John Mayer reassured fans that "Dead & Company is still a band," but that they did not "know what the next show will be." As Mayer has indicated he wants to pursue his own music for some time being.
Here are some of their notable achievements:
- Won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Album in 2017 for their album "Day of the Dead".
- Headlined major music festivals, including Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, and Coachella.
- Broke attendance records at many of the venues they played, including Fenway Park and Madison Square Garden.
The Tour: Summer 2017
- Dates: May 27, 2017 – July 1, 2017
- Number of shows: 20
- Cities: 15
The tour kicked off in Las Vegas and made its way across the country, hitting major cities like Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, and Los Angeles. The band wrapped up the tour with a two-night stand at Wrigley Field in Chicago.
Set lists for the tour were typically two sets of music drawn from the Grateful Dead's vast catalog, with each set lasting around two hours. The band also threw in a few surprises, such as covers of songs by The Rolling Stones and The Who.
The 2017 summer tour was a big success for Dead & Company. They played to sold-out crowds and received rave reviews from critics. The tour also helped to introduce the Grateful Dead's music to a new generation of fans.
Here are some of the highlights from the tour:
- Two-night stand at Fenway Park: This was the first time the band had played at the iconic Boston ballpark.
- Debut at the Hollywood Bowl: The band brought their psychedelic jams to the legendary Los Angeles venue.
- Final shows at Wrigley Field: The band closed out the tour with two epic shows at Chicago's Wrigley Field.