Latest news with #Dead&Company
San Francisco Chronicle
3 days ago
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
Letters: Forget the Great Highway. This is what the S.F. recall of Engardio is about
Regarding 'S.F. recall is overkill' (Letters to the Editor, May 30): By focusing on the closure of the Great Highway to vehicle traffic, those against the recall of San Francisco Supervisor Joel Engardio are missing the point. Engardio failed to represent the wishes of his constituents when he spearheaded the campaign for Proposition K, which closed the Upper Great Highway to cars for a park. Engardio had no interest in a compromise solution like the one that had been in place for weekend closures. Instead of working to improve pedestrian safety and easing traffic congestion, he has made both issues worse. Engardio appears to be more interested in pleasing his big-money backers like Yelp CEO Jeremy Stoppelman, Ripple founder Chris Larsen, tech investor Ron Conway and Twilio co-founder John Wolthuis than the constituents in his district. Engardio has said traffic is not as bad as people had expected. Some studies found it to be much worse. Over 10,000 valid signatures were submitted to get the recall on the ballot. The voters of the Sunset District decide Engardio's fate. Kenneth Jones, San Francisco How Dems can win President Donald Trump has been caught in another scandal: He recently pardoned a man — who had pleaded guilty to tax crimes — a month after his mother attended a $1-million-a-head MAGA fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago. This is a blatant quid pro quo that would have led to the impeachment and conviction of any other president. With Trump, it is par for the course. Sadly, few Trump supporters will care about this suspicious action. However, MAGA folks will take great joy in watching Trump detractors whine and complain about this fishy pardon. As one of my friends wondered, are we witnessing the death of outrage? As a scholar who studied political rhetoric for four decades, I believe the rules of the game have changed, and the rhetorical playing field is no longer the same. The moral of the story is clear: Democrats can't regain control if their message is exclusively or primarily 'not Trump'; they must convince Americans that they will fix the problems that negatively impact people's lives. This can be contrasted with what Trump has and hasn't done. Such a message offers the best persuasive strategy for Democrats. Richard Cherwitz, Camas, Wash. Keep lid on Dead tickets While tickets for the Dead & Company concerts in Golden Gate Park this August are listed at $245 for single-day admission and $635 for three-day passes, many fans worry Ticketmaster will quietly introduce dynamic pricing — sending costs skyrocketing in real-time based on demand. This controversial model has already priced out many fans for Bruce Springsteen and Taylor Swift shows. If implemented for Dead & Company, it would turn a community celebration into an exclusive, high-cost event — on public land that's supposed to belong to everyone. San Francisco should take a stand. The city should demand transparency from promoters and prohibit surge pricing at events in public parks. Dead & Company's shows should reflect the inclusive spirit of the band and the city that helped shape it. Let's make sure these shows are a celebration for all — not just the wealthy few. Dan Steiger, San Francisco Pictures tell story I see these events live every day because I walk for exercise in areas where there is drug use. It's disgusting and needs to be shown to emphasize the need to clean up the streets. Putting lipstick on a pig does not change the pig. Good for San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie for trying to address the problem. Catherine Maxey, San Francisco Prioritize teaching English Regarding 'S.F. parents are trying to start first K-8 Mandarin immersion charter school. It won't be easy' (San Francisco, May 24): I was disturbed to read about Mandarin-immersion education for children. Judging by the lack of literacy and poor communication skills of today's youth, we should be immersing our students in English, which should be the official language of the United States of America.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Dead & Company at Golden Gate Park: How to Get Tickets (Even Though the Shows Are Sold Out)
The post Dead & Company at Golden Gate Park: How to Get Tickets (Even Though the Shows Are Sold Out) appeared first on Consequence. In honor of the Grateful Dead's 60th anniversary, its spin-off Dead & Company will be playing three shows in the band's hometown of San Francisco this August. Taking place in the city's Golden Gate Park beginning August 1st, Dead & Company will be supported by openers Billy Strings, Sturgill 'Johnny Blue Skies' Simpson, and Trey Anastasio Band. Read on for complete details about this tour, including how to get tickets (even though the shows are now sold out), venue details, opening acts and everything you need to know. Get Dead & Company Tickets Here To celebrate 60 years since the Grateful Dead's formation, Dead & Company will play three nights in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, where the original band got its start. The Dead & Company lineup includes Grateful Dead co-founders Bob Weir and Mickey Hart, alongside John Mayer, Oteil Burbridge, Jeff Chimenti, and Jay Lane. The group will play hits from the Grateful Dead's catalogue to celebrate the band's history. 08/01 – San Francisco, CA @ Golden Gate Park * 08/02 – San Francisco, CA @ Golden Gate Park ** 08/03 – San Francisco, CA @ Golden Gate Park ^ * = w/ Billy Strings ** = w/ Sturgill 'Johnny Blue Skies' Simpson ^ = w/ Trey Anastasio Band Three-day and one-day tickets to Dead & Company's 2025 Golden Gate Park Concerts went on sale Friday, May 30th, and quickly sold-out. As such, secondary ticket marketplaces like StubHub have become a primary option for securing Dead & Company tickets, especially for high-demand shows. Dead & Company at Golden Gate Park – 3-Day Pass (Get Tickets) Dead & Company at Golden Gate Park – Friday Only (Get Tickets) Dead & Company at Golden Gate Park – Saturday Only (Get Tickets) Dead & Company at Golden Gate Park – Sunday Only (Get Tickets) Note: If you're planning a trip to see Dead & Company, you can save 15% off travel and accommodations through Secondary market prices fluctuate based on demand, location, and timing. Prices typically start higher and may decrease closer to the event date. As of publication, Get Tickets prices are currently start at $898, while VIP are available for $3,356 and Super VIP are on sale for $9,548. Single-day tickets for Get Tickets start at $363, Saturday at $369, and Sunday at $337. Two exclusive VIP package options are available for the Dead & Company Golden Gate Park shows, each offering unique experiences for fans. VIP Ticket Each Dead & Company VIP Ticket includes: Expedited entry and an up-front viewing area on the Polo Field with dedicated bar access Exclusive lounges Upgraded restrooms Courtyard and elevated viewing lounge options featuring exclusive food vendors, full-service bars and bleacher seating Golden Road Super VIP Ticket Each Dead & Company Golden Road Super VIP Ticket includes: Expedited Golden Road Super VIP venue entrance lane Access to ALL VIP & GA amenities, PLUS: First venue entry selected via a random drawing and priority access to the Polo Field and all viewing areas Exclusive stage front Golden Road Super VIP viewing pit Dedicated Golden Road Sky Viewing Deck & Lounge with comfortable seating, as well as: Complimentary dining throughout the event served in the lounge, including a variety of options such as vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free dishes Full-service open bar (wine, beer, cocktails, water, soft drinks, coffee) in the lounge Private merchandise store for Golden Road Super VIPs only Exclusive, premium restroom trailers Dedicated Golden Road concierge and on-site concert host Golden Road Super VIP merchandise gift Exclusive event poster, signed and numbered by the poster artist Option to purchase a Golden Road VIP parking pass Get Dead & Company Tickets Here Dead & Company will celebrate the Grateful Dead's music throughout the three-night run, with the band promising a new experience each night. Dead & Company are known for creating a unique setlist for each of their shows, keeping Deadheads on their toes. During their Las Vegas residency at The Sphere, the group played songs like 'Sugar Magnolia,' 'Slipknot!,' and 'Fire on the Mountain.' Dead & Company will be joined by Billy Strings on August 1st, Sturgill 'Johnny Blue Skies' Simpson on August 2nd, and Trey Anastasio Band on August 3rd. The park concerts will also have Participation Row, Dead & Company's fan-powered social action village hosted by HeadCount and REVERB. Participation Row will feature a curated lineup of nonprofit organizations and a charity auction of band-signed memorabilia. How much do tickets cost for Dead & Company's 2025 Golden Gate Park Concerts? Three-day tickets will start at $635 ($556 + $79 fees) while single day tickets will be start at $245 ($209 + $36 fees). Will there be VIP packages available for Dead & Company's 2025 Golden Gate Park Concerts? Yes, there will be a VIP ticket starting at $1,725 ($1,575 + $150 fees) and the Golden Road Super VIP ticket starting at $6,236 ($5,997 + $239 fees). Are there age restrictions for Dead & Company's 2025 Golden Gate Park Concerts? The event is open to all ages. How many dates will Dead & Company play in Golden Gate Park? There will be three shows on August 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. Who are the opening acts for the Dead & Company's 2025 Golden Gate Park Concerts? Dead & Company will be joined by Billy Strings on August 1st, Sturgill 'Johnny Blue Skies' Simpson on August 2nd, and Trey Anastasio Band on August 3rd. How long is a typical Dead & Company concert? During their Vegas residency, Dead & Company played for about 3.5 hours each night. How can I stay updated on tour information? Fans can sign up for artist pre-sale access and updates on Dead & Company's website or follow official social media channels. Set price alerts on StubHub for your preferred shows Check secondary markets immediately after pre-sales begin Compare prices across different platforms Watch for price drops 1-2 weeks before the event Immediately after general on-sale if primary tickets sell out 1-2 weeks before the concert as more tickets often become available Last minute (1-3 days before the show) when Dead & Company ticket prices sometimes drop Create or log into your StubHub account Search for 'Dead & Company tickets' or the specific venue Filter by date, price range, and seat location Review the ticket details carefully (section, row, delivery method) Complete your purchase Receive Dead & Company tickets via mobile transfer or the StubHub app FanProtect™ Guarantee ensures valid tickets or your money back 24/7 customer service Secure transactions Instant ticket delivery for many listings Popular Posts Billy Joel Diagnosed with Brain Disorder, Cancels All Upcoming Tour Dates Man Wearing Nazi T-Shirt Gets a Beatdown from Fans at Punk Rock Bowling Fest Freddie Mercury's Alleged Child Revealed in New Biography Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence Are Now In-Laws David Lynch's Personal Archive Going Up for Auction Dave Mustaine: Metallica Stole "Enter Sandman" Riff from Another Band Subscribe to Consequence's email digest and get the latest breaking news in music, film, and television, tour updates, access to exclusive giveaways, and more straight to your inbox.
San Francisco Chronicle
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Dead & Company tickets for Golden Gate Park already topping $9,000 on StubHub
Tickets for Dead & Company 's three-night run at San Francisco's Golden Gate Park this summer were expected to sell out within hours of going on sale Friday morning, despite prices that surpassed those of major music festivals like Coachella, Outside Lands and BottleRock — and prices on the resale market have already soared into the thousands. The shows, scheduled for August 1–3 at the Polo Field, commemorate 60 years of Grateful Dead music and will feature performances by bluegrass phenom Billy Strings (Aug 1), country rocker Sturgill Simpson in his Johnny Blue Skies persona (Aug. 2), and the Trey Anastasio Band (Aug. 3). Each act will open with a 75-minute set before Dead & Company — featuring Grateful Dead veterans Bob Weir and Mickey Hart, joined by guitarist John Mayer, bassist Oteil Burbridge, pianist Jeff Chimenti and drummer Jay Lane — takes the stage. General admission weekend passes originally started at $635, while single-day tickets were priced at $245. High-end packages escalated quickly, with VIP tiers reaching $6,236 and the Golden Road Super VIP package priced at $9,548. That top-tier experience includes early venue access, a private viewing deck, complimentary dining and drinks, premium restrooms, concierge service, and a signed, limited-edition poster. For those who missed the initial sale, the secondary market is offering a second chance — at a premium. As of Friday, StubHub listed three-day general admission passes for $898. VIP packages were priced up to $3,356, with some Golden Road Super VIP listings already topping $9,000 per day. General admission single-day tickets, meanwhile, started at $338 and $896, depending on the date. Prices are expected to fluctuate, particularly one to two weeks before the event. During the Grateful Dead's heyday, tickets typically cost between $8 and $24 — and many of the band's shows in Golden Gate Park between 1966 and 1991 were free. According to Billboard Boxscore, after Dead & Company earned $21.6 million from six concerts at Las Vegas' Sphere in March, as part of a return engagement following a successful run last year.
San Francisco Chronicle
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
People are obsessed with Mayor Daniel Lurie's Instagram. But will it actually help S.F.?
It's 8 o'clock on a Thursday morning, and San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie is standing in front of me in his shirtsleeves, recording himself on an iPhone he's holding at arm's length. 'All right, everybody, it's Bike to Work Day!' he exclaims, grinning. 'You're going to be seeing a lot of me in this,' he adds, holding his bike helmet up to the camera. Nearby, a handful of Lurie staffers wait astride their own bikes, while his security detail sits impassively in a Rivian SUV. Meanwhile, a small crowd of kids on their way to school stops to watch with curiosity as the most powerful man in San Francisco transforms himself into a creature they're eminently familiar with: the social media influencer. To those unfamiliar with Lurie's digital presence, the idea of our mayor taking time out of his day to record selfie videos doubtlessly sounds cringe-inducing. I certainly found it surreal to witness in person. But video communiqués like this have become a central facet of his administration. Lurie is inescapable on Instagram, where his team posts a relentless barrage of photos and videos following him around the city. One moment, he's walking and talking somberly about the chaotic conditions he just witnessed on Market Street. Next, he's ordering a strawberry matcha boba at a cafe in Chinatown. He even breaks news on Instagram — such as announcing plans to bring Dead & Company to San Francisco for a three-day concert. Well, sure. But he and his team also recognize that in the digital age, images and videos can not only launch or destroy political careers — they can determine the trajectory of a city's future. Is San Francisco in a 'doom loop' or a 'boom loop'? Like it or not, recent history shows most people aren't looking for the answer to that question in objective data. Rather, they're basing it on the city's vibes. Of course, understanding the importance of vibes and shaping them on social media are two different beasts. The idea of just about any politician finding success through selfie videos seems implausible for anyone other than a young, telegenic figure like AOC. Yet Lurie is somehow pulling it off. Based on data shared with me on May 15, his Instagram posts had been viewed by nearly 1.9 million accounts in the prior 30 days — an astonishing 147% increase from the previous month. Only about half of those accounts already followed Lurie — meaning his page is reaching a significant number of people who may not be familiar with him. When he was elected in November, Lurie had about 3,500 followers on Instagram. On May 24, he hit 100,000. Lurie's team says this growth was achieved organically; since the election, they haven't paid for posts to be promoted. Ask around town, and it's clear that no promotion is needed. 'I am obsessed with the mayor's Instagram,' Rich Lee, the co-founder of Spro Coffee Lab, a popular San Francisco cafe, told me. 'I obsessively watch his social media,' said Amy Cleary, director of public policy and media relations for the Golden Gate Restaurant Association, adding that Lurie's pop-ins at local restaurants have been a boon for businesses. 'Daniel Lurie is killing the comms game tbh,' a digital media specialist wrote in an X post that received nearly 800 likes. 'Posting short videos to Reels every day, announcing every little thing the admin is doing. it's all format-native and not overproduced.' How did Lurie, who by his own admission is no natural in front of the camera, become such an Instagram sensation? And what does that signify about the future of our politics — and the importance of perception in turning around San Francisco's fate? To find out, I shadowed Lurie and key members of his communications team for about 12 hours earlier this month, starting with the mayor's morning bike ride to City Hall. If there's a through line in Lurie's videos, it's in his earnest dad vibes. 'I am fired up,' Lurie proclaims in a May 9 Instagram reel shot in Golden Gate Park's Kezar Stadium, grinning with excitement while jabbing his finger as if punctuating his words with exclamation marks. ' San Francisco is getting a new pro soccer team!' The mayor's cadence is halting and slightly awkward, as it is in most videos. But Lurie's team isn't trying to make him into something he's not with editing. Instead, they show the mayor being himself, out and about, instead of reading scripted remarks from a staged backdrop — the milieu in which most people engage with politicians. Ensuring the mayor's message falls on the endearing side of corny is the responsibility of his communications team — the majority of whom also worked on his mayoral campaign. Deputy Communications Director Annie Scudder Gabillet, 40, is the mastermind who oversees the office's proactive planning and social media strategy. She works closely with Haakon Black, 23, a communications and digital assistant who handles much of Lurie's speech writing, and Sophia Robles-Mendoza, 24, a digital communications manager who handles day-to-day online updates. During the campaign, Gabillet was Lurie's digital director and Black his digital assistant, driver and ' body man ' — a close aide who follows a politician around the clock to provide logistical support. Lurie's current body man is Fernando Villarreal, 23, who was a field organizer for the campaign. Because Villarreal is the only non-security staffer who goes with Lurie everywhere, he inevitably plays a role in Lurie's social presence. They're a tight unit — a vault of inside jokes and playful ribbing. 'Everyone thinks he's my son, wherever we go,' Lurie said of Villarreal, who still has the baby face of a high-school student. He added that 'for months,' even the sheriff's deputies at City Hall thought Villarreal was his kid, drawing laughs from staffers. This casual, familiar repartee between Lurie and his staffers is reflected in his social media, which comes across as accessible and relatable. The mayor isn't a distant authority figure; he plays video games and shares what he ate for lunch, and posts with the frequency of a friend on a dream vacation. 'For some people, this is the only (way) that they will engage,' Lurie told me. 'We've got to meet them where they're at.' As if performing a subtle face-lift, Lurie's team shapes and tweaks his raw video footage to make it interesting enough to pop on social media — where infinite streams of content are competing for viewers' attention. The team adds text and multimedia elements, using fonts and songs native to Instagram and TikTok's respective libraries so the videos look and feel natural on those platforms. It's a smart political strategy: Too often, people lose faith in their elected officials because they aren't effectively communicating what they're doing. Lurie, on the other hand, seems to be everywhere at once, including restaurants across the city where he stops for lunch or coffee. Unsurprisingly, this has proved popular with small businesses. Lee, of Spro Coffee Lab, said Lurie's Instagram account is evidence he's 'boots on the ground.' Cleary, of the Golden Gate Restaurant Association, said she was impressed by Lurie showing up at 'small places in the Excelsior that even I didn't know about.' She added, 'That's really nice for the neighbors and for the businesses — the mayor knows we exist. The mayor cares.' At Jane on Larkin cafe, where Lurie stopped for lunch the day I shadowed him, Lurie told me restaurants are now calling his office and asking him to film there, which he's done a few times. 'These restaurants, these small businesses, they deserve our support. I want to be a cheerleader. … I am going to tell people how great our city is.' At the same time, he added, 'I also don't want to sugarcoat it. We have real challenges.' How do you go about boosting the city you love while also being honest about the problems it faces? It's a tightrope that all big city mayors have to traverse. But that balance is especially fraught in San Francisco — where scenes of drug addiction and homelessness have played out before an international audience and given legs to warning tales of Democratic governance. While images of civic disorder can help motivate a sense of political urgency, they can also scare away the workers, small businesses and private investments the city needs to turn things around. Yet pretending those problems don't exist only breeds resentment and frustration among residents who have to deal with them each day. Lurie's Instagram account is honest that things in San Francisco aren't all sunshine and rainbows. I watched Gabillet film a quick video outside Jane on Larkin, where the mayor mentioned the importance of cleaning up the troubled alleyway next to the restaurant. Yet there are limits to what Lurie is willing to show. Midway through my day with him, I watched the mayor read 'nice emails' about police officers for a recurring video segment honoring city workers. As he sat at his City Hall desk, a tripod-mounted iPhone in front of him, Lurie read from a stack of note cards his staffers had given him. 'Yesterday, a friend and I were having coffee outside Peet's at Broderick Street when a belligerent man carried his disturbance of the peace from inside the building to our table. (An officer) very calmly persuaded him to leave the premises.' Lurie paused before reluctantly reading the next sentence. 'The man then punched a car, causing damage, and ran.' The mayor stopped and exhaled. 'I'm not sure if we like this,' he said, laughing awkwardly. His staffers quickly said he didn't have to use it, and Lurie relaxed and moved on to the next email about police officers helping a homeless man fix his broken wheelchair. But this tension between candor and boosterism surfaced very publicly just days later in a way Lurie couldn't control — when a citizen documentarian known for posting disturbing scenes of drug use and homelessness in San Francisco confronted him. In a video posted on X, 'JJ Smith,' as the videographer calls himself, approaches Lurie on the street and shows him footage of a mother trying to shield her child from chaotic conditions on 16th and Mission streets. Visibly frustrated, Lurie responds, 'You don't have to tell me — I'm there every day!' He adds, 'Let me just say one thing about you doing the videos and pushing them out … it also kills our economy. Think about it.' When I connected with Smith last week, he told me he was frustrated by the mayor's reaction: 'You can't fix a problem if you sweep it under the rug.' Yet it's clear the mayor isn't blind to these circumstances. Multiple times during my day with him, Lurie knelt down to ask homeless people in crisis for their names and if they were interested in shelter and services. Those encounters weren't filmed, but bystanders have posted similar videos of him across social media. It's difficult to dispute Lurie's contention that the near-constant stream of images and videos depicting San Francisco as a hotbed of urban disorder has negatively affected the city. He believes in the power of reinforcement: Positivity begets positivity; negativity begets negativity. 'My job as mayor is to make sure that everybody knows how great our city is,' Lurie told me. 'And I'm just telling the truth. … The city is doing better. It's on the rise.' This could easily be dismissed as unserious boosterism. But the growing number of Lurie's social-media followers suggests San Franciscans aren't mad about it. After years of pandemic struggles and being dragged through the national mud, residents are tired of feeling like their beloved, beautiful city is being unfairly maligned. They're tired of the city being defined by its challenges. They want a comeback story. Lurie has found success in giving it to them — one Instagram post at a time. Elena Kadvany contributed reporting. Emily Hoeven is a columnist and editorial writer for the Opinion section.
San Francisco Chronicle
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Dead & Company announces ticket info, support acts for Golden Gate Park shows
Dead & Company has finally released ticket information for its three-night run in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park this summer, commemorating 60 years of Grateful Dead music. The concerts are scheduled to take place Aug. 1-3 at the Polo Field and feature special guest performances by bluegrass guitarist Billy Strings (Aug. 1), Sturgill 'Johnny Blue Skies' Simpson (Aug. 2), and the Trey Anastasio Band (Aug. 3). The series is being produced by Another Planet Entertainment and Live Nation in partnership with the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department. Artist presale for 3-day tickets begins 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 28, with general public sales opening Friday, May 30. Ticket packages start at $635 for the full weekend, with single-day tickets starting at $245 to be released at a later date. In addition to standard tickets, VIP and Golden Road Super VIP Packages will offer perks such as expedited entry, exclusive lounge access, elevated viewing decks, and premium food and beverage service. Travel packages including hotel accommodations and shuttle service are also available. The shows mark Dead & Company's first Bay Area appearance since their sold-out 2023 run at Oracle Park, which drew over 118,000 fans and generated an estimated $30.9 million in economic impact.
