In light of the events in Manchester last week, the Hollywood Bowl enlisted heightened security for their two-night Dead & Company run, which kicked off last night. While it is unconfirmed whether or not a credible threat was put on the area, shortly into “He’s Gone” in the second set, the band was suddenly rushed off stage for several minutes. 

CBS LA reported (below) that the show suddenly went dark, with one concertgoer saying that the band ran off stage after being alerted by stage security. A bomb-sniffing dog also scanned the stage before Weir and the band returned to announce that they were given the all clear. The LAPD says they were not involved. 

“All of a sudden two guys came out, looked like service people, whispered in their ear and everybody ran off the stage,” one concertgoer said. The band has yet to comment on just what prompted the interruption, but they returned and finished the rest of the night. 

Watch the report below. (via Jambase)

UPDATE:

Billboard has confirmed that the security concern was indeed an “unfounded bomb threat.” The LA County Department of Parks and Recreation and the LA Philharmonic, which manages the venue, released this statement:

“Last night, a performance at the Hollywood Bowl was briefly interrupted while on-site authorities investigated an unfounded bomb threat that was called in during the concert. Because the safety of our patrons is paramount, we immediately initiated a thorough search of the area that turned up no evidence validating the threat. Hollywood Bowl security always includes onsite law enforcement officers, explosive detection dogs and metal detectors at all entrances to the venue. The concert resumed without further incident.”