DSO, overrated
by Wavy Dave on 1/1/25The Anthem - WashingtonRating: 3 out of 5Not a good show. The best song was when John K came out and played.
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About
Dark Star Orchestra on Tour
More than just a tribute band, the seven members of the Dark Star Orchestra are dedicated to the Grateful Dead live experience, best known for playing full setlists picked from their 2,000+ concerts. The Grateful Dead's live show is legendary, a catalog of improvisation traded and celebrated across decades. The Dark Star Orchestra re-creates the Dead's intra-band interplay and pastoral guitar soloing. Remarkably devoted and true to the source material, DSO tailors their arrangements, gear and tempos to the era of the evening. Some nights find the DSO creating original setlists, playing sets from the Jerry Garcia Band or even jamming with members of the Dead themselves.
Dark Star Orchestra in Concert
Formed in Chicago in 1997, Dark Star Orchestra provides generations of fans with the chance to experience entire Grateful Dead sets, song by song. Named after "Dark Star," a part of the Dead's set known for exploratory jams, DSO rose to national prominence in 1998 when Mike Gordon and John Fishman of Phish joined them for a performance of the Dead's 1983 Halloween show. DSO promptly became a touring sensation: At 2,800 shows and counting, DSO have played more shows than the Grateful Dead themselves. They ultimately enlisted keyboardist Rob Barraco of Phil Lesh and Friends, the Other Ones and the 2003 touring version of the Dead. The DSO have played Bonnaroo and Milwaukee's SummerFest, and they've been hosting their own annual fests for years - the Dark Star Jubilee in Ohio and the Jam in the Sand in Jamaica. Perhaps the most important honor for DSO, though, is enlisting actual members of the Grateful Dead, having performed on stage accompanied by Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Bill Kreutzmann, Donna Jean Godchaux, Vince Welnick and Tom Constanten. A 2018 show even found guitarist Jeff Mattson playing Jerry Garcia's custom-made guitar, "Wolf," which the Dead founder used for two decades.
Setlists
- 1.Feel Like a Stranger (Grateful Dead cover)
- 2.They Love Each Other > (Jerry Garcia cover)
- 3.The Little Red Rooster (Willie Dixon cover)
- 4.Dire Wolf (Grateful Dead cover)
- 5.Cassidy (Bob Weir cover)
- 6.Big Railroad Blues (Cannonās Jug Stompers cover)
- 7.The Music Never Stopped (Grateful Dead cover)
- 8.Don't Ease Me In (Henry Thomas cover)
Set 1:
- 1.Ramble On Rose (Grateful Dead cover)
- 2.Black-Throated Wind (Bob Weir cover)
- 3.Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo (Grateful Dead cover)
- 4.Beat It on Down the Line (Jesse Fuller cover)
- 5.Row Jimmy (Grateful Dead cover)
- 6.Jack Straw (Grateful Dead cover)
- 7.Let It Rock (Chuck Berry cover)
- 8.Cumberland Blues (Grateful Dead cover)
- 9.El Paso (Marty Robbins cover)
- 10.To Lay Me Down (Jerry Garcia cover)
- 11.Weather Report Suite (Grateful Dead cover)
- 12.China Doll (Grateful Dead cover)
Set 2:
- 13.Ship of Fools (Grateful Dead cover)
- 14.Big River (Johnny Cash cover)
- 15.Black Peter (Grateful Dead cover)
- 16.Around and Around (Chuck Berry cover)
- 17.Dark Star Jam (Grateful Dead cover)
- 18.Spanish Jam (Grateful Dead cover)
- 19.U.S. Blues (Grateful Dead cover)
- 20.Uncle John's Band (Grateful Dead cover)
- 21.One More Saturday Night (Bob Weir cover)
Encore
- 22.Casey Jones (Grateful Dead cover)
Set 1:
- 1.Sugaree (Jerry Garcia cover)
- 2.Run for the Roses (Jerry Garcia cover)
- 3.Box of Rain (Grateful Dead cover)
- 4.Next Time You See Me (Junior Parker cover)
- 5.Mission in the Rain (Jerry Garcia cover)
- 6.I'll Be With Thee ([traditional] cover)
- 7.That's What Love Will Make You Do (Little Milton cover)
- 8.From the Heart of Me (Grateful Dead cover)
- 9.Midnight Moonlight (Old & In the Way cover)
- 10.Like a Road Leading Home (Albert King cover)
- 11.Deal (Jerry Garcia cover)
Set 2:
- 12.The Harder They Come (Jimmy Cliff cover)
- 13.The Strange Man (Dorothy Love Coates cover)
- 14.They Love Each Other (Jerry Garcia cover)
- 15.Easy Wind (Grateful Dead cover)
- 16.Lonesome and a Long Way From Home (Delaney & Bonnie cover)
- 17.Drums > (Grateful Dead cover)
- 18.Space > (Grateful Dead cover)
- 19.The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys (Traffic cover)
- 20.Love the One You're With (Stephen Stills cover)
- 21.Tangled Up in Blue (Bob Dylan cover)
Encore
- 22.Ripple (Grateful Dead cover)
Set 1:
- 1.Alabama Getaway > (Grateful Dead cover)
- 2.Promised Land (Chuck Berry cover)
- 3.They Love Each Other > (Jerry Garcia cover)
- 4.El Paso (Marty Robbins cover)
- 5.Tennessee Jed (Grateful Dead cover)
- 6.Cassidy (Bob Weir cover)
- 7.Althea > (Grateful Dead cover)
- 8.Looks Like Rain (Bob Weir cover)
- 9.Far From Me (Grateful Dead cover)
- 10.The Music Never Stopped (Grateful Dead cover)
Set 2:
- 11.China Cat Sunflower > (Grateful Dead cover)
- 12.I Know You Rider > ([traditional] cover)
- 13.C.C. Rider (Elvis Presley cover)
- 14.Peggy-O ([traditional] cover)
- 15.Lost Sailor > (Grateful Dead cover)
- 16.Saint of Circumstance > (Grateful Dead cover)
- 17.Drums > (Grateful Dead cover)
- 18.Space > (Grateful Dead cover)
- 19.Wharf Rat > (Grateful Dead cover)
- 20.I Need a Miracle > (Grateful Dead cover)
- 21.Bertha > (Grateful Dead cover)
- 22.Good Lovin' (The Olympics cover)
Encore
- 23.U.S. Blues (Grateful Dead cover)
- 24.Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) (Sly & the Family Stone cover)
- 1.Day Tripper (The Beatles cover)
- 2.West L.A. Fadeaway (Grateful Dead cover)
- 3.Beat It on Down the Line (Jesse Fuller cover)
- 4.Loose Lucy (Grateful Dead cover)
- 5.My Brother Esau (Grateful Dead cover)
- 6.Keep On Growing (Derek and the Dominos cover)
- 7.Candyman (Grateful Dead cover)
- 8.Passenger (Grateful Dead cover)
- 9.The Harder They Come (Jimmy Cliff cover)
- 10.Greatest Story Ever Told (Bob Weir cover)
Set 2:
- 11.Man Smart, Woman Smarter (King Radio cover)
- 12.Mr. Charlie (Grateful Dead cover)
- 13.He's Gone (Grateful Dead cover)
- 14.New Speedway Boogie (Grateful Dead cover)
- 15.Drums > (Grateful Dead cover)
- 16.Space > (Grateful Dead cover)
- 17.Unbroken Chain (Grateful Dead cover)
- 18.Going Down the Road Feeling Bad ([traditional] cover)
- 19.I'll Take a Melody (Frankie Miller cover)
- 20.The Golden Road (to Unlimited Devotion) (Grateful Dead cover)
Encore
- 21.Volunteers (Jefferson Airplane cover)
Great but need me some more Jerry!
by Annapolis Wharf Rat on 12/31/24The Anthem - WashingtonRating: 5 out of 5Overall a really fun night. Was not packed should to shoulder on the floor so plenty of room to dance around. Offered in the spirit of continuous improvement - I thought the sound was extremely clear without being overly loud which was awesome but the mix was a little too heavy on rhythm section and not enough "Jerry"- could not hear "Jerry's"guitar come through the mix the way you would hear at a Dead Show. Set list was a little heavy on the Weir and Dylan tunes. Even when Kadlecik sat in, it was a Weir tune which was a bit odd. All in all DSO is the best of the Dead cover bands and they should not be missed when they come to town.
Will see again
by MDJeepguy on 12/31/24The Anthem - WashingtonRating: 5 out of 5Great covers, band tuned up nice. Awesome venue, crowd vibeed.
When DSO is good, they're very good, but other times...
by JCT44 on 12/31/24The Anthem - WashingtonRating: 3 out of 5Very good with GD & Dylan covers when Mattson or Eaton took lead vocals. Exceptional when Kadlecik sat in and played lead guitar. Other lead vocals, not very good.
Merch needs improvement
by Mark on 12/31/24The Anthem - WashingtonRating: 4 out of 5Very few items available in merch department. Need more shirts and designs.
Perfection
by Brandon on 12/5/24The Paramount - HuntingtonRating: 5 out of 5I love them, the paramount hosted them in the best way everything was amazing , what a great experience. Thank you! š
Always VERY GOOD!!
by Randy Z. on 12/3/24The Paramount - HuntingtonRating: 5 out of 52 thumbs up. Luv the "Band's Choice"night for song selection. Different non-Dead tunes mixed in. Fun night w/ our crowd. The Paramount throws a good atmosphere for DSO and fans. See them there every year, thanks guys and girl!
Mixed Bag
by ADM on 12/2/24The Paramount - HuntingtonRating: 3 out of 5Old School DeadHead commentary. I came on the bus during the late 60's, got my first bootleg tapes in the early 70's, saw my first show March 73. So when it comes to my favorite era, hands down it's 69-74. I've been a steady follower of DSO for close to 20 years and have seen my fair share of cosmic performances and totally forgetables and everything in between. Friday night at the Paramount was about as close to a dream setlist as I could ever hope to experience. A legendary 69 show. That said, I knew to expect the next night was going to be, for me, a let-down and I wasn't in the least surprised that there were going to be selections that did nothing for me. "Run Run Rudolph"? "Take a Letter, Maria"? Do DeadHeads of any era really come to hear that? No matter. I'll be at the Cap for the NYE shows. See y'all there.
Dark Star Rocks
by Kurt m on 11/27/24Citizens House of Blues Boston - BostonRating: 5 out of 5Great band, excellent musicianship and enthusiasm. Very near to a Dead show. Great venue!
28 songs!
by Mr Scotto on 11/26/24Broome County Forum Theatre - BinghamtonRating: 5 out of 5The show was really amazing. Played all the favorites. 28 of them actually! I'm not a Dead and Co fan so these guys fit the bill perfectly for that Grateful Dead hit you need.
Terrific Evening
by Kenneth on 11/25/24Broome County Forum Theatre - BinghamtonRating: 5 out of 5Some nights feel like they are reassembling your soul...that's what the DSO show in Binghamton was like. The music was fantastic, the crowd was on their feet and filled with joy, and the venue was easy to find, park, enter, find a seat, get concessions, and enjoy the show. With this kind of event, you know our love will not fade away.
Great music, AWFUL venue
by MrsIngredients on 11/25/24Citizens House of Blues Boston - BostonRating: 5 out of 5HOB is a fire marshal's nightmare. Show seemed oversold, WAY overcrowded. Venue is dirty and food/drinks overpriced. I LOVE DSO, but this was not their usual type of venue.
2 disjointed sets with and extra long break
by Barefoot Dave on 11/25/24Citizens House of Blues Boston - BostonRating: 2 out of 5Bought tickets described as "seats 1 and 2, row 1. Floor. Arrived to find GA floor that was over packed . Ended up with a great perch just off the floor with a view and room to dance. The band started late. Played incongruous sets. Took a very long break. Finished right on time. I left unexcited.
Chaotic but good performance
by DSO at HOB on 11/25/24Citizens House of Blues Boston - BostonRating: 4 out of 5I have been hearing about house of blues in a very negative way lately and now I know why. The security was excessively heavy when no one was acting out of turn. They undoubtedly oversold the event and it was packed to the point that it was difficult to find a space. Overall, it felt very chaotic, and it was difficult to enjoy the music, which was great as usual. I wonāt be returning to that venue for a long time.
Perfect
by Perfect on 11/25/24Citizens House of Blues Boston - BostonRating: 5 out of 5Great venue, awesome band, and incredible performance
Great show
by Bu on 11/24/24Broome County Forum Theatre - BinghamtonRating: 5 out of 5Iāve seen many dead shows and many dead cover bands but this was a different experience than any cover band Iāve ever seen. Hats off to DSO felt like a dead show.
Love the material
by splattmanp on 11/20/24MJ Nesheiwat Convention Center - PoughkeepsieRating: 5 out of 5We had a great time thanks all of our friends and favorite songs
First Timer - I'm hooked !
by AuntBG on 11/19/24The Capitol Theatre - Port ChesterRating: 5 out of 5Don't know why I'd never seen them before. I'm in now. Cool band that cooks.
Just like seeing the Dead
by Phenomenal on 11/19/24The Capitol Theatre - Port ChesterRating: 5 out of 5Of all the Dead cover bands I have seen, and this includes some of the iterations of the Dead after Jerry passed, Dark Star Orchestra is by far the most enjoyable of all! I have seen a couple of hundred Dead shows before Jerry passed and I find DSO most enjoyable. I will be seeing them again and again.
Great show always
by Big toe on 11/19/24The Capitol Theatre - Port ChesterRating: 5 out of 5DSO did not disappoint as usual. They always put on a great show. Very sharp, talented bunch of musicians.