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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.
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It would be very difficult to beat a night like that! We got grate songs and the audience was on fire as was Mattson & Barraco. So many kind hippies hoppin to grateful dead music is a night better than most. Which was better, Fri or Sat? Both! (<~)};-)
DSO continues to prove that the body of work that the Grateful Dead produced is OUTSTANDING and that they are the medium that brings it all back. I was at the original show, and this time I was able to bring my kids to hear what I heard in 1990 before they were born. To me that is incredible!! I was told about Dark Star Orchestra a number of years ago and I really didn't get it, then I had the opportunity to see them, and OH BOY I get it! They are simply AMAZING! I look forward to the next time I can see them and experience the VIBE : )
Intermission was too long. First half was very good. They sounded great. Had to leave midway through the second half. Might have been good if you were tripping but I was not. Half the people fell asleep. Drum solo was too long with zero energy and I am a drummer.
This Deadhead was transported back 21 years during this show. I listened with my eyes closed much of the time!
Awesome rendition of the 9/20/82 MSG show. After seeing DSO Fri, I listened to the original on Saturday - these guys are a lot of fun. Venue is awesome as well.
The show started off ok. They played a decent song, and thinking that the next song would be a surprise (Like other Dead bands do) I sat and listened. After a while, the band played one good Grateful Dead song, and the rest were just average. I would recommend someone to see the Grateful Dead performers themselves (I.E. Phill Lesh and Bobby Weir -- They're still around). The Jerry and Bobby that were playing up on stage were too rehearsed and made it seem like they were performing a practiced show vs. a jam-band show.
Having been a Deadhead for the past 40 years, and having seen Every re-incarnation therof, I have to say this was an amazing show. I love how the band recreates past DEAD shows And, plays them better, tighter and DEAD-ON!
Great show and venue. DSO was spot on. Very comfortable venue to enjoy a show like this.
Great place for a show. We got up close. Awesome setlist.
It was a fantastic place, fantastic crowd, fantastic band.
DSO was spot on. Great venue, great show and a killer Eyes of the World! I love how Lisa really got into that Music Never Stops.
DSO never dissapoints. If you are a dead head or want to experience the live music of the Grateful Dead then DSO is the band to see. They played 3 1/2 hours of solid music and performed the playlist from the June 9, 1976 at the Music Hall Boston, Ma.
These guys might be a cover band, but I'd still rather see them than just about anybody else.
We were in the very back of the mezzanine, with the balcony overhead above. We could barely concentrate on the music, as everyone around us was talking loudly. Unbelievably rude to the band. (Don't people go to the concert to listen to music?). We left during intermsssion. From what we could hear, the band sounded phenomenal, but if we do ever go to see Dark Star again, I'd make sure I get tickets right in the front.
Great show! Just closed my eyes and thought that I was at a Grateful Dead concert again!
DSO continues on as a really fun experience, representing the Grateful Dead so well!!!
All I can say is wow! Saw them in Guerneville, blew my socks off with a '71 show. Tonight was an original set list, more '80s in leaning, and damn they were good. I honestly really love them with Matson. They seem to love playing with him. Only downside is that there is a long 6 months wait till they return.
This was the third time we have seen DSO with their newer lead guitar player, Jeff. He more than holds his own when it comes to holding true to Jerry Garcia's mesmerizing and magical style of playing. The band continues to do what they do so well: play the Grateful Dead with aplomb! So many people dancing and smiling...though much of the crowd does not seem to know of a more traditional GD etiquette: listen to the music instead of catching up, gabbing, on everything from A-Z. The crowd noise was telling and not terribly respectful of the artists or other customers. I have found, however, that after seeing DSO on numerous occasions, in various venues around the country...and having seen them several times now at the El Rey...which is a terrific venue for them....the volume has been more than a little too loud the last two times seeing them there. We've been feeling a little beaten up at such decibel levels. Soundman: turn it down about a notch and a quarter, please.
Dark Star Orchestra is an amazing Grateful Dead experience. From the stage prescence to the instrument effects to the musicianship......They really help you get the Dead out so you can get back to what is real.....They played a show that I attended which makes it extra special.
Absolutely phenomenal 5/9/87 Laguna Seca show...very good T Jed and Wheel>Other One! The El Rey was a really neat venue to experience this show.
