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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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i've seen these guys a few times now they don't disapoint getting into the venue was like being arrested the way they search you. the show was great but the venue operators sucked
1st set was a bit weak.John didn't take the solos to crescendos and the solos were a bit short. Also the volume of the guitar seemed low.When I saw DSO in Princeton with Jeff, he took every solo to multiple crescendos The second set was superb. Volume was up and solos were very good
The tradition of grate music and thanksgiving eve continue. The Venue Penns Peak is wonderful with natural setting and friendly staff. The setlist was from end of "79 and played well. A mix of the early Dead to the epic encore Terrapin station gave a headfull of satisfaction. The transition to come of Jeff taking John's place will be smooth as heard with his play on Suguree with the band. John will be grately missed, but looking forward to Further shows.
A great combination of venue,aka Penns Peak, and 2 headline bands backtoback. Donna was in her groove and her renditions of Mission in the Rain and Midnight Moonlite were a great tribute to Jerry. Dark Star performed a flawless and energetic replay of the December 29th ,1977 show along with their new lead guitar addition in the 2nd set taking the helm so John can make a smooth transition to Further. I will certainly miss John when he leaves DSO, but I feel the band is incapable hands with their new " Jerry".
What a great show and a great place to see it! Jeff Matson is such an amazing guitarist it was great to see him play.
Penns Peak is a great place to see a show. This was the 4th year in a row DSO has come to The Peak on Thanksgiving Eve, and they never disappoint. I have seen them in other venues and they are always spot on. I was sorry to hear that John Kadlecik was leaving and it was great to get to see him one last time, but the band and John did a classy thing by having John welcome Jeff Mattson to the stage to sit in for him for a couple of songs, including a terrific Sugaree. The band and the music of the Dead will go on and I encourage anyone to go when they get the chance. I also can't wait to see John with Furthur, another "must see".
must see, if you love dead music, if you don't, you will... cause there's nothing left to do but smile smile smile
Great venue and the band was awesome. The guy they had sitting in for "Jerry" was very good. I was initially disappointed to see that there was a substitute but soon concluded that he was quite good.
amazing show- the staff there was great! Too bad they couldn't do the whole encore! Ran out of time!
The show was unbelievable. dark star always impresses me. i love when they come around. i never miss a show!
They sounded tight. The first set was the best I've seen from DSO yet. The second set was good but a little too mellow.
10/2/1972....great show, great energy. Highlights.... Greatest story, Promised land, T-Jed, China Cat-Rider, Mississippi 1/2 step, and a really great We bid you goodnight. Lows... Show ended around midnight.
Great vibe. Danced all night!!! Awesome Truck'in!!!
Excellent show ...... Took my daughter who attends school there to her first show and had a blast
I didn't know a lot about DSO before going and I was really not expecting much more than a GD cover band. I was WRONG! These guys rocked. I was blown away. I've seen The Dead more times than I can count and I can say that between the music and the atmosphere they created a night that I thought I'd never see again. Phenomenal.
Wow, just Wow. These guys NEVER disapoint. From the get go of Jack Straw we just knew it was an early 80's show. Love to hear the seventies stuff but this one was a real treat!
These guys were outstanding, really a great night of music. If you like the musioc of the Grateful Dead, you must go to see the Dark Star Orchestra. They sound almost more like the Grateful Dead than the Dead id on their spring tour - Really!
Smokin!!! It was unbelievable, the jammed the hole time.
Dark Star do what they always do in fine fashion kicking off their fall tour at the Palace Theater in Albany, NY. They came on strong with superb vocals in songs like, Feel like a stranger, Lazy lightning and Terrapin Station in the first set. Second set was just as rockin with a memorable Birdsong. They did two encores: The Weight and a rippin Good Lovin. The show was definately one of their better sounding and predicts things to come...
Jerry's not coming back but you want your dead fix? These guys will do the trick. They covered 6-14-76 when I saw them and every song was phenomenal. I had a most fabulous time, you even forget you're actually not seeing the Dead. Please, if they're in your town, go see Dark Star Orchestra...
