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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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Dark Star was great as usual but the venue was amazing being on the beach with fancy bar drinks and all. Keller Williams was a little boring this time for me.
They delivered as always! Great crowd and great jams!
I saw the dead a lot in the 80's and I remember the shows being phenominal, but I mostly now listen to 70's shows. When DSO played the full show from Hartford Civic Center circa 83/84, I instantly remembered why I loved those shows...it was amazing. I was with a casual dead listener and even he remarked at how strong the band's playing was. It was the best show I've seen from DSO. I would still love to see Cornell 77 show though...
This was the best of the 15 +- DSO shows I have ever seen. Sound was awesome! Crowd was great! Energy was unbelievable!
Although I was personally disappointed we didn't get a "replica show" so I could spend the night guessing the era, year, city, setlist, etc., we still got one heckuva show. It was obvious from the get go that this would be an original set with "Donna" on board for the Hey Pockey Way opener. After I got over my little pouting episode of not getting a "real" show, we started really grooving to the music being put out. First set was a mix of old and new with a little JGB thrown in. The show really got started with the second set starting with a sweet Help-Slip-Stranger and picked up one more notch with Why Don't We Do It In The Road before D/S and kept up the vibe the rest of the night. Overall we had a blast - only regret is I didn't go to Friday's show as well ;-)
If you miss the cohesiveness of the Dead after Gerry, catch a Darkstar show and fade away!
Love seeing Darkstar, loved this venue, it was like watching them in my living room!
It was an incredible show until it ENDED EARLY! I understand there was a storm but what is the difference between having us trampling on top of each other waiting for a ferry and instead enjoying the music in the rain? Barefoot Truth was especially awesome!!!
If you want to see a Grateful Dead Concert this is as close to the real thing as it gets. The masterfully recreate the set lists and the actual songs, if you close your eyes you would not be able to tell the difference. See this band!
Just saw the DSO show last month in Hampton, NH. Fantastic! As a person who was fortunate to see many Dead shows back in the day, I can say that a DSO is no less enjoyable than the real thing. The band was extremely tight for the Hampton show. I will make it a point to catch them any time they are in my area.
My first dark star show and it was absolutely amazing! Plan on going every year from here on out!
What an amazing show. I will not miss another DSO show when they come around. They played forever, the energy was incredible, we danced all night!
Awesome show! This was the first time I have seen them do their own set list and not recreate a "dead show". It was rocking, danced till we dropped and wanted to dance some more! Best show I have seen and a long time and I have been to alot of show.
sounded better than the dead right on danced up a storm had soooooooooooooooooooooo much fun wow wow wow
Show was so good, they couldn't help that the venue had no exit plan! Keller and Dark Star rocked Eyes!!!!! Great time despite the rain!!
We saw the second night of their two night stint at the Hampton Beach Casino in NH and we had a blast! Even though it was a pick 'em night, they did a great job of flowing us through the whole evening with only the intermission to catch our breath! Great job!
this show was so much fun. the crowd was fun and full of energy it really helped set the mood for a fun time! Everything was perfect and more then i could have asked for
This particular show was a great time. Tea Leaf Green opened for the band. That night the show was an 80's show; the energy at the venue was amazing. Met some new people. Was able to hang with the band at the next door bar prior to the show starting. Good times had by all.
Always amazing. Close my eyes and dance...it's the Dead all over again. Guess the show and ask for your favorite song.
We had never been to the Music Circus so were pleasantly surprised that every seat was a great seat! And of course, DSO which always puts on a good show, played a great 12/4/73, Cinn., Ohio show with a set list comprised of only my favorit songs. Well, done DSO!
