Dark Star Orchestra: Continuing the Grateful Dead Concert Experience

Probably the preeminent Grateful Dead tribute these days, Dark Star Orchestra is the kind of outfit that can transcend time and space in many ways. The band formed in 1997, just a coupla years after Jerry Garcia’s death sent shockwaves through the nation’s jam scene. The gist of this group is full-on representation of the Dead’s live shows. Taking setlists verbatim from the Dead’s archive of over 2,500 shows, Dark Star Orchestra conveys the feeling of those days, down to the tiny, magical details. For many, it’s a powerful sentiment to consider that there’s a band maintaining the spirit of the Dead, even after so many years have passed. Each show is completely different, drawing from the original band’s many distinguished eras. Last December saw them playing a lot of set lists from the 1970s. Who know what we’ll see tonight? (Eric Sandy)