11/23&24/07 Dark Star Orchestra @ Nokia Theatre, New York, NY

11/23/07 • Nokia Theatre • New York , NY
Original Setlist
Set 1: Sugar Magnolia> Loose Lucy, Cassidy, Mr. Charlie, HC Sunshine, Music Never Stopped> Unbroken Chain> Sunshine Daydream
Set 2: Help on the Way> Slipknot> Feel Like a Stranger> Franklin's Tower, Alligator> Drums> Space> Other One> Alligator> Other One> Standing on the Moon> Lovelight
Encore: Werewolves of London

11/24/07 • Nokia Theatre • New York , NY
8/12/81 • Salt Palace • Salt Lake City, UT
Set 1: Alabama Getaway> Greatest Story, Friend of the Devil, Mama Tried> Mexicali Blues, Jack a Roe, C.C. Rider, Althea, Lost Sailor> St. of Circumstance
Set 2: Might as Well> Women are Smarter, Scarlet Begonias> Fire on the Mountain, Estimated Prophet> Eyes of the World> Drums> Space> Spanish Jam> Truckin'> Morning Dew> Around & Around> Good Lovin'
Encore: US Blues
Filler: We Bid You Goodnight

On occasion, DSO will deviate from their normal template and bust out a stellar original set composed of Dead tunes, as was the case on the first night of this holiday run. They returned to their standard operating procedure on the second night for an early '80s gem.

05/13/06 Dark Star Orchestra @ Nokia Theater, New York, NY

1: WRS Prelude@> WRS Part 1@> Let It Grow, Half Step, Jack Straw, West LA Fadeaway, Cassidy, Run for the Roses, Esau, Hey Pockey Way> Deal
2: China Cat> I Know You Rider, Dancin', Liberty@ , Sailor@> Saint@> Drums> Space> Other One> Stella Blue> Lovelight
Encore: Box of Rain> Saturday Night
Notes: Special guest keyboardist Dan Klepinger - @Eaton on acoustic

This show holds a special place in my heart since it was the night I met my girlfriend. We were both working at the Lifebeat table and we hit it off immediately. Curiously, she knew nothing of the Grateful Dead prior to that fateful night.

Several years later, we are still happily together and she is now a converted 'head.

05/12/06 Dark Star Orchestra @ Nokia Theatre, New York, NY

10-08-1989 Coliseum, Hampton, VA
Set 1: Foolish Heart> Walking Blues, Candyman, Me & My Uncle> Big River,Stagger Lee, Queen Jane, Bird Song> Promised
Set 2: Help> Slipknot> Franklin's, Victim> Eyes> Drumz>Miracle> Wheel> Gimme Some Lovin> Morning Dew
Encore: We Bid You Goodnight
Filler: Marriage Proposal, TLEO, Good Lovin'
Notes: Special guest keyboardist Dan Klepinger

This was a reinterpretation of one of the legendary Hampton '89 shows, during which the Dead were billed as Formerly The Warlocks. Unfortunately, DSO did not choose the show that included the Dark Star bust out.

The most memorable part of this show was the post-encore marriage proposal. She said yes.

05/09/05 Dark Star Orchestra @ Toad's Place, New Haven, CT

06/14/76, Beacon Theater, New York, NY
Set 1: Cold Rain And Snow, Mama Tried, Row Jimmy, Cassidy, Brown-Eyed Women, Big River, Might As Well, Lazy Lightnin' > Supplication, Tennessee Jed, Playin' In The Band
Set 2: The Wheel, Samson And Delilah, High Time, The Music Never Stopped, Crazy Fingers > Dancin' In The Streets > Cosmic Charlie, Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower, Around And Around
Encore: U.S. Blues
Filler: Second That Emotion
Notes: Special guest Rob Barraco on keyboards

For a few weeks in the spring of 2005, I delivered Arabic newspapers to various mosques and restaurants in the Tri-State area. It wasn't the greatest gig, but I could work whenever I wanted and it paid roughly $10 per hour. Come to think of it, it wasn't half bad driving around Conencticut, listenign to music.

On one such jaunt, I managed to rope my roommate into coming along for the ride. We leisurely traversed the Nutmeg State and stopped at a local bar or two to soak up the local ambiance.

Eventually the route took us to New Haven, the Ivy League enclave. Enamored by the collegiate charm of the town, we stopped for a bit to explore. Then I noticed some crunchy individuals lining up outside Toad's Place, where many of my favorite bands had played.

Much to my delight, Dark Star Orchestra was in town and I decided to drain the remains of my checking account and take a little break for some soul soothing Dead tunes.

My friend is more hip hop than hippie, so he whiled away the hours tagging up New Haven's alleys and bar bathrooms, but he soon caved and joined me at the show, which he still refers to when anything remotely related is brought up in conversation.

The Grateful Dead's keyboard slot was known as the "Hot Seat" since many of the individuals who tickled the psychedelic ivory are no longer with us. The "curse" even extended to high ranking tribute acts, and DSO had recently lost their keyboardist to a heart attack. Filling in was erstwhile Dead member and bandana afficando, Rob Barraco.

The highlights were "Dancin'" and "U.S. Blues" and the fact that the original Dead show took place in New York City. Seeing my decidedly anti-hippie rommate get down to some Dead was icing on the cake.

03/18/04 Dark Star Orchestra @ Mexicali Blues, Teaneck, NJ

12-01-1973 Boston Music Hall, Boston, MA; w/one drummer (Dino)
Set 1: Promised, Sugaree, Mexicali, Tennessee Jed, L. L. Rain, China Cat> I Know You Rider, Big River, Brokedown, WRS Prelude> WRS Part l> Let It Grow, Casey Jones
Set 2: Around, TLEO, Me & My Uncle, Don't Ease, Bobby McGee, Half Step, Playing> Uncle John> Playing, Row Jimmy, Greatest, NFA> GDTRFB> Saturday Night
Encore: None
Filler: The Weight

DSO is the premier Grateful Dead cover band. They play full show covers, meaning that they will play a replica of a previous Dead show, often adding filler at the end. They occasionally play an original setlist of Dead songs.

My dad treated me to this show and I ran into an old high school/Israel friend.

The highlights were the covers of covers "Bobby McGee" and "The Weight."

I also saw the world's most perfect ass in tight white sweats.