For fans of the Grateful Dead, that long, strange trip may have officially ended in 1995 with the passing of Jerry Garcia, but thanks to numerous bands, including Dark Star Orchestra, the Dead’s music and live experience continue to thrive.
Last Thursday, Dark Star Orchestra, arguably the most recognized and respected tribute act out there, brought the Dead’s upbeat musical improvisation to the Sherman Theater in Stroudsburg for a trip back to Missouri in 1972. Utilizing the Dead’s instruments, setlist and even stage setup, DSO wasted little time whipping the legions of Deadheads into a frenzy with an impressive, extended first set, including a nice early run through “Bertha.”
Throughout the first set, DSO had numerous highlights, including a frolicking take on the fan favorite “China Cat Sunflower”>“I Know You Rider,” which saw some brilliant jamming courtesy of John Kadlecik (Garcia) and Rob Eaton (Bob Weir). While their voices might not be an exact replica of their forefathers, the real treat of a DSO show is the music. Not wanting to recreate a show note-for-note, anytime DSO breaks into a jam, it doesn’t need to be perfect, but with Kadlecik’s brilliant understanding of Garcia’s musicianship, it’s hard not to believe you’re watching a Dead show.
Other highlights of the first set included a soulful “Sugaree,” an upbeat “Tennessee Jed” and a pounding rendition of “Casey Jones” to close the set. Much like a Dead show, the set break allowed fans to create the community vibe the Dead originated, with most fans outside talking, discussing the set, guessing the show date and everything else that comes along with the Dead scene. As most people realized by this time, the show was definitely early ’70s — having only Dino English (Bill Kreutzmann) on drums, utilizing the vocal talents of Lisa Mackey (Donna Jean Godchaux) and the tranquil use of an electric piano played by Rob Baracco (Keith Godchaux on this night.)
Still, the real magic of any DSO show lies in the second set. Although noticeably shorter than the opening set, there were numerous highlights, including a tender “Friend of the Devil,” a thumping segue from “Drums” into a spacey “The Other One” and a heartfelt “Comes a Time,” which included a fine vocal performance by Kadlecik.
With the ending pairing of “Not Fade Away”>“Goin’ Down the Road Feelin’ Bad”>“Not Fade Away,” DSO concluded a three-hour-plus show without an encore. After coming back to announce the date of the Grateful Dead show they had just recreated, the band had time for a bit more, in this case a searing version of the always-enjoyable “Scarlet Begonias.”
Two sets, four hours and apparently 37 years later, the doors opened and everyone was back to a Garcia-less 2009. If something is to be said about Thursday’s show or any DSO show for that matter, it has to be respected. For a band to be able to take not only themselves but also everyone in attendance on a 30-year trip back to a time when the music outshined any problems the world may be facing, it has to be doing something right. If you were too young or out-of-the-loop to see the Grateful Dead during its heyday, make it a point to check out Dark Star Orchestra next time the band swings through the area — like the old Dead song goes, “they’re a band beyond description.” w
