On Sept. 4-6, Dark Star Orchestra performed three drive-in shows, their first live performances in over six months. The Sept. 4 show took place in Canadaigua, N.Y. and was streamed on FANS. The next two nights took place at the Citizens Bank Park parking lot in Philadelphia.
The first of the three shows saw DSO elect their own setlist. The show began with "Cold Rain And Snow," followed by "Cassidy." The set concluded with a pairing of "Bird Song" and "The Music Never Stopped." Set two kicked off with the classic combo of "Help on the Way" > "Slipknot" > "Franklin's Tower." Later, after an extended sequence of "Drums > Space," the band wrapped up the set with "Morning Dew" and a cover of The Rolling Stones' "I Can't Get No (Satisfaction)."
Sept. 5's show at Citizens Bank Park's parking lot was another elective setlist; the first set contained such Dead classics as "Jack Straw," "Ramble On Rose," "Let It Grow" and "Eyes of the World." Set two began with "Scarlet Begonias" (without it's usual partner in "Fire on the Mountain." Later, DSO performed "Terrapin Station," followed by a sequence that was reminiscent of the Grateful Dead's Live/Dead album, in which they moved between "St. Stephen," "The Eleven" and, later, "Turn On Your Lovelight."
On Sept. 6, again at the Citizens Bank Park parking lot, DSO recreated the Grateful Dead's Sept. 6, 1980 show (Maine State Fairgrounds in Lewiston, Maine). The show's first set began with "Alabama Getaway," followed by "Greatest Story Ever Told" and "Sugaree." Later in the set, DSO delivered another classic Dead combination of "China Cat Sunflower" and "I Know You Rider." The second set opened with "Shakedown Street," followed by "Lost Sailor" > "Saint of Circumstance." Later, the band moved between "Playin' in the Band" and "Uncle John's Band," followed by "Drums/space," "Not Fade Away" and "The Wheel." DSO then returned to "Playin' in the Band" and "Uncle John's Band," before closing the set with "Sugar Magnolia."
Check out the full setlists from each night below!
Dark Star Orchestra
Sept. 4, 2020
Canandaigua, N.Y.
Set 1: Cold Rain And Snow, Cassidy, Dire Wolf, New Minglewood Blues, Jack-A-Roe, Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues, Blow Away, Looks Like Rain, Bird Song > The Music Never Stopped
Set 2: Help On The Way > Slipknot > Franklin's Tower, Man Smart (Woman Smarter), Mission In The Rain > drums > space > Throwing Stones > Morning Dew > I Can't Get No (Satisfaction)
Enc: New Speedway Boogie > Nobody's Fault But Mine > New Speedway Boogie > Johnny B. Goode
Dark Star Orchestra
Sept. 5, 2020
Citizens Bank Park Parking Lot, Philadelphia, Pa.
Set 1: Jack Straw > Bertha, Black Throated Wind, Big Boss Man, Loser, Passenger, Ramble On Rose, Let It Grow > Eyes Of The World > Box Of Rain
Set 2: Scarlet Begonias, Estimated Prophet > Terrapin Station > Saint Stephen > drums > space > Saint Stephen > The Eleven > The Other One > Stella Blue > Turn On Your Lovelight (Pigpen style).
Enc: It's All Over Now Baby Blue
Dark Star Orchestra
Sept. 6, 2020 (recreating the Dead's 9/6/80 show)
Citizens Bank Park Parking Lot, Philadelphia, Pa.
Set 1: Alabama Getaway, Greatest Story Ever Told, Sugaree, Me and My Uncle, Mexicali Blues, Tennessee Jed, Feel Like a Stranger, Friend of the Devil, Far From Me, Little Red Rooster, China Cat Sunflower, I Know You Rider, Promised Land
Set 2. Shakedown Street, Lost Sailor > Saint of Circumstance, Althea, Playin' in the Band, Uncle John's Band > drums/space > Not Fade Away, The Wheel, Uncle John's Band, Playin' in the Band, Sugar Magnolia
Enc: One More Saturday Night, Brokedown Palace
