One more Saturday Night, there’s always one more for the band whose music never stopped. Now more than ever the Dark Star Orchestra is tending a flame and honoring a tribe. Their musical output falls more in line with historical recreationists rather than a cover band. In many ways DSO is a Grateful Dead bootcamp with several members having played with post Jerry incarnations of The Dead. It’s odd to note that DSO has been a band longer than the actual Grateful Dead. This long sold out concert would act as the penultimate local memorial for our fallen hero Bobby Weir. Fans traveled in and old heads made it a point to be at this show. They would be rewarded with an authentic DSO Dead show.

I first saw Dark Star Orchestra playing under the pseudonym Terrapin Station at the old Quixote’s True Blue on Broadway Spring Break 2001. I’ve been a fan ever since, Their focus on the actual tones and time periods of The Dead is second to none. Their concert at Washington’s just happened to be the tour closer. DSO had already made their way from California across the Western range with three final stops in Colorado. As is sometimes their tradition they ended the tour with a custom, original setlist. This is an unusual peek into the band’s hive mind and how they would structure a setlist from scratch. It was also Valentine’s Day so love was in the air. Speaking of which they opened with an appropriate “Not Fade Away” which fluttered beautifully into “Bird Song.” They kept Bob Weir at the forefront of the song selection with his version of Junior Parker’s “Next Time You See Me” into a stellar “Black Throated Wind.” “They Love Each Other” was the for all the Valentines in the house. Rob Eaton was working overtime on the vocals with “Operator” into a classic “Beat It On Down the Line.” Mr. Weir’s Greatest Covers continued with “Big Railroad Blues” that gave way to Bill Browning’s “Dark Hollow.” They closed the set with a perfectly timed “Good Lovin’.”

The set break went about twenty before DSO returned with a spaced out “Here Comes Sunshine.” We were snapped back to the theme with Bobby’s versions of George Jones’ “The Race is On.” There was an audible squeal from the audience as the band ripped into “Mr Charlie.” This show was already a heater when they continued with deep cut featuring Lisa Mackey on a stellar version of “Tomorrow Is Forever.” Next up was the most epic jamming of the eventing with a huge “Weather Report Suite” into “Dark Star” into “Drums.” Musically the band has done everything in their power to remain true to the sound of the Grateful Dead. Even when they are spitballing the setlist they keep everything together by era. “Uncle John’s Band” was another crowd favorite before they continued with “Wharf Rat.” Dark Star closed down the second set with a proper “Going Down The Road Feeling Bad” before finishing with their bookend “Not Fade Away.”

“Rocking Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu” was famously performed by the Dead at Lyceum, London, England on May 23rd, 1972. This deep cut was a perfect end to their original early 70’s setlist. Even when Dark Star Orchestra is breaking out of their mold they remain overtly true to their musical inspiration. DSO hit the road home feeling pretty good. Yes we miss Bobby Shorts, but his music and legacy will live on longer than DSO and longer than you or I. The culture doesn’t die, it just becomes more foundational and deeply rooted in the psyche of all musical forms. We are lucky to have had Bobby playing in the band for as long as we did. And a heartfelt thank you to Dark Star Orchestra for keeping his memory alive. This show felt like a proper goodbye for everyone in the room.