Usually when you go to see Dark Star Orchestra you expect to hear them either play a Grateful Dead concert or they’ll play their own set list of Grateful Dead tunes. Well this night was one of those nights neither of those happened and instead the band did a Jerry Garcia Band set from May 20th, 1976 Keystone in Berkeley, CA. This was due to Rob Eaton the rhythm guitarist having to sit out the show due to being ill.
“How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)” started off the second set and it was apparent that this set was going to be more energetic. Rob Koritz played the part of Ron Tutt and bassist Kevin Rosen who was John Kahn, kept the backbeat going all night. One of the best moments of the second set was when Lisa Mackey belted out the spacey blues tune “A Strange Man.” During this rendition you heard the crowd react the loudest and at the end they cheered her on for a few minutes. My personal opinion is Mattson shines the most during this period of Jerry and The Grateful Dead. “Tore Up Over You” showcased Mattson’s guitar playing and clocked in around 18 minutes. Ending the set was Jimmy Cliff song “The Harder They Come.” Since there was no encore for this particular set Dino English, the other drummer for Dark Star Orchestra, came out and finished off the night with the Peter Rowan tune “Midnight Moonlight.”
