I hadn’t seen the Dark Star Orchestra for a few years, so I decided to head down to the Crystal Ballroom on a Wednesday night to take in the show. They were just off playing shows in San Francisco where Dan Healy mixed the sound and Bob Weir actually sat in with them. Dark Star Orchestra is probably the best Dead cover band out there. They recreate setlists from actual shows the Dead played, and their similarities to the Dead’s sound is uncanny. The guitars, bass lines, and vocals are all very similar to the good ole Grateful Dead, and if you close your eyes it almost feels like you are at a Dead show. Actually, you don’t really even need to close your eyes since Rob Eaton flips his head back like Weir and John Kadlecik looks a bit like Jerry with his dark, long hair. Another endearing thing about a DSO show is that it brings out the old school Deadheads as well as some curious younger folks who may have missed the Dead play live. The vibe inside the show on this night was very kind, to say the least.
Concert
