Kevin Rosen of Dark Star Orchestra - more photos photo by Jaime Butler - Staff Photographer

Dark Star Orchestra
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
http://www.darkstarorchestra.com
Dark Star Orchestra Concert Photos
Saturday, September 20th, 2008
Stubb's BarBQ(Austin, Texas)

Deadheads and flower children both young and old filed into Waller Creek Saturday night to catch a glimpse of the past. The outdoor venue behind Stubb’s, an Austin, TX, favorite, played host to Dark Star Orchestra, a Grateful Dead tribute band.

But DSO is unlike other tribute bands simply aping their more-famous brethren. Every night the members of Dark Star step on stage, they recreate a concert from the long career of the Dead. Depending on what show they pick, they’ll even arrange the sound to mimic that era. Take that, cover bands!

Rob Eaton of Dark Star Orchestra - more photos photo by Jaime Butler - Staff Photographer

But Dark Star changed things Saturday and treated Austin to a double set of songs of their choosing. The music was all Dead, but the setlist was their own doing. So with the sweet smell of sensimilla wafting through the air, the six members took to the stage. Opening with “Feel like a Stranger,� DSO filled the venue with folky, funky, jam goodness.

The set continued with fun tracks like “Dire Wolf� and “Catfish John.� The crowd thoroughly enjoyed the show, dancing, smiling, and singing along to the oh-so-familiar tracks. After over an hour, they closed with an great version of “Attics of my Life,� which was the longest song of the first set.

They then took a short break before jumping into the second set. Where the first was poppier with shorter songs, these were more drawn out. Opening with “Touch of Grey,� DSO took no time corralling the crowd and bringing all attention back to them by starting on a high note. Yes, the pun was intended.

Rob Koritz of Dark Star Orchestra - more photos photo by Jaime Butler - Staff Photographer

The first song flowed into “Foolish Heart,� which kept the audience grooving. I was asked by the man next to me to move up a few steps he had more room to dance. I looked and that dancing consisted of him spinning in circles. For minutes on end. I moved further away in case his dinner came up and joined a group dancing barefoot in the dirt.

The show continued until midnight, and the crowd never stopped feeling Dark Star Orchestra’s groove. The love and devotion toward the Dead will last for many, many years to come, especially with bands like Dark Star Orchestra to continue their legacy in such a unique way. This was a fun show.