DSO Jams Out Yet Another Fine Grateful Dead Memory at the Orange Peel in Asheville, North Carolina

September 21, 2010

Article and Photos by Lori Sky Twohy

Dark Star Orchestra simply never seems to disappoint. They continue to amaze audiences with their keen ability to practically channel the Grateful Dead. And they did it once again in Asheville this past September 12^th when they played the cozy venue known as The Orange Peel.

The set list was not 100% complete because of a curfew at the Peel, but DSO played, with incredible ease and beauty, the Grateful Dead show from February 24^th 1974 originally performed by Jerry and Co at The Winterland Arena in San Francisco.

So the set list was as followed…

Set One: U.S. Blues ; Mexicali Blues ; Brown Eyed Women ;

Beat It On Down The Line; Candyman ;

Jack Straw; China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider ; El Paso;

Loser ; Playing In The Band

Set Two: Cumberland Blues ; It Must Have Been The Roses ;

Big River ; Bertha; Weather Report Suite Prelude Part 1 > Let It Grow >

Row Jimmy ; Ship Of Fools ; The Promised Land ; Dark Star >

Morning Dew ; Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad


Encore: It's All Over Now, Baby Blue

Notes: The original show sequence after Morning Dew went:

Sugar Magnolia > Not Fade Away > Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad >

Not Fade Away

I simply couldn’t help but have a great time listening, dancing and shooting photos to a set list like this, with so many classic favorite GD songs in a row. Everybody (the audience and the band) were smiling from ear to ear. The happiness in that room was contagious and awe inspiring.

I can honestly say WOW! If I close my eyes, I can really envision that I’m at a Dead show. The way that Rob Eaton sings just like Bob Weir and Jeff Mattson (who is doing an excellent job since replacing John Kadlecik) sings like Jerry is amazing to me. And since this was a show from the 70’s, we got a great dose of Lisa Mackey’s beautiful voice as well.

To quote the bands website…

“Precision is king with DSO; the band adapts their stage positioning, vocal arrangements, specific musical equipment and instruments to fit the era of the show they are performing. Following each performance the band announces the date and venue of the original performance. Dark Star Orchestra could dip into any incarnation of the dead at any of their shows, allowing fans to experience shows that happened long before they were born.”

DSO has been together for 12 years now and has performed over 1800 Grateful Dead show “re-runs.” And I don’t see them stopping anytime soon.