Dark Star Orchestra (or simply DSO) is a U.S. tribute band to the Grateful Dead, formed in 1997 and based in Chicago. Motto: E pluribus unum (1789 to 1956) (Latin: Out of Many, One) In God We Trust (1956 to present) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City Official language(s) None at federal level; English de facto Government • President • Vice President Federal Republic George... A tribute band (sometimes tribute group) is a musical group created in order to specifically play the music of a well-known band, often one which has disbanded or ceased touring. ... The Grateful Dead was an American psychedelia-influenced rock band formed in 1965 in San Francisco. ...

Overview

Each night, the band decides on performing one show from the 2,500 that the Grateful Dead performed during their 30 year tenure as fathers of improvisational rock. As a chamber orchestra interprets Bach or Mozart, Dark Star Orchestra presents the complete original set list, song by song, and in order, recreating historic music with faithful interpretation. Improvisation is the act of making something up as it is performed. ... Bach redirects here. ... Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (baptised as Joannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart; January 27, 1756 – December 5, 1791) is among the most significant and enduringly popular composers of European classical music. ...

Precision is king with this group, which position the stage plot based on the year of Grateful Dead show to be performed. Dark Star Orchestra adapts their phrasing, voice arrangements, and even arranges specific musical equipment for the various eras in which they perform. At the end of every performance, the band announces the date and venue where the original show just covered took place. Dark Star Orchestra dips into nearly every incarnation of the Dead, so most fans can "see" shows that happened long before they were born.

DSO has drawn national attention with their true-to-life performances. Rolling Stone praises "Dark Star Orchestra's fanatical attention to detail." USA Today says DSO is "channeling the Dead" and the Washington Post declares them "the hottest Grateful Dead tribute act going." Dallas Morning News affirms DSO is "the next best thing to being there", the Denver Post describes Dark Star Orchestra as "a perfection-oriented practitioner of homage" and the Associated Press notes that DSO "takes its act to a level of detail that befits a rock band famous for its fanatical following."

The group has its craft so well-refined that even members of the Grateful Dead themselves, rhythm guitarist/singer Bob Weir, drummer Bill Kreutzmann, vocalist Donna Jean Godchaux, and keyboardists Vince Welnick and Tom Constanten, have appeared on stage and performed with the Dark Star Orchestra. In October 2004, the group performed its 1000th show and has released a three disc set of that performance. Grateful Dead co-founder Bob Weir Robert Hall Weir (October 16, 1947–) is an American guitar player, most recognized as a founding member of the Grateful Dead. ... Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kruetzmann Bill Kreutzmann (born May 7, 1946 in Palo Alto, California) was the drummer for legendary rock band The Grateful Dead for their entire 30-year career. ... Image:Welnick lg. ... Tom Constanten Musician, primarily keyboardist, born March 19, 1944, best known for his stint with the Grateful Dead from 1968-1970. ...

"We're given a canvas with a boundary, whatever the stage set up is the framework and all of the painting that we do within that framework is unique to us," says rhythm guitarist/vocalist Rob Eaton. "So we offer the sound and the structure, but all the stroking and painting is all us. So it's fresh at the same time and also very historically correct."

Members

Current members:

• John Kadlecik - lead guitar, vocals
• Rob Eaton - rhythm guitar, vocals
• Kevin Rosen - bass, vocals
• Lisa Mackey - vocals
• Rob Koritz - drums, percussion
• Dino English - drums, percussion

Previous members:

• Scott Larned - keyboards, vocals (July 3, 1969 - April 24, 2005, deceased)

History

Dark Star Orchestra (DSO) has been delivering the live, Grateful Dead music experience to old and new Grateful Dead fans since 1997, after guitarist John Kadlecik contacted keyboardist Scott Larned with a concept (introduced by a common friend Andrew "Tiny" Dofner): performing complete Grateful Dead shows out of history. When Scott mentioned having the same idea, John knew they were on to something.

DSO secured four Tuesday night gigs at Martyrs' in Chicago. The first night, November 11, 1997, saw only 78 people, but by the fourth week they had sold out the room. By spring they had toured Colorado and had steady Tuesday and Wednesday night gigs in Chicago. The band performed their 1000th show October 29, 2004 while on tour in Greensboro, NC. Chicago (officially named the City of Chicago) is the third largest city in the United States (after New York City and Los Angeles), with an official population of 2,896,016, as of the 2000 census. ... November 11 is the 315th day of the year (316th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 50 days remaining. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Official language(s) English Capital Denver Largest city Denver Area  - Total   - Width   - Length    - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 8th 104,185 sq mi  269 837 km² 280 miles  451 km 380 miles  612 km 0. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Downtown Greensboro Greensboro, North Carolina, is a city located in Guilford County in the U.S. state of North Carolina. ...

On lead guitar and vocals, John Kadlecik sings with an uncanny resemblance to Jerry Garcia, using amp rigs and equipment to suit the near-exact, Garcia guitar tone from the show being recreated. When the show is from the 70s, vocalist Lisa Mackey provides the female harmonies, performing the Donna Godchaux parts in perfect key. Jerome John Jerry Garcia (August 1, 1942 – August 9, 1995) was famous as the lead guitarist and vocalist of the psychedelic rock band the Grateful Dead, though his extensive career involved many other projects. ...

Dino English combines his training in percussion and jazz and his experience in Dead-oriented groups to deliver the rhythmic drumming sounds of Bill Kreutzmann. On the other drum set, Rob Koritz, a classical and jazz influenced musician gets into the soul and spirit of the music while filling the Mickey Hart role. Like Phil Lesh, Kevin Rosen provides a very distinctive, fluid style of bass playing and a devotion to the music of the Dead. On rhythm guitar and vocals, Rob Eaton provides an extension of the passionate feeling, instrumentation and tone created by Bob Weir. Phil Lesh of the Grateful Dead Phillip Chapman Lesh (born March 15, 1940 in Berkeley, California) is a musician and a founding member of the band Grateful Dead; he played bass guitar in that group throughout their entire 30-year career. ...

In November of 1998, on the eve of their first anniversary, Mike Gordon and Jon Fishman of Phish joined DSO at Martyrs' after their own show. Fishman sat in for the majority of the evening, which included a rollicking drum section with four percussionists. The ensuing buzz caused national interest in the band. That winter, their Colorado tour sold out almost every stop, their MP3 web site was getting millions of hits and everyone wanted to know how they got their sound so precise. Soon after, the Washington Post declared them "the hottest Grateful Dead tribute act going"; USA Today claimed DSO was "channeling the Dead," but what they do is not just a tribute to the Grateful Dead but a testament to the enormous number of unique set lists they performed in their long career. Mike Gordon with Phish at Deer Creek in 2004. ... Jon Fishman under the lights with Phish, 1998 Jon Fishman was the drummer for the legendary progressive jam band Phish. ... Phish was an American rock band most noted for jamming and improvisation. ...

Continuing the growth, the band had performed up to 200 dates in a year. They have grown continually, playing at larger venues and theaters, collaborating with guests including Grateful Dead alumni Bob Weir, Bill Kreutzmann, Donna Jean Godchaux-Mackay, Vince Welnick, and Tom Constanten.

In 2004, Dark Star Orchestra performed over 155 shows throughout the U.S to over 110,000 Deadheads and music fans. In addition to the complete Grateful Dead show selections, the band has been known to incorporate Jerry Garcia Band show set lists as well as original set lists of their own choosing.

Unfortunately, during the band's Spring tour in 2005, co-founder Scott Larned died of a heart attack on April 24; the band has reeled ever since while featuring the talents of guest keyboardists (most notably Rob Barraco of Zen Tricksters and Phil and Friends fame) and vocalists until one is selected as Scott's permanent replacement in DSO. April 24 is the 114th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (115th in leap years). ...

External links

• Dark Star Orchestra.net - The Dark Star Orchestra official website
• Dark Star Orchestra downloadable show listings at the Internet Archive