Dark Star Orchestra at Brooklyn Bowl – Monday, May 13th, 2013
For decades the adage went, “There is nothing like a Grateful Dead Concert.” Today, with the magical jam act long defunct, there is nothing that comes closer to that euphoric and unique experience than a Dark Star Orchestra concert. The energy, the emulation and the excitement make DSO today’s definitive Grateful Dead musical experience.
The current incarnation of the band includes Rob Eaton (vocals/rhythm guitar), Jeff Mattson (vocals, guitar), Rob Barraco (keys), Skip Vangelas (bass), Lisa Mackey (vocals), Dino English (drums), and Rob Koritz (drums). Founding member and bassist, Kevin Rosen, recently announced his retirement from the band and is the longest running member of Dark Star Orchestra having performed over 2000 shows since they formed in November 1997.
On Tuesday night, the band played to a near sell-out crowd at Brooklyn Bowl, the most prolific venue in the Tri-State area. There are 324 Grateful Dead cover bands in the U.S. according to www.gratefuldeadtributebands.com, which include quality outfits like Furthur, Reflections, Ship of Fools, Splintered Sunlight, Dead Sessions, Cosmic Charlie and Stella Blues Band. However, none is ultimately as fulfilling as Dark Star Orchestra. With original Grateful Dead members in Furthur, there is an expectation that can’t be realistically fulfilled, whereas DSO usually overreaches and surprises newly converted fans.
The upbeat “Bertha” started the night out with spunk and purpose. Lisa Mackey provided deeper on-key vocals and seductive dance moves, when compared to Donna, inciting others to join the dance party. The always flamboyant “Good Lovin” followed and drew immense crowd adulation as newbies freaked out with exuberance at the familiar cover song while most veterans yawned in wait for the good stuff. Mattson’s repeated background vocal chorus of “Good Lovin’” was eerily like Jerry’s patented poignant one.
“Loser” had a different take with a much punchier percussion section – showcasing the effectiveness of carrying two drummers just like the Grateful Dead did. “It’s All Over Now” was a beat slower when juxtaposed to the usual Dead version, but the call and response at the crescendo lifted it to another level. Eaton watched and chuckled as his “oldest and dearest friend” Skip bombarded the audience with bass bombs at the conclusion of “It’s All Over Now.” Eaton flips his hair and leans back when performing with mannerisms and a vocal similar enough to pleasantly recall Weir, but his own distinct personality maintains his own signature style and presence.
The band downshifted for a forgettable “Peggy-O” and “Passenger” before lifting off into a fiery and fast-paced “Jack-a-Roe”. For those who haven’t memorized Deadbase, it was clear that the show would be an original, “elective” one and not patterned from a classic Dead one when they concluded the 1st set with the Jerry Garcia Band staple, “Mission in the Rain.” With Mattson leading the way with stellar guitar leads, the song was deep in breadth and scope and the highlight of the evening’s festivities. Creating an original set allows a fan the enjoyment of hypothetical “What if the Dead played that?” complete with unheard of segues between numbers and other pleasant surprises.
At set break, the debate if Jeff Mattson or his predecessor in DSO, John Kadlecik, (once dubbed “Fake Jerry” and “Fake Fake Jerry” respectively, is the more gifted Jerry emulator. With his tight guitar chops on this night on cuts like “Fire on the Mountain” and “Lazy Lightning”, it was hard not to support Mattson’s candidacy. The second set provided a respectable “Help>Slip” before the crowd erupted in response to an energetic although otherwise by-the-numbers, “Franklin’s Tower.” The crowd screamed, “I need a Miracle” before the band segued into a lengthy and mesmerizing “Black Peter” which was reminiscent of arguable the Dead’s finest version at Las Vegas 1991.
One unfamiliar with the Grateful Dead scene may think that 5 DSO shows in 6 days around the Tri-State area would be overkill, but as Bobby sang, “Too much of anything is just enough.” With an abundant touring schedule that rivals the busiest of touring bands, an outpouring of energy and emotion that doesn’t waver and an ever growing base of hungry fans of Grateful Dead music, Dark Star Orchestra is here for the long haul. There may just be nothing like a DSO concert.
-Chadbyrne Dickens
(photos courtesy of Andrew Blackstein)