The Paramount in Huntington, New York will be the site for two shows by the Dark Star Orchestra, on December 30th & 31st, 2014.  In seventeen years, DSO has played an astounding number of concerts, and in coming months should actually surpass the Dead’s total.  The band has been averaging some 200 shows per year, and been riding that train hard.  The Deadheads would faithfully travel to fill DSO shows on a regular basis, just as they had with the Dead for so long. The Grateful Dead’s tally of shows was accumulated over about 30 years, showing just how hard DSO has paced themselves while touring. L4LM spoke with DSO drummer Dino English.  Dino clues us in on his thoughts of tours, fans, band history, and playing with some members of the Grateful Dead. Dino dropped a teaser regarding something special about the second show in this set coming up at The Paramount. Purchase tickets HERE.

L4LM: How long has DSO been playing?  I know it is quite an impressive run.

DINO ENGLISH: Dark Star has been playing for 17 years, and over 2200 shows.  Our goal is to be continuing the Grateful Dead experience.  We started out playing jazz influenced music in other bands, where people tapped their toes. When DSO plays Grateful Dead music the audiences actually dance to really complicated rhythms.  The band will often feed off the energy of the crowd, and they help us to keep on going.  The fans are wonderful. 

L4LM: How did you come to be ‘playin’ in the band’?

DINO ENGLISH: Friends urged me to go to see a Dead show at the Sandstone Amphitheatre, on June 25th, 1991.  A light bulb went off in my head at the show, when before I hadn’t gotten it. I came out of that show a different person than when I went in.  I studied drumming in school, and wanted to be a professional drummer.  I played in some Dead cover bands, and that got me prepared for what I am doing now.

L4LM: And how did that lead to the golden road to unlimited admission to Dark Star Orchestra?

DINO ENGLISH: I was looking on the Dark Star Orchestra’s website, and an advertisement to audition to be a drummer for them ‘popped-up’.  So I went for an audition at Martyrs’ in Chicago.  I auditioned by playing in the show, and have played with the band ever since then.  I am very blessed to have been able to do what I am doing.

L4LM: How did such a wide opening present itself for you to find such a tremendous niche?

DINO ENGLISH: It all started with Jerry Garcia dying, and the Dead community seeking a place to be with the Dead not touring. We were fortunate to step into that opening. No one could have foreseen that Jerry’s loss would sprout these seeds.

L4LM: Which members of the Dead have played with you over the years?

DINO ENGLISH: Well, I have played with Donna Godchaux; she was singing with us.  Then Bobby Weir was rumored to be playing with us at the Warfield.  His guitar came to the theatre, and then his amp showed up.  Then he arrived, and the whole thing was a dream.  He turned around and looked at me to start the song, with his guitar strapped on.  It was magical to have taken to the stage with him. 

L4LM: Any other memories like that?

DINO ENGLISH: About ten years later, Phil Lesh came and jammed with us.  It was at the Fillmore, and the show went fantastically smooth.   It was a treat that Phil paid us some nice compliments.  That was a huge blessing to deal with him like that.

L4LM: And DSO wrote a song with Robert Hunter?

DINO ENGLISH: Run Mary. We’d love to do more in the future with Robert. 

L4LM: What drummers influenced you, aside from Bill and Mickey?

DINO ENGLISH: Both Chad Wackerman and Chester Thompson had a tremendous influence on me.  They had both been drummers for the Frank Zappa Band. Stewart Copeland also was a favorite drummer of mine. 

L4LM:  What is your favorite Dead studio album?

DINO ENGLISH: American Beauty, it has just great song writing; such great songs.

L4LM: How about your favorite non-Dead album?

DINO ENGLISH: I would pick Seconds Out by Genesis, a live record.  It was right after Peter Gabriel left the band, but they were still doing his songs.

L4LM: Did you enjoy Dylan touring with the Grateful Dead?  Might we here some songs Dylan and the Dead played on New Year’s in Huntington?

DINO ENGLISH: I didn’t see that set of shows live.  Bob Dylan is a genius songwriter.  I love his music, and you definitely may here some of those songs at some point during the shows at The Paramount.

L4LM: Any teasers for New Year’s Eve?

DINO ENGLISH: This will be the first time that we do a Dead show that they actually played on a New Year’s Eve.  You will just have to come to see which one that we choose to play at The Paramount.

L4LM: Any thoughts on the run of the tour as it continues on now?

DINO ENGLISH: Some of us have kids now, and they don’t want to miss that part of their lives.  So we are going to do something closer to 120 shows per year now, down from about 200.

L4LM: That is still an impressive schedule, and we know that the fans will be out to support you. 

 

Dark Star Orchestra takes the stage at The Paramount in Huntington for two exciting shows, December 30th, and December 31st.  The New Year’s Eve show will recreate the set list played by the Grateful Dead on New Year’s from a mystery year.  Come out to the show to find out which classic show is bound to be driving the audience into a shuffle-boogie frenzy on Shakedown Street, as you ring in 2015 with jam band friends. Purchase tickets HERE.

by: Bob Wilson

Special Thanks to Greg Panos of Deadbones Revival for sharing his insights on DSO. 

 

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