Among Grateful Dead cover bands, Dark Star Orchestra (DSO) stands apart for its faithful recreations of the legendary jam band’s most iconic sets—and not just with the song choices. Since 1997, the Chicago-based outfit has gone so far as to match the sound produced by the Dead at the time of the set in question, down to the instrumentation, phrasing, and vocal arrangements. But DSO veered from that typical script during its early February swing through The Wiltern in Los Angeles.

Rather than dig deep into the Dead’s extensive archive of live shows, the spectacular septet of Lisa Mackey on vocals, Rob Koritz and Dino English on drums, Rob Eaton and Jeff Matson on guitar, Rob Barraco on keys, and Skip Vangelas on bass took their inspiration from more contemporary sources.

On the heels of a particularly head-spinning January—especially in L.A., where the air remains thick with devastation and uncertainty, even as the historic wildfires themselves have subsided—DSO did its part to start February by lifting spirits and providing some sweet relief to Southern California’s weary Deadheads, with both music in the air and proceeds from the show donated to those affected by the fires.

The band set a light-hearted tone from the get-go with the cheery strums of “Sugar Magnolia”. Like the song’s narrator (a role in which Rob Eaton excelled), so many in the audience and across the city could certainly use the sort of dutiful, supportive companion about whom Bob Weir and Robert Hunter once wrote.

If the optimistic spirit of the night wasn’t evident by then, it was laid plain by the second song, “Touch of Grey”. There was an unmistakable sense of catharsis that permeated the smoky air as the crowd came together with Jeff Matson to belt out Jerry Garcia’s famous lyrics, “I will get by, I will survive.” Matson wielded Garcia’s TB500 #12 guitar—on loan from Jason Scheuner—itself a survivor from the Dead’s late-’70s heyday.

The vibes stayed high and soared higher as DSO kept the spinners spinning to “Greatest Story Ever Told”, en route to a rendition of “Ramble On Rose” that soothed the soul like a warm bowl of noodle soup.

From there, DSO dropped in their first non-Dead cover of the night: Dorothy Love Coates’ gospel classic “Strange Man”. Lisa’s powerful vocals perfectly replicated those of Donna Godchaux as she sang the tale of a merciful wanderer—the likes of which this world could use now.

Before diving into “Box of Rain”, the band took a moment to acknowledge the region’s recent tribulations, along with the passing of Phil Lesh, who regularly sang lead on this song with the Dead. DSO dedicated the tune accordingly, with Skip ably replicating Phil’s voice and many in the house praying for another box of rain to fall on Southern California before winter’s end.

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In that context, the road woes detailed in “Truckin’” felt more metaphorically prescient than ever, as did the encouragement to “just keep truckin’ on.” So, too, did the plea of, “Don’t give up, you got an empty cup that only love can fill,” that came with DSO’s presentation of “Comes a Time”.

Before going to intermission, DSO brought out Chad Wackerman, best known for his seven-year run as Frank Zappa’s drummer of choice. With Chad on the kit, the band closed the first set with the joyous pairing of Marvin Gaye’s “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)” and the Dead’s own “Sunshine Daydream”.

Following setbreak, DSO returned to the stage with “Uncle John’s Band”, playing to the tide of emotions still sweeping through the hearts and minds in the room. “Shakedown Street” got everyone, well, shaking, thanks in no small part to some cranked-up disco vibes. Rob Eaton’s guitar work, in particular, was reminiscent of the strumming style that Nile Rodgers made famous with Chic during the 1970s.

DSO flipped the switch back toward rock with “Corrina” and kept that going during a cover of Traffic’s “Low Spark of High Heeled Boys”. That brought the band to “Drums” and “Space”, during which Dino and Rob Koritz had their fun while the rest of the band took a breather.

As was common practice for the Dead (and still is for Dead & Company), DSO returned from the percussive interlude with a mellow cover. In this case, the group went with an uplifting instrumental version of John Lennon’s “Imagine”. The crowd handled the vocals with aplomb, as if inspired to envision a world beyond the stress and strife of the present day.

With their own voices ready to roll again, DSO doubled back to “Uncle John’s Band” before digging into the depths of the Dead’s deep cuts for “If I Had The World to Give”—a song that the originators themselves played live just three times.

To finish off the night, DSO turned to a slew of covers that have long been staples of the repertoire shared by the Grateful Dead and its successors. The second set ended with the pairing of Sugar Boy and His Cane Cutters’ “Iko Iko” and Cannon’s Jug Stompers’ “Viola Lee Blues”. As the clock approached midnight, the evening ended with DSO’s live debut of “Don’t Do It”, The Band‘s arrangement of Marvin Gaye’s “Baby Don’t You Do It”.

For those who missed the magic of DSO in L.A., there will be plenty of opportunities to catch the band live on the West Coast in February. They are scheduled to play six more shows in California as they wind their way up to Oregon and Washington for two shows apiece in each of those states. Find a full list of tour dates on the band’s website and tickets via Ticketmaster.

Dark Star Orchestra – “Touch Of Grey” – 2/1/25

[Video: Todd Norris]

Dark Star Orchestra – “Uncle John’s Band”, “Shakedown Street” – 2/1/25

[Video: blisstanger]

Dark Star Orchestra – “Shakedown Street” – 2/1/25

[Video: Todd Norris]

Dark Star Orchestra – “Viola Lee Blues” – 2/1/25

[Video: Todd Norris]

Dark Star Orchestra – “Sugar Magnolia” – 2/1/25

[Video: Todd Norris]

Dark Star Orchestra – “Don’t Do It” (Marvin Gaye/The Band) – 2/1/25

[Video: Todd Norris]

Setlist: Dark Star Orchestra | Wiltern Theatre | Los Angeles, CA | 2/1/25
Set 1: Sugar Magnolia, Touch of Grey, Greatest Story Ever Told (Bob Weir), Ramble On Rose, Strange Man (Dorothy Love Coates and The Original Gospel Harmonettes), Box of Rain, Truckin’, Comes a Time (Jerry Garcia), How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You) (Marvin Gaye) (with Chad Wackerman), Sunshine Daydream (with Chad Wackerman)
Set 2: Uncle John’s Band, Shakedown Street, Corrina, Low Spark of High Heeled Boys (Traffic), Drums, Space, Imagine (John Lennon) (instrumental), Uncle John’s Band, If I Had the World to Give, Iko Iko (Sugar Boy and His Cane Cutters), Viola Lee Blues (Cannon’s Jug Stompers)
Encore: Don’t Do It (Marvin Gaye/The Band) (Live debut)