Once again, the season of giving thanks has come and gone. As they have for so many years, Dark Star Orchestra commemorated the event by playing a pair of shows in New York. They used to do them in Manhattan, but have come home to Long Island for the past few years. No pun intended, but Deadheads should be absolutely grateful that this band is still out there bringing the goods. After playing an “elective” setlist Friday, they recreated the Nassau Coliseum show from May 9, 1981, on November 30th at The Paramount in Huntington, NY.
After the encore, keyboardist Rob Barraco revealed that he, guitarist Jeff Mattson, and rhythm guitarist Rob Eaton were all in attendance that May ‘81 night. Eaton actually taped the show, and you can hear his recording here. It’s an excellent under the radar show, and the matrix version really captures it here.
Saturday night did more than pay tribute to this excellent show. hey downright played the shit out of it. The opening “Mississippi Half Step” absolutely smoked. Eaton’s rhythm strums were chunky, Barraco provided the perfect 1981 tinkly keyboard and Mattson tore into his solos and “Franklin’s Tower” was equally strong. There were several attendees that looked too young to be born in 1981. “Feel Like A Stranger” might have been the best song of the night as Skip Vangelas really laid down the bass line to let the rest of the band get into a funky groove.
“Bird Song” was as spacey as the Dead got in 1981 and this version reminded people why. It was the kind of rendition that would end a set from the mid-80s on. The last six songs of the set were equally as strong and included two Bob Weir tunes in a row, which probably gave setlist guessers some good clues as to what show it was. The set-ending “China Cat Sunflower” into “I Know You Rider” was the perfect capper as Matson hit some really nice peaks.
The second set opened with “Lost Sailor” into “Saint Of Circumstance,” a treat for those who weren’t “on the bus” in 1981, but it was the “Estimated Prophet” into “Eyes Of The World” that was the real highlight of the pre-Drums sequence. “Eyes” in particular had some really nice runs in Matson’s solos, which is no small task considering the tempo at which the song was played back then. There was even a nice parting jam, which isn’t all that different from the one the Dead played that night.
“Truckin’” emerged out of space into an absolutely scorching “Black Peter.” After an excellent “One More Saturday Night” gave way to a “Brokedown Palace” encore, Barraco reminded the crowd that these shows were really a tribute to Robert Hunter, without whom none of us would be still seeing these shows. With only a few minutes until the midnight curfew, they played “Ripple” with Lisa Mackey on background vocals.
If you’re so inclined, you can check out an excellent jam between “Truckin’” and “Black Peter” that the Dead did perform that night. Dark Star didn’t touch this one, though I am sure they could. However, they had a huge list to get through. The pure soundboard from the great Charlie Miller can be found here.
DSO Setlist 11/30/19
Set One:
Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo >
Franklin’s Tower >
Feel Like A Stranger ;
Bird Song ;
Little Red Rooster ;
Candyman ;
Mama Tried >
Mexicali Blues ;
Looks Like Rain ;
China Cat Sunflower >
I Know You Rider
Set Two:
“Lost Sailor >
Saint Of Circumstance >
Ship Of Fools ;
Estimated Prophet >
Eyes Of The World >
Jam [4:06]> Drums > Space > Truckin’ >
Black Peter >
Around And Around >
One More Saturday Night
Encore:
Brokedown Palace
