There’s a special hum that comes from a Dark Star Orchestra crowd: decades of Dead-head ritual colliding with new faces who discovered the music through parents, playlists, festivals, or word of mouth. On a hot August night under the Rose’s covered amphitheatre roof, the band drew a mixed crowd — seasoned heads in vintage tour tees and tie-dye, couples who treat the music like date night, and younger jam fans who treat every segue as if they experienced the Dead in its heyday. That mix is the story of DSO’s appeal: the music acts as both living history and a current communal soundtrack.

Musically the band delivered long, careful runs and fluid transitions, leaning into exploratory jams that let the crowd lose itself in the moment. From the scorching “Alabama Getaway” opener, to the more spacey second set complete with “St. Stephen” and “Dark Star,” you could almost sense Jerry’s presence. The fans leaned in as well with hands up, twirling, and slow-dancing in place for all three plus hours of music. Additional show highlights included a heartfelt “Run for the Roses,” a selection from Jerry’s 1982 album of the same name, a “Scarlett Begonias -> Fire on the Mountain” second set opener, and an encore “Black Muddy River.”

For those just joining, Dark Star Orchestra began in Chicago in 1997 and frequently covers entire Grateful Dead concerts from specific dates in the Dead’s long performing history. Over nearly three decades they have built a reputation for faithful, era-specific performances and for keeping the live Dead catalog vibrant for new audiences. The band routinely performs large festival weekend runs (including their own spring-time Dark Star Jubilee) and multi-night residencies equating to nearly a hundred shows a year. 

DSO’s roster has evolved over time but the current lineup consists of Lisa Mackey (vocals, harmonica), Rob Koritz (drums), Dino English (drums), Rob Eaton (rhythm guitar/vocals), Rob Barraco (keyboards/vocals), Jeff Mattson (lead guitar/vocals), and Skip Vangelas (bass). The group frequently features guests and a network of Grateful Dead alumni have appeared with DSO over the years.

If you missed last night’s show live, it’s likely you missed the last opportunity to see the band in Ohio until 2026. The summer tour continues until early September at stops along the east coast and again out west before taking a break to gear up for January’s Jam in the Sand XIII in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Tickets for all of these shows can be found on the band’s website.

Were you there? I’d love to hear from you!