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Have been getting increasingly into the Dead over the last five years or so and, knowing next to nothing about DSO, this was my first show. I didn't realize that they've often been playing original sets so I spent a good part of set one REALLY confused until I asked some folks what was going on. I think ultimately I enjoyed it more that way and the element of surprise made it a lot more fun, which there seems to be some debate about on here. Was particularly happy that they played Passenger and it absolutely smoked. Also, as a huge Donna defender, the woman doing Donna was amazing and I loved the crowd going nuts for the trademark "wailing". Anyway, couple thoughts from a first timer. Great gig.

Within a year you will be looking at the tour page thinking how you can do 2-3 in a row. Once u put together a run, it’s all over and the dead will invade your soul. Dark star is the way to really experience the dead as you will get such a diverse song list played in many different styles and era versions. Dso plays around 150 different dead songs per tour which is mind boggling how they can play them all so perfectly with that many different songs over a 3 week period. Compare that to the Grateful Dead that played 90-120 songs over an entire year. Once you really delve deep into older dead too, you will get so many of the songs that the dead abandoned or never played live, played by Dso. Dso has introduced me to countless dead songs that I’d never heard of. The dead played so many 1-4 timers, it’s hard to really learn all of those songs but Dso will play those rare ones which is really cool. Keep coming back!!

Great show lastnight in Minneapolis! Band sounded awesome and fun crowd. Super thankful they made their way back to Minnesota and we all have our fingers crossed for a Zoo show next summer... Set 1 The weight Stranger Candyman Beat it on down the line Broken arrow Brown eyed women Passenger Way you do the things you do Corrina Aiko Set 2 Gimme some love Greatest story Uncle johns band Estimated Drums Space Cosmic Charlie Throwing stones Visions of Johanna Truckin E: Cats under the stars

I know it is a point of contention around here, but our band has earned the right to do anything they want. That is a fantastic list with tons of potential fun. Mmm, Cats Encore. Praise DSO.

Grateful Dead music is an experiment. Always has been. Improvisation. I think electives are an ingenious way for Dark Star Orchestra to keep the music moving forward. (Yea, I said it again) if they are not improvising, pioneering, then they are stagnating. I don’t think they are recreating the Grateful Dead experience so much as they are taking the concept that the Grateful Dead is rooted in and growing it, evolving it. Dark Star Orchestra are the only ones who do what they do. Oh by the way, cosmic Charlie, throwing stones, visions. Self explanatory. Wow. Is anyone keeping track, noticing if the band has taken songs out of the line up, maybe on purpose? Are there certain songs that are noticeably absent from the set lists? Curious. Should we be preparing for them bringing stuff off the shelf and reintroducing it, or have they been doing that all along and I just haven’t been doing my homework.

If you've ever gone to your GD audio catalog while sitting around having a beer, and played a 69 schoolgirl, a 76 eyes, a 71 hard to handle, a 74 Bertha, etc etc. Well you just made yourself an elective. And I bet you had a damn good time doing it. 😄😃 Hang in there MVB.

Always fun to see any dead related group. I've been seeing DSO for over 10 years, but this was the first elective show I have seen and it was my first disappointment. First, I think the idea of any band starting any concert with a cover is not good, regardless of how good a song it might be. Second, to lose a Franklin's Tower to Candyman to follow Stranger was a momentum killer and started setting the stage for more disappointment. Third, some of their choices were a bit hard to take (Corrina, Broken Arrow, Visions of Johanna). I never attended a dead concert hoping to hear those. In fact, it was kind of like the opposite. Of course, DSO is unmatched in the Dead cover department, and can choose to play whatever they like. But, what puzzles me is why they are moving to an elective format. Their strength is recreating the live show as it was originally played. And, without that it feels more like just another cover band, regardless of their musical expertise which is absolutely amazing. What made seeing the dead so special was not just one incredible song or another, it was the entire concert package, with all its highs and lows. The sequence, the novelty, the surprise, the start to the finish. And, what makes seeing DSO so special is getting to experience other dead shows you were not able to attend. DSO is losing that with their elective approach. Prior to Thursday at First Ave, I expected to continue seeing DSO for as long as they are around at every possible opportunity, including travel. Now, not so sure...So much more enjoyable when they stick to the "real thing!"

Something for everybody in that list. I'd take it all! What a beauty.

Nice opener, Ben. Welcome...

Visions and a Cats? Just Wow ❤️

Listen to the absolute thumping transition from Wharf Rat - > Slipknot-> Franklin’s You will Phil it low and loud! Today in history 9/27/76 Rochester NY i think I bordered on blowing a speaker with that bass. 🤭 https://relisten.net/grateful-dead/1976/09/27

Fall Tour 1991 doesn’t get it’s due and may never will. The music was way beyond my expectations and some truly epic times were had. Disregard at your peril. https://relisten.net/grateful-dead/1991/09/22