Greg from Chestertown

I remember when DSO recreated that show because that’s the date that my son was born. I caught the Grateful Dead two weeks later and they were fine. Reviews of the Original Tacoma show are all about the sound being awful. I guess the sound man can have an off night.

I couldn’t quite make out the next tune but I was thinking obscure Dylan. Kinda freaked me out, thought I was having a flashback but I caught myself. I haven’t seen a DSO Low Spark live. Yet.

So, I’m in the grocery store this afternoon and the speakers in the ceiling are playing Low Spark. Just the original version, though, not a Dark Star rendition. I thought it was pretty cool.

John K is playing in Ardmore with Splintered Sunlight on Saturday FWIW

Looks like low spark is in the rotation

I’m liking big railroad blues into terrapin Station. Arguably, two train songs back to back. On purpose? Done before? Ever done reverse order? I also dig it when Saturday night is played on another night of the week.

What’s the difference between snowmen and snow women?. snowballs

I prefer my burgers with ketchup and mustard.

I’m guessing Bobby is going to pass away on stage. He’s there more than home. Gotta respect that. I’m gonna sit right here until I die....

I think I figured it out last night. Dead and Company is a Dark Star Orchestra tribute band.

. So, Albert Einstein, the Pope and a boy scout are on a plane. The plane develops engine trouble and it looks like they’re going to crash. The only problem is that there’s three people but only two parachutes. As they start to debate who should get a parachute and survive, Einstein grabs a ‘chute, throws it on his back and jumps out of the plane, the whole time giving a quick speech about how he needs to live so that he can protect the world and save humanity with his intelligence. The Pope turns to the Boy Scout and proceeds to explain to the young fella why he needs to live. The Boy Scout interrupts the Pope and says, ‘Relax, old man, the smartest man in the world just jumped out of the plane with my knapsack.’

It’s all over now?

I saw Bob Weir on acoustic and Rob Wasserman on stand up bass do Blackbird in their set, opening for Jerry Band in ‘89. I was walking around singing that tune for a month straight after that. Quite an impression.

A guy walks into a bar. You’d think he would have seen it.

And China Cat Sunflower. Again, how do you stop at ten Hunter/Grateful Dead songs. Dark Star, Brokedown.....

Maybe the problem is trying to stop at ten, but no Box of Rain?

Feeble attempt at a set list from last night at The 8X10, Better Off Dead. Mississippi half step West LA Corrinna Box a Rain ( pretty damn good) hey Pocky way Mighty Quinn new speedway boogie terrapin I need a Miracle standing on the moon St. Stephen Alligator some Stevie Wonder tune Sugar Mags kinda in that order, many big gaps. They played a lot more than I’m Recalling.

Better off Dead at The 8X10 in Baltimore.

Yea, I think you’re right. Musta been ‘78 cuz I remember it as show opener, after some deliberation. My cassette was labeled with no more than ‘007’ because it was as slick as James Bond.

So, if I’m not mistaken, I had a tape of the original show. Killer sugar/scarlet/fire. I’m sure Dark Star Orchestra did it justice. Did they finish Sugar Mags at the end of the set? Or do I have this show confused with the other one? Oh, no, it couldn’t be! Now, wait a minute.... I did just come in from my shop where I was painting with inadequate ventilation. Could just be a Freelapse.

So, Eaton shows up and sings feel like a stranger and the last lyrics of the night are ‘such a long, long time to be gone and a short time to be there’. Classic stuff.

Damn! You guys got a unique show! Jerryband, great second set list, box a rain in the encore slot. Low spark! Musta been a great night. Any filler?

Ok, here goes. I’ve had this thought for a while. Think this through with me. I often wonder why Dark Star Orchestra doesn’t play bigger venues. Would that require playing less often? Do they not want to do that to their Deadicated fans? They draw some respectable crowds. Hell, they sold out Red Rocks. They sell out Jamaica. Then they go and play the Bottle and Cork. Yea, I know they like it but the floor isn’t even flat. It’s like walking around a construction site.

They did the same thing a week later, 12/26/69, in Dallas. My favorite show. Supposedly, the drummer was late, Not on the acoustic set. I read somewhere about the honesty of ‘ someone is late so, let’s play acoustic’. Some say it was a stunt of sorts so that the could dabble in acoustic. I’m glad they did. I love acoustic Grateful Dead, 1970 and 1980. Jerry’s style really comes through on acoustic. Listen to Jerry’s solo on ‘to lay me down’ off of Reckoning. Such gentle picking.

I think it was Jerry who said it was ‘group music’ that they were trying to achieve. I read somewhere where Bobby describes that special moment when they successfully achieve what they were trying to get at, as basically ‘the music plays the band’. It definitely requires the audience to achieve that point. The draw for me is that every note matters. You have to listen to every note. Same song, different version, you gotta listen to every note. This is not background music.