By Karen DeWalt
On the 24th anniversary of the passing of Grateful Dead frontman Jerry Garcia, Deadheads from Philadelphia and the Jersey shore gathered at the Tropicana in Atlantic City, to sing and dance the night away to the music of the Grateful Dead. Dark Star Orchestra, a longtime touring tribute band, provided the musical backdrop honoring the gone but never forgotten legend. Before the show started, a rain shower passed through and left a rainbow shimmering over the ocean. It seemed as if Jerry himself was smiling down on the throng of Deadheads, indicating their long, strange trip will never end.
Dark Star Orchestra; composed of members Jeff Mattson (lead guitar), Rob Eaton (guitar), Rob Barraco (keyboard), Kevin Rosen (bass guitar), Dino English (drums), Rob Koritz (drums) and Lisa Mackey (vocals); started the show off with a bang with the popular show opener “Feel Like A Stranger.” As they meandered through the Dead catalog with staples like “Loser” and “Minglewood Blues,” the crowd rejoiced hearing Mattson play the opening chords of Dupree’s “Diamond Blues.” This tune was generally a rarity since its inception in 1969, and even more of a unique treat in 2019, since it is not currently in Dead and Company’s repertoire. Eaton led the band through Bob Weir’s usual cowboy pairing of “Me and My Uncle Big River.” Lisa’s backup vocals shined beautifully during “Lazy River Road,” evoking fond memories of onetime Grateful Dead member Donna Jean Godcheaux. The crowd was treated to a rare “Saint of Circumstance,” without the usual lead-in of “Lost Sailor,” then a rousing “Deal” that got the crowd moving. Rosen ended the set with “Box of Rain,” which Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh famously penned for his dying father, a fitting song for today.
After a fairly brief intermission, the second half of the show opened with a Grateful Dead favorite set-opening triptych of “Help on the Way,” “Slipknot,” and “Franklin’s Tower.” A jam heavy “Playing in the Band” came next, which led into a beautiful rendition of “Terrapin Station.” English and Koritz played a very spacey and cosmic “Drums and Space,” while the crowd danced and allowed their thoughts to wander into the cosmos. “The Wheel” brought the room back down to earth, then transitioning into the perennial crowd pleaser “Truckin’,” with everyone shouting along with the lyrics, “what a long strange trip it’s been.” The minions of Deadheads were then treated to “Mission in the Rain,” a song from the Jerry Garcia Band catalog, proving that Dark Star Orchestra could honor all aspects of Jerry on this special day. Mission went into a reprise of “Playing in the Band,” and ended the second set. Many people did get up and leave, thinking it was the end of the show. But, as any Deadhead knows, there’s always an encore. True to form, the band came back out and played “Black Muddy River,” the last song Garcia sang at the Grateful Dead’s final show, an appropriate and fitting end to the evening. Dark Star Orchestra gave those in attendance the perfect show to celebrate the life and music of a legend, whose legacy will surely continue to bring all Deadheads together as a family for years to come.
Karen DeWalt has a Bachelor of Arts in English and Literature. Additionaly she is passionate about photography and music.
