New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
The Zeiterion Performing Arts Center (The Z) present Dark Star Orchestra, the Grateful Dead tribute band so finely crafted that Rolling Stone declares they are “quite possibly the most talented and accomplished tribute band out there…” on Wednesday, June 3 at 8pm. Tickets for Dark Star Orchestra start at $29, and are available online at www.zeiterion.org, by calling The Z Box Office at (508) 994-2900.
At each performance, the Dark Star Orchestra chooses one show from the two thousand that the Grateful Dead originally performed during their 30 years. Each show presents the complete original Grateful Dead set list, song by song, and in order, with faithful interpretation. Their performances are so well-refined that even members of the Grateful Dead have performed with Dark Star Orchestra.
Continuing a long and strange trip since humble beginnings over a decade ago, Dark Star Orchestra’s uncanny recreation of the Grateful Dead’s musical canon has entranced fans both young and old. Offering a continually evolving artistic outlet members of Dark Star Orchestra seek out the unique style of each performance era and offer their own interpretations and improvisations at each show. Using entire set lists from the Grateful Dead’s decades of touring as a launching pad, Dark Star Orchestra recreates song for song performances straight from the set list of these historic shows.
Made up of Jeff Mattson (Jerry Garcia), Lisa Mackey (Donna Jean Godchaux), Dino English (Bill Kreutzmann), Rob Koritz (Mickey Hart), Skip Vangelas (Phil Lesh), Rob Eaton (Bob Weir) and Rob Barraco (multiple keyboardists), Dark Star Orchestra does not try to match Grateful Dead live songs note for note. Anything so formulaic would quickly dispel the free spirit embodied in the music.
While faithful improvisation is pinnacle, precision is of equal importance. Dark Star Orchestra adapts phrasing, voice arrangements, and even arranges specific musical equipment for the various eras of Dead music performed. At the end of each performance, the band announces the date and venue where the original show just covered took place.
Tickets to Dark Star Orchestra on Wednesday, June 3 at 8pm are available by phone at 508-994-2900, online at www.zeiterion.org, or in person at the box office at 684 Purchase Street, New Bedford, MA. Box Office Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and two hours before each performance. For more information and a complete listing of shows, visit www.zeiterion.org
