Dark Star Orchestra Recreates 1979 Grateful Dead Show With Jeff Chimenti In Albany

On Saturday night Grateful Dead tribute act Dark Star Orchestra played their second of two shows without bassist Skip Vangelas. DSO called upon Dead & Company keyboardist Jeff Chimenti to fill-in, while the band’s normal keyboardist, Rob Barraco, slid over to bass for performances in New Haven on Friday and at the Palace Theatre in Albany on Saturday.

While Friday’s DSO show featured an elective setlist, the band used a Grateful Dead setlist as a guide in Albany. Dark Star recreated the Dead’s January 11, 1979 gig at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York with Chimenti on keys and Barraco on bass in Albany. Vocalist Lisa Mackey was on stage as the show was from a period when Donna Jean Godchaux was in the Grateful Dead. Chimenti utilized a setup similiar to the one used by Keith Godchaux during his last days in the Dead.

Watch video of “Ramble On Rose” from DSO in Albany captured by wancheser1:

Setlist

Set One: Sugaree, Me And My Uncle > Big River, Peggy-O, Cassidy, Friend Of The Devil, New Minglewood Blues, From The Heart Of Me, Ramble On Rose, Jack Straw > Deal

Set Two: I Need A Miracle, Ship Of Fools, Estimated Prophet > He’s Gone > Drums > Space > Truckin’ > The Other One > Stella Blue > Good Lovin’

Encore: Casey Jones