Dark Star Orchestra Presents Rescheduled New Year’s Eve Concert In Albany

Dark Star Orchestra delivered their rescheduled New Year’s Eve concert at the Palace Theatre in Albany, New York on Friday, April 1. The Grateful Dead tribute act recreated GD’s NYE show from the Oakland Coliseum in 1981 as part of a rescheduled run postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

DSO got the concert underway with a 14-minute “Shakedown Street” followed by a pairing of “Me And My Uncle” and “Mexicali Blues.” The traditional “Cold Rain And Snow” fell in the fourth slot ahead of “​​C.C. Rider,” which featured vocalist Lisa Mackey as the original saw harp from Matt Kelly of Bob Weir collaborators Kingfish.

Lisa then fronted the band on “It Must Have Been The Roses,” sung at the ‘81 concert by Joan Baez. Next, “Beat It On Down The Line” prefaced the three-song set-closing segment of “Big Boss Man” and “New Minglewood Blues” both boasting Mackey on harmonica, as well as “Don’t Ease Me In” to wrap up the first frame.

“Iko Iko” kicked off the second set followed by a pairing of “Playing In The Band” and “Terrapin Station.” The Dead began linking up the two epics in the late 1970s, as per Herbibot, and continued to juxtapose them throughout the ’80s and early ’90s. “Drums” and “Space” emerged from a “Playin” reprise before the full band returned to jam their way into “The Other One,” which in turn segued into “Not Fade Away,” “Going Down The Road Feeling Bad” and “Morning Dew” to cap off the second set.

After the “countdown,” DSO kicked off the three-song third set by exploring a 13-minute “Dark Star” which surged into “Bertha.” The spirited “Good Lovin” brought the third frame to a close before the band returned to encore with Bob Dylan’s “It’s All Over Now Baby Blue” sung by Mackey once again in honor of Joan Baez. Dark Star Orchestra tacked on bonus number “My Brothers And Sisters” to bring the evening to a close.

Check out a highlights video from Andrew The Alchemist below along with full-show audio via Steve Gravel:

Setlist (via DSO.net)

Set One: Shakedown Street; Me And My Uncle > Mexicali Blues; Cold Rain And Snow; C.C. Rider*; It Must Have Been The Roses**; Beat It On Down The Line; Big Boss Man* > New Minglewood Blues* > Don’t Ease Me In

Set Two: Iko Iko; Playing In The Band > Terrapin Station > Playing In The Band > drums > space > The Other One > Not Fade Away > Going Down The Road Feeling Bad > Morning Dew

Set 3: Dark Star > Bertha > Good Lovin’

Encore: It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue**

Filler: My Sisters And Brothers

Notes:

* with Lisa on harmonica – original had Matt Kelly

** with Lisa on vocals – original had Joan Baez

April Fools New Year, rescheduled from 12/31/21. Preceded by a solo Jeff acoustic set.