Watch Dark Star Orchestra & Warren Haynes Jam On Grateful Dead And Traffic Classics In Portland

Dark Star Orchestra wrapped up their winter tour of the West Coast on Saturday at the Roseland Theatre in Portland, Oregon. The Grateful Dead tribute act was joined by Gov’t Mule guitarist/vocalist Warren Haynes and keyboardist Danny Louis for a run of three songs early in the evening’s second set.

Gov’t Mule was in town on a day off before a show of their own at the Roseland on Sunday night. Dark Star Orchestra went with the “elective” format in Portland by creating a unique setlist instead of recreating one the Grateful Dead used. Haynes and Louis sat-in on a Grateful Dead classic, a Traffic cover and a beloved Buddy Holly tune from the GD live repertoire on Saturday.

Warren Haynes, no stranger to the music of the Grateful Dead through his time in post-Jerry outfit The Dead and as a member of the Phil Lesh Quintet, last appeared with Dark Star Orchestra at the 2010 Mountain Jam festival. DSO made their way through “Help On The Way” and “Slipknot!” to get the second set underway on Saturday before their guests emerged for the “Franklin’s Tower” that completed the holy triumvirate.

Haynes and Louis were greeted with huge cheers from the Portland faithful. Warren took a sizzling solo on “Franklin’s,” added harmony vocals and traded intense licks with DSO guitarist Jeff Mattson who handled lead vocals. Danny Louis tore it up organ while Rob Barraco focused on piano tones.

“Franklin’s Tower” faded into a “The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys” helmed by Warren Haynes. Dark Star Orchestra added the Traffic classic to their repertoire in 2019 and have played it numerous times since. Haynes is extremely familiar with the title of Traffic’s 1971 studio album through its inclusion in the Mule, The Dead and Phil Lesh Quintet repertoires. The collective patiently and impressively played the well-jammed “Low Spark.”

Watch fan-shot video of Haynes and Louis on DSO’s “Franklin’s” and “Low Spark” below:

Warren Haynes and Danny Louis stuck around to contribute to the “Not Fade Away” that followed “Low Spark.” The stage was then left to Rob Koritz and Dino English for “Drums” ahead of the instrumentalists delivering “Space.” Dark Star Orchestra was back at full force sans guests to end the set with a run of “Corrina,” “I Know You Rider” and “Not Fade Away (Reprise).” The band punctuated the show and tour by performing their recently debuted cover of R.B. Greaves’ “Take A Letter Maria” as the encore. Grateful Dead vocalist Donna Jean Godchaux, then Donna Jean Thatcher, contributed vocals to the original recording of the song.

Earlier in the night, DSO pulled from various GD eras for the material featured in the first set. “Let The Good Times Roll” opened and gave way to “Might As Well.” Then, guitarist Rob Eaton led the band through “Feel Like A Stranger.” Next came the pairing of “Dire Wolf” and “Never Trust A Woman” ahead of Mattson captaining “Lazy River A Road.” From there, Dark Star Orchestra worked “Truckin'” within “Pride Of Cucamonga” before closing the frame with “Jack Straw.”

Dark Star Orchestra kicks off their spring tour on March 14 in Utica, New York.

Setlist (via DSO Forums)

Set One: Let The Good Times Roll > Might As Well, Feel Like A Stranger, Dire Wolf > Never Trust A Woman, Lazy River Road, Pride Of Cucamonga > Truckin’ > Pride Of Cucamonga (reprise) > Jack Straw

Set Two: Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin’s Tower* > The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys* > Not Fade Away* > drums > space > Corrina > I Know You Rider > Morning Dew > Not Fade Away (reprise)

Encore: Take A Letter Maria

* – with Warren Haynes on guitar and vocals & Danny Louis on keys