Dark Star Orchestra wrapped a two-night run at Revolution Live in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Saturday. The Grateful Dead tribute act performed GD’s December 4, 1971 concert on the 50th anniversary of the show.
December 4, 1971, which was also a Saturday, saw the Grateful Dead kicking off a four-night run at the Felt Forum — now known as Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden — in New York City. 50 years later Dark Star Orchestra recreated the show, which got underway with “Truckin.” The first frame also included “Sugaree,” “Mr. Charlie,” “Beat It On Down The Line,” “Tennessee Jed” and “Jack Straw” ahead Chuck Berry’s holiday classic “Run Rudolph Run,” which was a debut for the Grateful Dead that night in December 1971.
Hank Williams’ “You Win Again” and Kris Kristofferson’s “Me And Bobby McGee” followed ahead of “Comes A Time” and Marty Robbins’ “El Paso.” Howlin’ Wolf’s “Smokestack Lightning” came next before “Cumberland Blues” and set-closer, “One More Saturday Night.”
The second set got underway with “Ramble On Rose” before the show took an interesting turn with “The Other One” sandwiched between “Me And My Uncle” and “Mexicali Blues” ahead of another trip back into “The Other One.” While GD did “Me And My Uncle” into “The Other One” several times between 1970 and 1972, the “Uncle” > “Other One” > “Mexicali” segment was unique to 12/4/71.
“Wharf Rat,” debuted by the Dead earlier in ’71 during GD’s landmark run at The Capitol Theatre that year, emerged from the final “Other One” before Dark Star Orchestra closed out the set with “Casey Jones.” DSO returned to deliver the encore, “Johnny B. Goode.”
Setlist (via DSO Website)
Set One: Truckin’, Sugaree, Mister Charlie, Beat It On Down The Line, Tennessee Jed, Jack Straw, Run, Rudolph, Run, You Win Again, Me And Bobby McGee, Comes A Time, El Paso, Smokestack Lightning, Cumberland Blues, One More Saturday Night
Set Two: Ramble On Rose, Me And My Uncle > The Other One > Mexicali Blues > The Other One > Wharf Rat, Casey Jones
Encore: Johnny B. Goode
Filler: Loose Lucy, Tangled Up In Blue
