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Ok, it's not an essay as such. Perhaps better described as an abstract? But since I bothered to write it, and since this is a forum devoted to The Dark Star Orchestra after all, it seemed appropriate to post... In 1967 Garcia reconnected with his early ‘60s Palo Alto friend and kindred spirit Robert Hunter. While living in New Mexico, Hunter intrigued Garcia with several song lyrics, and Hunter rejoined Garcia in Sonoma County where the pair began officially collaborating for The Grateful Dead. By Spring 1967 Jerry had started working on the chords to Dark Star, and later that year while Hunter was listening to the band play in their Rio Nido rehearsal space he began writing the lyrics. He wrote the first verse in his bed by the rehearsal space, and Garcia felt it fit perfectly. At Garcia’s request, Hunter wrote a second verse some days later while sitting in Golden Gate Park. In January 1968, Dark Star debuted. This signature jam vehicle steadily expanded, including a 48 minute version in The Netherlands during the 1972 Europe tour, making Warner Brother’s release of a 1968 Dark Star single stretching all of 2 minutes and 44 seconds quite amusing. Much ink has been spilled on the song’s structural evolution, from the late 1960s forays (like the February 1969 Fillmore West version featured on the double LP LiveDead, introducing The Dead’s psychedelic power to countless fledgling Deadheads), to the more expansive 1972-1974 renditions, to the lone three late 1970s appearances, to the latter era revivals starting in 1989. From late 1968 through early 1970, a Dead show’s featured jam component was often a Dark Star -> Saint Stephen -> The Eleven suite. Phil Lesh once said, “Dark Star is always playing. All we do is tap into it.” Erstwhile Dead keyboardist Tom Constanten echoed that thought, commenting, “You don’t begin it so much as enter it. You don’t end it so much as leave it.” One of the few Dead songs capable of ranging from bliss, to fear, to cacophony, to dissolved silence, Dark Star represented the ultimate ideal of The Dead’s mind-expanding mythology. By 1972, Dark Stars had become increasingly intense; The Dead capriciously either tempered these voyages with a quick interlude like El Paso, or they pressed down on the pedal with another big emotional song like Morning Dew. The Dead revived Dark Star for the final show at San Francisco’s beloved but crumbling Winterland Ballroom for their New Year’s Eve 1978 show; a fan that afternoon displayed a sign reading, “1535 DAYS SINCE LAST S.F. DARK STAR.” At the Greek Theatre in 1984, The Dead played a one off Dark Star, as the encore on Friday the 13th under a full moon. Phil Lesh announced, “We’re going to try a little something tonight, one night only.” Images from the NASA Yoyager interstellar probe were projected on screens behind the stage. After Dark Star was revived its final time in 1989, it stayed tethered to the rotation for the rest of Garcia’s life. From 1989 through 1991 Dark Star’s two verses were often broken into separate 2nd set segments. Such was its legend, a mere hint at the four note opening riff could create delirium.

Looks like BillK and I will be in attendance - Anyone else game? World-Class venue with an impeccable sound system, and space to dance. My only gripe is no plastic water bottles with caps in favor of Cans of Liquid Death for $8. First world problems

While I agree with your superlatives regarding Hyryder, My heart is still with DSO. Having seen Hyryder dozens of times over almost a decade, at a similar point in my DSO history I was seeing 25 to 30 shows a year at comparatively similar prices. Even then travel expenses overwhelmed ticket price and still does. Looking at their websites, DSO has about 35 shows scheduled out to March 2027…Hyryder has 6. They are not committed full time.. Losing ET was not helpful. He had enough vocals to give Charlie a respite and trading vocals is a GD thing. Now with basically only Charlie doing all the vocals it does get a tad tedious. Then there’s Lisa…DSO secret weapon. No GD band can duplicate. I will and certainly do pay more for DSO now but we both have paid our dues. However, they rarely play around here anymore. This is in no way meant to disparage Hyryder, they are my number 2 and see them about 10 times a yr now…similar to DSO minus planes and hotels. Sure to see you there!

Hotel AC Rocks.

I've jumped ships. Every Hyryder show is outstanding, incredibly creative and brings an audience of folks that started in the early 70's and first timers at every show, super kind and knowledgeable in so many ways. I will do my best to stay off this forum knowing it's for dSo. Financially and curiosity, I'd much rather pay $20 and be able to walk up to the stage and all around beats the prices and restrictions of a dso production. So long forumites. I've learned a lot from you all and enjoyed every show,except maybe a couple of 72's and some over played 76ers. Everyone I've met has been cool. Keep on keeping on I'm going, I'm going, I'm gone...

There's a new trip in town now and its only $20 to walk right up to the stage. Each show continues to get better, check out 10/24 Columbus ~ absolutely incredible: ChinacatMorningDewPromontoryIKYRyder ~ other level interweaving

Doing the doubleheader in Ft Lauderdale… Previous shows on the Pacific…hard to imagine, but Ohio used to have a plethora of DSO

Saw Rush Friday night in Cincy. Great Show, Annika killing it on drums. Set 1 Xanadu Dreamline Subdivisions The pass Headlong Flight bravado La Villa Strangiato The Trees Passage to Bangkok Spirit of Radio Set 2 2112 entire Closer to the Heart Time Stand Still Red Barchetta YYZ Limelight Camera Eye Witch hunt Vital Signs Tom Sawyer E. By-Tor & the Snow Dog Working man

Brewers are a machine this year!

The bus came by and I got on

small item is that the CSN opening in Pittsburgh was 1990 Love Jerome’s tone for that inaugural Deer Creek show. It’s largely forgotten thanks to the Alpine run that followed, but to me it was a precursor and made that a helluva 4-show excursion 😎 1989 is so so good

Seems 1989 gets a little lost in the mix on the appreciation scale. My biggest year with the band, so maybe the view is a little skewed. Early part of the year full of quality non MIDI Jerry shows and Hampton began amazing late run that ended with Brent. The cherry on top the JGB Fall Tour if you want to add that. Praise DSO.

A big year, my first year that I was in the lot during shows (spring tour) did every stop except Ann Arbor. San Rafael must have known it was bad for me because they sent me front row center for my hometown show, first deeercreeek, JGB two at merriweather his last stand at Alpine and then Poplar Creek ~ Lonesome and A Long Way From Home!!, a solstice pay per view, warlocks , and then Brent's last new years (back to a 4 night run) kudos to you for having the fortitude to make it all the way to Miami, l was saving for NYE series, but sent my equipment with a friend who captured Charlotte. Thanks for the mention and thanks for the encouragement to investigate

I talked to a buddy who was at the show. Apparently it was in a super cool little amphitheater and the W & M guy who put it on was ridiculously conservative is ticket sales. Maybe the most elbow room you'll find at a DSO show these days!

That Dark Star is not only wonderful but I think it's particularly unique (yeah, all Dark Star's are unique but I stand by that statement). Jerry's voice is a bit fried, but no matter. Anyone unfamiliar should cue it up ASAP!

26/10/26 Miami Arena, Miami, FL Set 1: Foolish Heart; Little Red Rooster; Stagger Lee; Me And My Uncle → Big River; Brown Eyed Women; Victim Or The Crime → Don't Ease Me In Set 2: Estimated Prophet → Blow Away; Dark Star → drums → space → The Wheel → All Along The Watchtower → Stella Blue → Not Fade Away Encore: And We Bid You Goodnight The bus tangled with a semi on I-95 just north of Jacksonville, leaving us with no side window and a rear panel smashed in to the point that the spare tire would not fit in the rear wheelwell. After a few hours of glass removal and banging on metal, a visit to a hardware store for a piece a plexiglass, we limped into Miami. This show made all the tribulations worth it. The Dark Star just killed. Consumed the show from the eighth row on the aisle Jerry's side, he saw a lot of me that year. It was 37 years ago today. Praise DSO.

Oh yes! The countdown is certainly on. So, I have an hour drive to work every day, therefore it's 2 hours of Live GD each day during the work week. I must say that when each song spins, I envision myself barefoot on the beach dancing with a Mai Tai in hand witnessing DSO crank it out. Every one that comes on. It's a beautiful thing and makes the damn drive WAY better! 👍 So it's 83 days from today when...... I'LL GET UP AND FLY AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ☺️ Mark

DSO did that show on 4/13/2002. It was a Rex Foundation Benefit, Introduction by Mountain Girl Garcia and emceed by Wavy Gravy. Special Guest: Bob Wier! DSO Notes A Rex Foundation benefit with Wavy Gravy as emcee *with Bob Weir Bob also sang the second verse of Tennessee Jed **with Rob Eaton and Bob Weir

I wish my team would put the ball in play instead of striking out 15x a game, be game aware, and support their pitcher with button up defense. Go Brewers. Go Rays. Go Guardians. Dodgers, not so much. Praise DSO.

80/10/14 Warfield Theatre, San Francisco, CA Acoustic: Dire Wolf; Dark Hollow; It Must Have Been The Roses; Cassidy; I've Been All Around This World; Monkey And The Engineer; China Doll; Heaven Help The Fool; Bird Song → Ripple Set 1: Alabama Getaway → Greatest Story Ever Told; Friend Of The Devil; Me And My Uncle → Mexicali Blues; Candyman; Little Red Rooster; Tennessee Jed → Let It Grow → The Wheel → The Music Never Stopped Set 2: Scarlet Begonias → Fire On The Mountain; Estimated Prophet → Terrapin Station → Playing In The Band → drums → space → I Need A Miracle → Uncle John's Band → Morning Dew → Playing reprise → Good Lovin' Encore: U.S. Blues; Brokedown Palace Thanks Gratefulsets. Have been paying attention to these lists with the looming Reckoning recreation at the Anthem. It will be a full night of music in DC. Can I interest you in LIG>Wheel> Music close to the first? It was 46 years ago today. Praise DSO.

Spun this one on yesterday's bike ride. Stunning. Band locked in from the jump. A Star for the ages. Praise DSO.

I have yet to dance in the sand. Count down those days. Praise DSO.

You're a stud, Bill. I flew out for the Del Mar and Wiltern shows in 2024. I'm guessing 5 shows for you this time. Awesome! And quite impressive after your lengthy northeast run. I like your style! Jamaica for me in Jan. so I can't make these..................but you never know! 😉 Mark

Giddy Up!!

89/10/09 Hampton Colisuem, Hampton, VA Set 1: Feel Like A Stranger; Built To Last; Little Red Rooster; Ramble On Rose; We Can Run; Jack-a-Roe; Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again; Row Jimmy; The Music Never Stopped Set 2: Playing In The Band → Uncle John's Band → Playing reprise → Dark Star* → drums → space → Death Don't Have No Mercy → Dear Mr. Fantasy → Hey Jude Finale → Throwing Stones → Good Lovin' Encore: Attics Of My Life** * First time played since 1984-07-13 ** First time played since 1972-10-28 Notes: billed as Formerly The Warlocks Thanks GratefulSets. The 45 minute stretch from the opening notes of the Star until the conclusion of the Death Don't the most mind blowing sequence I ever experienced at a Grateful Dead concert. Praise DSO.