3/21/2026 @ F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts, Wilkes-Barre, PA

[Tea]

Elective Set

 

China Cat Sunflower > (Feelin Groovy) > I Know You Rider, Box of Rain, Jack Straw, Mission in the Rain, Cumberland Blues, Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues, Greatest Story Ever Told, Tomorrow Is Forever, Women R Smarter

 

Terrapin Station > Playin in the Band (v1) > Shakedown Street > Baby Don’t You Do it > Drums > Space > St Stephen > Can’t Find My Way Home > Playin in the Band(v2) > Comes a Time > Not Fade Away

E: Let It Rock *
*Lisa on Harmonica 

[John A]

Every elective should have at least 2 JGB songs.  Test passed. 😃

 

[bs69]

Ah, Comes a time!

[springFallandWinter]

One of the finest concerts, DSO or otherwise, we've seen.

A really BIG shoe~

[Billy DeLyon]

We got a Hero Dose of some fine Dark Star Orchestra on this night.  The juice was flowing a little harder than the night before.  There was spice in the air.  Box of Rain was moving.  I couldn't help but think about Phil during the song, but then I thought about Grahame Lesh and what that song must mean to him.  Mission in the Rain was divine.  Always love when I can catch one of them.  Think that was my first Baby Don't You Do It, & Can't Find My Way Home.  The second set was straight Tungsten hexafluoride, very heavy stuff.  Terrapin, Shakedown, St. Stephen, NFA ~ All rockers.  And then they Let it Rock to end the show.  Once again grate venue, awesome 2 night run.  Got some skiing in at Elk mountain an hr. north of the venue Sat.  Fun times were had by all.  Thanks DSO!  ⛷️🎵🎹🥳🚬🧉 

[2muchfun]

Another fine 2fer for Wilkes Barre. 
Fri night was recreation of what some were calling the worst GD show of May 77…even if so that’s some good ole Grateful Dead from DSO.
Sat night was as Billy D describes. All of DSO skills and talents on full display. Baby Don’t a bust out for me. Shakedown hot. Lots of crowd joining in lyrics for the ultimate sing a long dance band. 

Considering I was in 2nd row aisle seat for this sold out GA show and virtually no security…yet again had freedom of decent movement. Overall very experienced audience.

Four shows in 16 days and 3 St Stephen’s including 69 show version

life is good and will do it, do it again.

 

[springFallandWinter]

Forget Cancun, forget Italy.

Wilkes Barre, Pa is the place on earth to be in March.

[Island Bro]

I want that show!

[springFallandWinter]

The Kirby on Saturday night in Wilkes Barre was packed and loaded and ready to rock.

Now I've always thought beginnings and endings are the most important.

In-between is also good but you wanna start strong and end strong.

 

So when DSO opened up Saturday night with the first notes of China Cat/Rider, the place just exploded. it was amazing.

In all the years I saw the Grateful Dead, I only saw one China Cat/RIder opener—-11/5/79 Philly and that show smoked.

A couple year's ago we saw DSO open the Anthem with Mississippi/Rider and that was great.

But to get a China Cat/Rider opener is pretty special and when it's on fire, it's even more special.

This China/Rider was cruisin and the KIrby was up and dancin from point go. Just a beautiful opener.

 

Skip followed with a soulful Box of Rain. He just owns this. 

Then came Jack Straw. Back in the early 70s, Jack Straw may have been placed in the 4-hole but since the late 70s its almost always been a show opener or first-set closer, unless Jerry snuck a Deal or Might As Well behind it.

But a modern show with Jack the 4th song? Well we were all sharing what we got of yours cause we done shared all of mine.

And man it was blistering. That thing was rollin.

 

Ok now raise your hand if you don't like Mission in the Rain.

Ok now all you who just raised your hand, get the hell out.

Mission, such a rare gem, followed and, well, All the things I planned to do I only did halfway...

Man that song just rips your heart out. Such a beauty.

And it's like WTF is goin on?

We're just five songs in and we've already gotten so many surprises.

But just as we're tryin to catch a breath---Bam here we go down to the Cumberland mine.

Seriously, you just don't get all these songs back-to-back-to-back, and played at such a high level.

It just doesn't happen.

 

And there we were, it was just wall to wall dancin.

All the aisles were filled. Security was completely mellow and friendly.

We were in church and this was the gospel.

And we were only in the first half of set one. 

[John A]

9 hours ago, 2muchfun said:

the worst GD show of May 77

 

That phrase is an oxymoron!  

[BillK522]

Anxiously awaiting further

review, SpringFallandWinter.

Fabulous show capture so far.

Spent the show at the top of 

the floor in the dance zone.

Good times were had.

 

Praise DSO.

[springFallandWinter]

Ok Ok, well we needed to take a breath.

So the perfect time for Tom Thumb.

Now personally I've never been a big fan of the Thumb.

Love Dylans version on Highway 61 but not the Deads.

Matter of fact, I'm not crazy about any of the Grateful Dead's covers of Dylan.

So anyway this was a good time to sit back and rest for a second.

But Skip was dealing. I mean just like with Box, he was wailing.

And when he said I started out in Wilmington, well I didn't even know he was from Delaware.

Anyway, this was the best version of this song I've heard.

And it wouldn't be the last we heard from Skip either.

He was bigtime on this night.

 

Greatest Story and Tomorrow is Forever were good and sweet. 

Again, every song can't be rocket petrol you know.

Then for the first set closer on the 10th song, we get Women R Smarter.

Women is a nice bouncy get up song in the 2^nd set.

But to get it in the first set, especially as a closer, man that rocks.

Ok here I go again.

I only saw the Grateful dead do Women in the first set one time and that was Baltimore 4/19/82.

You may have heard of that show.

That was the infamous Raven Space show where Phil narrates Edgar Allen Poe's poem The Raven during space.

Check it out if you haven't heard it. Pretty wild.

 

Anyway a first set Women closer is so sweet.

Joint was Jumpin.

And man just like the night before, a mammoth first set.

But that worried me and I turned to Mrs SFW and said, Uh oh, remember what happened last night?

We got a monster first set and then came the 2nd set crash and burn.

But Mrs SFW is smarter than the man in every way.

She just gave me that Cheshire Cat smile like get ready, this is gonna be big.

Setbreak.     

[2muchfun]

I really thought they were going to close see with Pride of Cucamonga to give Skip a three fer. He was out there both nights stage right by his lonesome.

[John A]

11 hours ago, springFallandWinter said:

Matter of fact, I'm not crazy about any of the Grateful Dead's covers of Dylan.

 

I understand I grabbed this sentence out of a long and informative review of a DSO show, which is in itself both great to both see and read...

 

But wait a minute! You have no love for Garcia nailing a Baby Blue? Or a jarringly soul drenching 1990 rendition of Knockin' on Heaven's Door? Or any one of the 1985 takes on She Belongs To Me? How about a rocking version of All Along The Watchtower?

[Tea]

On 3/25/2026 at 10:27 AM, springFallandWinter said:

 

Matter of fact, I'm not crazy about any of the Grateful Dead's covers of Dylan.

We can still be friends even though Visions of Johanna, Baby Blue, Desolation Row, She Belongs to Me, and Masterpiece make me moist.  Then there's the JGB covers....🥵 swooon

[Ammagamalin Crew]

Positively 4th

Going Going Gone 

Maggie's Farm

[Vic81]

Tough mama

 

i got a positively 4th and masterpiece at the Cap a few months ago. Excellent

[John A]

I stayed on topic with The Dead doing Dylan and just posed a few notable examples of awesomeness. I did neglect Visions however.  My bad...

 

Of course moving to the JGB there's a whole other can of Dylan worms to open. In that arena I'd start with Tangled up in Blue, Forever Young (arguable as good at late era JGB got), the likes of December '79 Positively 4th Street's that go off the rails, Senior from the 1990 JGB double live CD release, the open gorgeousness of Simple Twist of Fate with the extended Kahn solos, and the delicate power of I Shall Be Released. I think 8/8/90 is the version of the the latter is the one I'm thinking of where there are a quick series of notes at the end of the main jam where It sounds like Jerry's guitar is having an orgasm. While that's an admittedly odd subjective concept, I've felt it since the moment I heard it live, and the recording doesn't make me reconsider!  

[springFallandWinter]

Set 2.

 

Lights down, everyone juiced and here comes the first strummed chords of Terrapin to open the 2nd set.

I mean there was no get ready, no warm-up—just right into the meat, the heart of darkness.

Gotta say it, I only saw one Terrapin 2^nd set opener and that was from the same Philly run as stated earlier—11/6/79 and that was a 4-song 2^nd set---Terrapin/Playin/Drums/Black Peter/Good Lovin, with a big dose of Feedback thrown in--pretty heavy duty.

This was to be Heavy Duty.

When Terrapin opens the set, get ready.

 

So here we are right into Terrapin, no messin around.

And it was strong. They were crackin on the buildup and the breaks and the whistle and guitars were Screamin.

And so was the walll to wall Kirby.

What a joy.

 

Playin followed and although it was short, any Playin is welcome.

I got the next one wrong. I figured Playin/Uncle Johns, so when Shakedown materialized out of Playin, it was perfect.

Three biggies and the mass singalong was on.

Shakedown to open a set is always cool. But Shakedown outta a jam/space is freakin bullseye.

Shakedown ripped. Totally unexpected.

 

But what was was even more unexpected was Skip coming front and center again and blasting out the Bands Dont Do it.

If anyone saw this comin, well come on down. What a freakin foursome.

Drums and a much needed rest followed.

The rest of the show would simply have been gravy, a long encore but DSO not only wasn't finished, they were kinda just getting started again.

I mean the energy in the Kirby was sick.

And the band was riding the audience wave.

 

St stephen came out of space and then well what did we do to deserve these treats.

Stephen was followed by a truly beautiful and tear-drop moment—Can't Find My Way Home in the perfect after drums slot.

This song, which was only being played for the 2nd time, was pitch perfect and a real gem.

Such a gorgeous tune and Lisa nailed it.

I mean the hits, the highlights just kept on coming. 

Can't Find My Way Home is one of the truly great songs of the American Songbook.

And this was perfect. Really amazing. What a moment.

And let me just say for future DSO goers, if LIsa deems to bless you with Home, thank your lucky stars. It's a special night.

 

When the band went into the notes for Playin Reprise well I said, what a showl We're done and no one would have been upset because of what we were gifted.

Man was I wrong.

The band came to a complete stop after Playin Reprise but didnt leave the stage, took a beat and then hit the intro notes into one of Jerry's prettiest songs evah—Comes a Time.

Let me just back up one mo time and say this:

St Stephen/Can't FInd My Way Home/Playin Reprise, Comes a Time.

Holy Smokes Batman.

What a foursome.

Pinch me.

 

It was almost unreal. Comes A Time is simply one of the most beautiful songs ever written.

Jeff brought it home and they finished up with a rockin and appropriate Not Fade.

Let it Rock was the real encore icing on the cake.

 

It was close to midnight and we were all waisted and needed to find our way home or back to the Best Western next door.

A couple of hours later I looked out the window from our hotel facing the Kirby and saw that the Band's bus and the Roadie Truck were packed up and gone.

And I felt a twinge of sadness that they were no longer there.

Were they ever there at all.

Oh Yeah, were they ever.

 

And remember only love can fill.

Only love can fill.

And there was so much love on this night, on this weekend.

 

Thanks DSO.

Thanks Wilkes Barre.

 

[BillK522]

Fantastic recap SFW.

Great weekend.

[springFallandWinter]

Thanks BK.

BTW Dino even nailed the classic Ginger Baker drum splash during Home.

So great.

[Tea]

On 3/27/2026 at 8:21 AM, springFallandWinter said:

Set 2.

 

Lights down, everyone juiced and here comes the first strummed chords of Terrapin to open the 2nd set.

I mean there was no get ready, no warm-up—just right into the meat, the heart of darkness.

Gotta say it, I only saw one Terrapin 2^nd set opener and that was from the same Philly run as stated earlier—11/6/79 and that was a 4-song 2^nd set---Terrapin/Playin/Drums/Black Peter/Good Lovin, with a big dose of Feedback thrown in--pretty heavy duty.

This was to be Heavy Duty.

When Terrapin opens the set, get ready.

 

So here we are right into Terrapin, no messin around.

And it was strong. They were crackin on the buildup and the breaks and the whistle and guitars were Screamin.

And so was the walll to wall Kirby.

What a joy.

 

Playin followed and although it was short, any Playin is welcome.

I got the next one wrong. I figured Playin/Uncle Johns, so when Shakedown materialized out of Playin, it was perfect.

Three biggies and the mass singalong was on.

Shakedown to open a set is always cool. But Shakedown outta a jam/space is freakin bullseye.

Shakedown ripped. Totally unexpected.

 

But what was was even more unexpected was Skip coming front and center again and blasting out the Bands Dont Do it.

If anyone saw this comin, well come on down. What a freakin foursome.

Drums and a much needed rest followed.

The rest of the show would simply have been gravy, a long encore but DSO not only wasn't finished, they were kinda just getting started again.

I mean the energy in the Kirby was sick.

And the band was riding the audience wave.

 

St stephen came out of space and then well what did we do to deserve these treats.

Stephen was followed by a truly beautiful and tear-drop moment—Can't Find My Way Home in the perfect after drums slot.

This song, which was only being played for the 2nd time, was pitch perfect and a real gem.

Such a gorgeous tune and Lisa nailed it.

I mean the hits, the highlights just kept on coming. 

Can't Find My Way Home is one of the truly great songs of the American Songbook.

And this was perfect. Really amazing. What a moment.

And let me just say for future DSO goers, if LIsa deems to bless you with Home, thank your lucky stars. It's a special night.

 

When the band went into the notes for Playin Reprise well I said, what a showl We're done and no one would have been upset because of what we were gifted.

Man was I wrong.

The band came to a complete stop after Playin Reprise but didnt leave the stage, took a beat and then hit the intro notes into one of Jerry's prettiest songs evah—Comes a Time.

Let me just back up one mo time and say this:

St Stephen/Can't FInd My Way Home/Playin Reprise, Comes a Time.

Holy Smokes Batman.

What a foursome.

Pinch me.

 

It was almost unreal. Comes A Time is simply one of the most beautiful songs ever written.

Jeff brought it home and they finished up with a rockin and appropriate Not Fade.

Let it Rock was the real encore icing on the cake.

 

It was close to midnight and we were all waisted and needed to find our way home or back to the Best Western next door.

A couple of hours later I looked out the window from our hotel facing the Kirby and saw that the Band's bus and the Roadie Truck were packed up and gone.

And I felt a twinge of sadness that they were no longer there.

Were they ever there at all.

Oh Yeah, were they ever.

 

And remember only love can fill.

Only love can fill.

And there was so much love on this night, on this weekend.

 

Thanks DSO.

Thanks Wilkes Barre.

 

Don’t get a ton of blow-by-blow reviews ‘round here much anymore . An absolute breath of fresh air ❤️