Deadheads galore

On the south wall of the Moose's Tooth hangs an unassuming and relatively small show poster in a frame, looking slightly out of place next to the larger and more psychedelic posters from past First Taps and other Bear Tooth shows.

The poster advertises the momentous three-day appearance of the Grateful Dead at the West High School auditorium in 1980.

In a career that lasted more than 30 years and included 2,300 shows, the Dead played only once in Alaska. Grateful Dead tribute band Dark Star Orchestra, with a career half as long and a rapidly gaining show count of nearly 2,000, will play its first Alaska show Thursday at the Bear Tooth.

Jeff Mattson, lead vocalist and guitarist -- or the Jerry Garcia -- of Dark Star Orchestra, said the band has averaged around 150 shows a year since he joined in 2009. The band just returned from the Fuji Rock Festival in Japan, playing to what he described as Bonnaroo-like crowds. The bearded, burly Mattson sounds tired on the phone. Jet lag, he said.

"It's the most successful one. I can say that without bragging. It is just the case," said Mattson of Dark Star Orchestra's place among Dead tribute bands.

There are more than 270 Grateful Dead tribute bands from at least four countries, according to gratefuldeadtributebands.com . Mattson would have a good idea how his band ranks -- he left another prominent Dead tribute band called the Zen Tricksters, a group that he founded, to join Dark Star Orchestra. He replaced John Kadlecik, a DSO co-founder, who went on to join former Dead members Phil Lesh and Bob Weir in the band Further.

Dark Star Orchestra owes its success to a simple concept and a bevy of good musicians. Kadlecik and fellow Chicagoan Scott Larned formed the band in 1997 with the idea of replicating the exact set list of a specific show from one of the hundreds the Grateful Dead played. Even more, the group uses the exact vocal arrangements and gear from the different Dead eras. Concertgoers are encouraged to figure out what show it is. That this is considered a reasonable expectation -- figuring out one specific night in more than 2,300 shows -- should give you an insight into how dedicated Grateful Dead fans are.

"It's fun for the crowd," said Dan Fiacco, who handles booking at Bear Tooth Theaterpub and is himself a Dead fan (12 shows in four years of college). "We have been trying to get (Dark Star Orchestra) for several years," he said.

Dark Star Orchestra covers Grateful Dead | State Bridge, Colorado

Sunday, August 14th DOORS: 9am Bar and Grill Opens

MAIN STAGE: Music 11-1 – BLUEGRASS AND BLOODY’S

TOP MINI STAGE: 3pm – 6pm – TBA

MAIN STAGE: 6pm – 11pm – DSO


Dark Star Orchestras shows are built off the extensive catalog of the Grateful Dead. On any given night the band will perform a show based on a set list from the Grateful Dead’s 30 years of extensive touring or use the catalog of original songs and often played covers to create a unique set list for the show. This allows music fans both young and old to share in the experience. Dark Star Orchestra presents its critically acclaimed live show at esteemed venues from coast to coast and internationally. Grateful Dead classics are performed in the same way that an orchestra interprets music of classical composers. The composer spirit is derived and channeled as the players capture the excitement and innovation of the original performances and compositions. Touring nationwide for eleven years to the tune of over 1800 shows since forming, the band’s determined commitment to “raising the Dead” has drawn national media attention.

“Fanatical attention to detail.” Rolling Stone

“Dark Star Orchestra takes its act to a level of detail that befits a rock band famous for its fanatical following.” Associated Press

“The hottest Grateful Dead tribute act. A cover band for people who don’t like cover bands.” The Washington Post

Critics aren’t the only ones singing Dark Star Orchestra’s praises. Five original members of the Grateful Dead have played alongside DSO and have had this to say:

“Playing with Dark Star Orchestra is something that feels just exactly like it felt when I was playing with the Grateful Dead.” Donna Jean Godchaux-McKay, Grateful Dead vocalist, frequent DSO guest

Precision is king with DSO; the band adapts their stage positioning, vocal arrangements, specific musical equipment and instruments to fit the era of the show they are performing. Following each performance the band announces the date and venue of the original performance. Dark Star Orchestra could dip into any incarnation of the dead at any of their shows, allowing fans to experience shows that happened long before they were born.

The Music of the Grateful Dead, Arranged for Fingerstyle Guitar

The Grateful Dead in concert, essays on live improvisation

The Grateful Dead and philosophy, getting high minded about love and Haight

Grateful Dead, What a Long, Strange Trip It's Been

The American book of the Dead, the definitive Grateful Dead encyclopedia