Dark Star Orchestra, Best Buy Theatre Manhattan, 30/11/13

My third DSO gig – the first being London last year. 

After the previous night’s spectacular show with a non-stop 100-minute second set featuring Playin’, Uncle John’s, Dark Star, Death Don’t Have No Mercy and finishing with ‘Good Lovin’ - with a Dear Mr Fantasy morphing into Hey Jude (1,200 people singing Na, Na, Na, Na-Na-Na-Na!) in the middle – it was going to take something special not to feel a anticlimax.

But special was what we got. Like last night the band came on stage promptly (shortly after 8 pm) and kicked off with a cracking ‘Shakedown’ ...suddenly you're in the middle of hundreds of singing, dancing people. But initially I was a bit confused – which night were they performing? Why was Lisa on stage if the next number was “Hell in a Bucket”? I didn’t know what they sometimes abandon the usual format of playing a historical Grateful Dead set list and make up their own – but this was exactly what was happening.

And what an inspired list! Gem after gem, Good Morning Little Schoolgirl a particular treat, even if she’s, thankfully, a couple of years older ("17 years of age") than when Pigpen used to sing the song! Rob Baracco delivered outstanding vocals on the Pigpen and Brent songs, and inspired keyboards solos. Maybe I was too blown away by the guitar to notice him last time. New bass player Skip Vangelas excelled in the role; a perfect fit. Everyone else was playing to the max as well.

I don’t think I stopped grinning inanely (except when singing) until the opening cords of ‘Standing’ – perhaps because it is such a poignant song, and one of Jerry’s, it always makes me remember that sad day in August ’95 and what's missing. It seemed a fitting song to end the first set – but no ...the band ripped into a terrific Johnny B Goode before the break.

For the second set I moved from the middle of the floor at the back to nearer the front on the left. Good move – a guy to my left was going for it as much as I was throughout a crackin’ China-Rider. We belted out the fanfare section in the long segue in unison – Da-da-da, Da-da, Da-da, dada!!! – and in unison turned to each other at the last chords of Rider and exclaimed “Awesome!”

St Stephan was a treat, Terrapin, not exactly a dance song, but very special. Alligator was amazing. (I SO want to hear this show again – keep looking on Livedownloads.com for it.)

As Rob belted out “I went down to the mountain” there suddenly just wasn’t enough room and I weaved my way out of the crowd to the space on the left and surrendered to the rock ‘n roll! For a rollickin’ end-of-show number to jump-dance to you can’t beat ‘Saturday Night’!

The band exited the stage, but of course we knew they’d be back for one more. And what a superb surprise! White Rabbit!!! Lisa’s delivery was every bit as full-on as Diana Mangano’s (never saw Grace sing it) but - holy plectrums, Batman –  then we get an equally full-on Jeff Mattson solo which is worthy of comparison with Jorma.

To add an extra something to this multisensory experience there’s a girl in front of me dancing – she’s in her own world oblivious to everyone else – and she’s doing the most sexy sexy dance I have ever ever seen; hips rolling, arms in the air totally abandoned to the music, utterly riveting.

Sure enough this is the last number and as she’s leaving I say "That was some dance - I now need a cold shower!". I’m rewarded with a kiss – a perfect end to a perfect evening: nearly three-and-a-half hours of outstanding music.

Now – how do I convince C that this trip really should become an annual event?

Set List

Set One: Shakedown Street; Hell In A Bucket; Big Boss Man; Brown Eyed Women; When I Paint My Masterpiece; Good Morning Little School Girl; Dire Wolf; Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues; Standing On The Moon-Johnny B. Goode

Set Two: China Cat Sunflower-I Know You Rider; It's A Man's World; Saint Stephen-Terrapin Station-drums-space-Alligator-If I Had The World To Give-One More Saturday Night

Encore: White Rabbit