Group goes for Grateful Dead vibe

When the Dark Star Orchestra plays, the group doesn't try to copy Grateful Dead set lists note for note. It just tries to capture the ambiance of a Grateful Dead show.

"We see ourselves as a painter working with a canvas that has boundaries," said guitarist Rob Eaton. "We fill it with things but know there is a point where we need to keep it fresh — but also know where we need to keep it under control. We can copy to a degree, but we're not trying to capture the live songs note for note.

"We've done this long enough to know if we chose to cover a set list in 1977, we will play it like the band would have played it during that era."

The Dark Star Orchestra — Eaton, bassist Kevin Rosen, vocalist Lisa Mackey, keyboardist Scott Larned, lead guitarist/vocalist John Kadlecik and drummers Rob Koritz and Dino English — has made a name for itself as a world-class Grateful Dead cover band. What sets it apart from other Dead tributes is that the Dead's own Bob Weir and Bill Kreutzmann have performed with Dark Star, as have other Grateful Dead alumni Donna Jean Godchaux-Mackay, Vince Welnick and Tom Constanten.

"We have to thank the Grateful Dead family for all their support," Eaton said by phone from Vail, Colo. "They have been so supportive and understand what we're doing."

The whole reason for DSO's existence is to recapture the magic that the Grateful Dead conveyed during its tours, said Eaton. "What's nice is the fact that younger people are coming to our shows. Those fans are too young to have seen or remember a Grateful Dead show back in the '70s. And we're hopefully giving them a taste of what it was like."

As for Eaton, he's seen the Dead more than 400 times, and he kept wanting to go back. "There's that feeling of not wanting to miss that one show that would rise above the rest. You kept going back for more because it was like a drug. I can say that for me and probably for a lot of Deadheads. They weren't there for the drugs, but for the chance to experience an incredible show."

Eaton says he loves playing all the Grateful Dead songs in the repertoire, especially "Morning Dew," "just because of the rhythmic structure; there is a lot of room for expression and places for me to play.

"As for my favorite Grateful Dead song, hmmm. I'd have to say 'Attics of My Life.' I love it. I love the arrangements and the harmonies."

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If you go. . .

What: Dark Star Orchestra

Where: Suede, Park City

When: Wednesday, 9 p.m.

How much: $16

Phone: 467-8499 or 1-800-888-8499

Web: www.smithstix.com

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E-mail: scott@desnews.com