Watch video from DSO’s revisiting of the Grateful Dead’s August 1, 1973 concert.
By Nate Todd Aug 3, 2026 • 9:37 am PDT
Dark Star Orchestra brought their The Music Never Stops: A Rex Foundation Benefit & Tribute to Bob Weir to the historic Greek Theatre in Berkeley, California over the weekend. Along with honoring Weir, the run coincided with Jerry Garcia‘s birthday on Saturday and DSO recreated the Grateful Dead‘s August 1, 1973 Roosevelt Stadium show for the occasion.
The Grateful Dead tribute act kicked off the run on Friday with a guest-filled performance of Dead tunes including assists from Dave Ellis, Barry Sless, Melvin Seals, John Kadlecik, Mark Karan and Jay Lane, among others.
The first set of Friday’s DSO show boasted Grateful Dead classics such as “Cassidy,” “Box Of Rain,” “Ramble On Rose,” “Black-Throated Wind,” “Cumberland Blues” and “Shakedown Street.”
Set two launched with “Playing In The Band” followed by the epic “Terrapin Station.” The second frame saw guests returning to deliver “Drums” followed by “Not Fade Away” and “Dear Mr. Fantasy.” Friday night came to a close with a two song encore of “Johnny B. Goode” and “Ripple.”
Saturday’s festivities got underway with an opening set featuring Peter Rowan and Sam Grisman Project performing the music of Old & In The Way. DSO then delivered their recreation of August 1, 1973, which also saw guitarist Jeff Mattson wielding Jerry Garcia’s famed Alligator Stratocaster guitar, on loan from Grateful Guitars Foundation founder Andy Logan.
Set one saw Dark Star performing “The Promised Land,” “Sugaree,” “Bird Song,” “They Love Each Other,” “Jack Straw,” “Stella Blue” and “Casey Jones” along with a choice cover of Loretta Lynn‘s “You Ain’t Woman Enough (to Take My Man).”
The Grateful Dead’s 1973 performance in New Jersey is famed for its second set sequence of “Dark Star” > “El Paso” > “Eyes Of The World” > “Morning Dew.” The show and weekend came to a close with “Going Down The Road Feeling Bad,” “One More Saturday Night” and the Janis Joplin-popularized “Piece Of My Heart.”
