{"id":769,"date":"2017-11-08T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-11-08T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.nysmusic.com\/2017\/2017\/11\/08\/a-20th-on-the-eleven-dark-star-orchestra-celebrates-a-milestone\/"},"modified":"2017-11-08T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2017-11-08T00:00:00","slug":"a-20th-on-the-eleven-dark-star-orchestra-celebrates-a-milestone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.nysmusic.com\/2017\/2017\/11\/08\/a-20th-on-the-eleven-dark-star-orchestra-celebrates-a-milestone\/","title":{"rendered":"A 20th on The Eleven: Dark Star Orchestra Celebrates a Milestone"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Rob Koritz, DSO drummer<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It was a chilly night at Martyr’s in Chicago on November 11, 1997, when a group of like-minded musicians got together to spin their takes on a band beloved by an intrinsic fan base — one that is both fun loving and importunate at the same time.<\/span><\/p>\n

No one involved that night could have predicted what was blooming, as the original members of The Grateful Dead<\/a> tribute group Dark Star Orchestra got together to have some fun and jam out.<\/span><\/p>\n

On Saturday night, at the Palace Theater in Albany, a band that has seen 24 different members come through its turnstiles will ring in a very special 20th anniversary of playing Grateful Dead music. Whether they\u2019re recreating a setlist from 1973, or piecing together their own show, Dark Star Orchestra has displayed some very impressive staying power. They are a touring force, filling theaters across the country and headlining festivals \u00a0during the summer while performing more than 2,700 shows in their history.<\/span><\/p>\n

But the piece that holds it all together is what built the Grateful Dead community in the first place: the fans. For a group that had almost no expectations, Dark Star has exceeded in keeping together something that took 30 years to build.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe had no idea this band would take over our life,\u201d said Rob Koritz, who fills the role of Mickey Hart in Dark Star. \u201cIt\u2019s so fantastic. Anyone who plays music for a living, they want some sort of security and longevity. I think we are doing the music justice.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

None of the members from that Chicago night remain in the band, but the ethos plays on. The Grateful Dead had to simply endure many times of their existence, whether is was a death in the band, or a health scare, or anything in between. In 1966, they were playing the Acid Tests, and in 1995 they were selling out massive football stadiums. Dark Star Orchestra has trucked on in a way that \u00a0preserves what Jerry Garcia and company made into a lifestyle.<\/span><\/p>\n

But make no mistake, Dark Star isn\u2019t a knock off in any way. To embody the spirit of a group the way that Dark Star has is an impressive feat. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe are Deadheads too,\u201d Koritz said. \u201cWe recognize that. Our hope is that we do the music justice. We are going to do what we have been doing for all these years this weekend. We work hard for this music and all we hope is that the fans receive it the same way.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n