Concert Review: Dark Star Orchestra Delivers an Unforgettable Night at Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
What an amazing night of music and a truly fabulous live concert performance!
On September 18, 2026, Dark Star Orchestra (DSO) performed at the historic Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom in Hampton Beach, New Hampshire. It was an incredible night of music, with thousands of fans enjoying the concert. The Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom, which originally opened in the late 1920's, was the perfect venue for this show.
DSO is more than a group of talented musicians who skillfully perform the music of the Grateful Dead. It is a shared experience where friendly Deadheads come together, reconnect with old friends, and form new ones. Throughout the concert, fans danced and grooved to the music while wearing tie-dye DSO and Grateful Dead shirts. By preserving the Grateful Dead's music for live audiences, Dark Star Orchestra has earned the deep appreciation and loyalty of its fans.
I personally love DSO because it is the closest band to the original Grateful Dead experience. When you watch Jeff Mattson use vintage-style amp rigs and equipment to recreate Jerry Garcia's signature guitar tone, you can close your eyes and imagine Jerry himself performing. Rob Eaton's superb guitar work and stage presence often bring Bob Weir to mind. Vocalist Lisa Mackey provides the female harmonies originally sung by Donna Godchaux and, since joining the band, has also taken on harmonica duties for the Ron "Pigpen" McKernan songs.
Lisa might even surpass Donna in some respects, especially considering how effectively the band recreates shows from the 1970s and 1980s. Ron Barraco's keyboard playing is simply fantastic. Dino English delivers the steady, rhythmic drumming style associated with Bill Kreutzmann, while Rob Koritz expertly fills the Mickey Hart role on the second drum kit. Skip Vangelas rounds out the lineup with a bass-playing style that recalls the legendary Phil Lesh.
DSO has been performing Grateful Dead music for more than 30 years, and the band continues to do a remarkable job. Their performances are incredibly authentic, and the improvisational jams are nothing short of spectacular. The Washington Post once declared them "the hottest Grateful Dead tribute act going," while USA Today described DSO as "channeling the Dead." What Dark Star Orchestra offers is more than a tribute band performance. It is a testament to the Grateful Dead's vast catalog of music and the seemingly endless variety of setlists that made each concert unique.
Founded in 1997, Dark Star Orchestra was created to preserve and recreate the Grateful Dead concert experience. The current lineup consists of Rob Eaton (rhythm guitar, vocals), Jeff Mattson (lead guitar, vocals), Lisa Mackey (vocals, harmonica), Dino English and Rob Koritz (drums), Skip Vangelas (bass), and Rob Barraco (keyboards).
Amid today's political divisions and daily stresses, the Grateful Dead's enduring message of peace, love, and community provides a welcome four-hour escape. Concerts like this restore the spirit and remind us of the power of live music to bring people together.
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