Article Contributed by Backstage Flash
Published on February 15, 2026
Dark Star Orchestra | Fort Collins, Colorado | February 14th, 2026 | photos by Backstage Flash
Dark Star Orchestra turned on their brightest love light for the Valentine’s Day crowd last night in Fort Collins. This was the first show for Dark Star Orchestra at Washington’s, and the hometown crowd could not have been more pleased about it. The line of tie-dyed clad, happy, grinning faces stretched around the outside perimeter of the venue with peaceful patience and eager ambition to dance the night away. Celebrating the music of the Grateful Dead is very popular in most towns and cities around the world, but in Colorado it is almost ritualistic in spirit and sincerity. You could feel the crowd’s energy and see their wide-eyed enthusiasm beaming from within.
The musicians of Dark Star Orchestra are fully aware of their unspoken responsibility to preserving and enhancing the music of the good ole’ Grateful Dead. They are true historians of the timeless craft they have been bestowed. With the recent passing of our fallen jam band leader Bob Weir, there seems to be a different kind of vibe and urgency to getting his musical message out to the world. Bobby was, in many respects, a grand pioneer of a cultural movement of free-spirited souls traversing the land in search of something different in their music and lifestyle — something that offered them a sense of adventure and camaraderie with their fellow deadheads they encountered along the way.
It’s very sad that Bob Weir is no longer with us, but we can all be so grateful that we lived on a planet as old as ours at the same time Bobby and his bandmates did. Let that sink into your bones for a minute. It could have gone a lot different for any one of us. The music lives on and will never fade away. New generations will come, and older ones will escape to the rainbow’s end. There is one thing for certain: the music of the Grateful Dead will carry on until the end of time, if there is such a place, and if there is, I am certain the last person standing will joyfully utter the words, “There Is Nothing Like A Grateful Dead Concert.”
Last night’s audience had a wide range of ages; many had seen the Grateful Dead perform, and many of the younger folks had not. No matter when you arrived on earth, the magical powers within the music resonate with the same deep emotion and power for us all. Dark Star Orchestra treats the music with the same kindness and respect as its original intention. Every time the band steps on stage, they are opening a new chapter of the music. They are the captains of the ship, and the music guides them into new territory and adventurous, uncharted waters. The massive catalog of music at their fingertips is explored with the same enthusiasm and vitality the Grateful Dead portrayed during their tenure at the ship’s helm.
Dark Star Orchestra does not lean on any particular era of the Grateful Dead’s music when it comes to recreating their shows. They enjoy recreating shows from the large and diverse selection of live performances from past years, as well as creating their own shows with the vast catalog of music at their disposal. Last night, the band performed two sets of music consisting of songs from different eras of the Grateful Dead’s career. The show had an early seventies structure that resembled Europe ’72 vibes. Both setlists are included at the bottom of this article.
The crowd was spinning with joy and anticipation before the band even took hold of them. The vibes in the sold-out hall were wide and high as the band appeared on stage and got right down to the business at hand. Opening the first set with “Not Fade Away” brought the audience directly into the band’s energy and melodic momentum. The music swirled around the room with the heart of a lion and the peacefulness of a sunset. Each person in the room added their energetic contributions to the musical engagement. The explosion of colors and expression from the audience lit the whole place ablaze with gratitude for the seven souls steering the music right into their hearts.
The band members are Rob Eaton on rhythm guitar and vocals, Jeff Mattson on lead guitar and vocals, Skip Vangelas on bass, Rob Barraco on keyboards and vocals, Rob Koritz on drums (who was not in attendance), Dino English on drums, and Lisa Mackey on vocals and harmonica. Everyone in the band had a role to fill, and boy did they ever. The music was so loose and free-feeling, and the familiarity of each song played sent chills up your spine. Eaton’s voice was powerfully pronounced and crystal clear; every word he sang stuck to your ribs with serious holding power. His guitar playing style had that familiar strumming flow that Bob Weir invented and perfected. Mattson was seriously on point in the vocals and lead guitar department. His voice had an eerily familiar comparison to the voice of Jerry Garcia, and his guitar playing was a kaleidoscope of psychedelic moods, scorching solos, and impeccable tone.
The dream team rhythm section of Vangelas on bass and English on drums was an unstoppable force of low-end backbone with a wall-of-sound power. The improvisational nature of the Grateful Dead’s music must be like a dream for these well-accomplished musicians. They worked in tandem, delivering heart-pounding percussive power to the audience. The richness and experimental energy they employed filled the room with bold beats and buttery bass grooves. Barraco on keyboards and vocals kept the melodies flowing beautifully. His timing and craftsmanship were fully implemented into every ounce of the show. His relentless commitment to the soulfulness of the music was a melodic masterpiece. Lisa Mackey on vocals and harmonica brought all the female feels to the band’s arsenal of artistry. Her voice emulated the sound and style of the late, great Donna Godchaux, backup singer for the Grateful Dead from 1972 to 1979.
Wow DSO, way to close out your winter tour in Fort Collins on a Saturday night. Thanks to the band and their crew, thanks to Washington’s and their crew, and all of you fine folks that came out. Special thanks to every member of the Grateful Dead, past and present — you have all changed the world for the better. YKOLWNFA! We have included the full setlists below.
