Rob Eaton wants to clear up one thing about Dark Star Orchestra, which plays Neighborhood Theatre Saturday: While the long-running Grateful Dead tribute band follows particular set lists from the Dead's 40-year career, it doesn't try to re-create each concert note for note.
"It would be impossible to learn even one show note for note, and would be against the concept of this music, which is improvisational," the guitarist/vocalist says. "The only reason it works for us and people come to see it is we approach it the same way.
There's nothing staged or planned."
Although they do change their equipment and the make-up of the band (from a single drummer to two, or adding two female singers) to fit the era of the Dead that's represented on a given night, Dark Star Orchestra doesn't dress up like the band or imitate its stage show.
"Then it would be more of a caricature or a cover band," Eaton says.
Instead, Dark Star Orchestra uses the influential jam band's music to re-create the feel of those classic concerts.
"The music was a catalyst of bringing people together. It was this feeling you got when you were there," says Eaton, who first saw the Dead in 1974 and attended more than 400 shows before Jerry Garcia's 1995 death.
"I don't think any other band provides that in the jam world."
Surviving members of the Dead -- including guitarist/singer Bob Weir -- have given Dark Star the official stamp of approval. Others -- like Charlotte-based composer Tom Constanten, who played keyboards with the Dead from 1966 to 1970 -- have even joined the band on stage.
"It's justification for some of the naysayers who say we shouldn't be doing it," Eaton says. PREVIEW
This Grateful Dead tribute band last played Neighborhood Theatre exactly one year ago today.
WHEN: 8 p.
m. Saturday.
WHERE: Neighborhood Theatre, 511 E.
36th St.
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