Dark Star Orchestra, the faithful interpreters of the music of the Grateful Dead, announced today that Jeff Mattson will be taking on Jerry Garcia role and welcomes him as a full time member of the group. The band's statement reads:
"After months of touring and playing with Jeff, we have decided to offer him the full time gig, which he has gratefully accepted. Jeff has blown us away with his energy, licks, and presence on stage. He is a great guy, an inspiring musician and so much fun to perform with, we cannot wait to get back out there and mix it up with him once again. We are having more fun than ever and are looking forward to seeing you all at the upcoming shows."
A veteran of more than 30 years on the road, Jeff was a founding member of The Zen Tricksters and has performed in two bands of actual Grateful Dead members withPhil Lesh & Friends and the Donna Jean Godchaux Band. RELIX Magazine recently praised his "eerily on-point Garcia interpretations" and Jambase.com noted "Any doubts about new lead guitarist-singer Jeff Mattson were erased by a breathtaking "Eyes of the World" where Mattson continually proved a real prize in his new role, bringing all his years in The Zen Tricksters to bear and then upping the ante a bit more."
Having joined Dark Star Orchestra for two nationwide tours, fans and critics have already weighed in with PopMatters.com marveling how "Mattson's guitar playing matched every intricate moment," and Hidden Track praising his "soulful vocals and dense solos to anchor the major suites, chipper, airy ones to flesh out the rockers... his improvisational style is intense but not ostentatious."
A video clip of Jeff Mattson performing with Dark Star Orchestra doing a scorching version of "Viola Lee Blues" at The Klein in Bridgeport, CT can be viewed online here: http://www.vimeo.com/9585290.
Dark Star Orchestra will be performing at clubs and festivals across the nation this summer, all announced dates are listed below:
Rock My Soul Summer Tour
06/24 Minnesota Zoo Weesner Ampitheater Apple Valley, MN
06/25 Simon Estes Ampitheater Des Moines, IA
06/26 CEFCU Stage Peoria, IL
06/27 Park West Chicago, IL
06/29 Otto's Dekalb, IL
06/30 Summerfest Milwaukee, WI
07/02 Gratefulfest 11 Garretsville, OH
07/03 Gratefulfest 11 Garretsville, OH
07/04 Gratefulfest 11 Garretsville, OH
07/07 Veteran's Park Ampitheater Springfield, OH
07/08 All Good Music Festival Masontown, WV
07/10 State Theatre State College, PA
07/11 Tags Summerstage Big Flats, NY
07/29 Gathering Of The Vibes Bridgeport, CT
07/30 Saranac Brewery Utica, NY
07/31 Town Ballroom Buffalo, NY
08/01 Midland Theatre Newark, OH
08/03 Harris River Front Park Huntington, WV
08/05 Bottle and Cork Dewey Beach, DE
08/06 Hilton Atlantic City Atlantic City, NJ
08/07 Bergen PAC Theatre Englewood, NJ
08/09 Zoellner Arts Center Bethlehem, PA
08/12 Party in the Park Rochester, NY
08/13 Bears Picnic Laurelton, PA
08/15 Lake Champlain Maritime Festival Burlington, VT
A Slingshot On Mars Tour
09/09 The Valarium Knoxville, TN
09/10 Minglewood Hall Memphis, TN
09/11 Terrapin Hill Farm Harrodsburg, KY
09/12 Orange Peel Asheville, NC
09/15 Jefferson Theater Charlottesville, VA
09/16 The Norva Norfolk, VA
09/17 Rams Head Live! Baltimore, MD
09/18 930 Club Washington, DC
09/22 Carnegie Music Hall of Homestead Munhall, PA
09/23 Grand Opera House Wilmington, DE
09/24 Theatre of the Living Arts Philadelphia, PA
09/25 Palace Theatre Albany, NY
09/27 Toad's Place New Haven, CT
09/28 Westcott Theater Syracuse, NY
09/30 Calvin Theatre Northhampton, MA
10/01 Lowell Memorial Auditorium Lowell, MA
10/02 Nokia Theatre New York, NY
