Grateful Dead vocalist Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay made a rare live appearance last night, when she sat-in with Dark Star Orchestra at Avondale Brewing Company in Birmingham. Donna Jean emerged at various points throughout the evening as DSO recreated a Jerry Garcia Band show from 1976.

Dark Star Orchestra is currently finishing a run of shows without guitarist Rob Eaton, who is expected to return to the fold on Friday in Charlotte. As such, the group has been mixing elective setlists with JGB setlists. Last night in Birmingham, DSO used the same setlist the Jerry Garcia Band played at Moore’s Egyptian Theater in Seattle on March 6, 1976. Donna Jean was a member of the Jerry Garcia Band at the time.


Godchaux-MacKay made her first appearance of the night during the first set for “They Love Each Other.” Donna returned a few songs later for “Who Was John.” The vocalist was on hand to help DSO kick off the second set of the evening with “The Harder They Come” and “Friend Of The Devil.” Sunday’s show featured a debut for Dark Star, as they covered The Rolling Stones’ “Moonlight Mile” for the first time. The tribute act also dusted off “I Want To Tell You” by The Beatles, which they had last played on December 1, 2001.

Donna Jean’s last appearance of the second set saw her sing “My Sisters And Brothers” with DSO vocalist Lisa Mackey. Dark Star began the evening’s filler with “Mister Charlie.” Then, Godchaux-MacKay and Mackey emerged for a finale of “I’ll Be With Thee” > “Going Down The Road Feelin’ Bad.”

Watch a clip of Donna performing with Dark Star Orchestra:


Setlist (via DSO Forums)

Set One: Tore Up Over You, Catfish John, Russian Lullaby, They Love Each Other (w/ Donna), Mystery Train, Who Was John (w/ Donna), The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, Lonesome and A Long Way From Home

Set Two: The Harder They Come (w/ Donna), Friend Of The Devil (w/ Donna), After Midnight, Moonlight Mile*, Strange Man, I Want To Tell You# > My Sisters and Brothers (w/ Donna and Lisa), How Sweet It Is

Filler: Mister Charlie, I’ll Be With Thee (w/ Donna and Lisa) > Going Down The Road Feeling Bad (w/ Donna and Lisa)

Notes: Grateful Dead member Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay on vocals where indicated. Dino on drums, Rob Koritz drums on Filler. * – First time played by DSO, sung by Skip, Lisa, and Barraco. # – “I Want To Tell You” only played by DSO once before, 12-01-2001.