I have been standing proud for generations, yet nothing gets my butt grooving like The Grateful Dead. To this lady, they are more than just a band.
You see, loyal fans such as myself see them as a forty-year-old musical tradition that inspired its own community, legends and a general way of life. Miss Liberty is a patriot and a lover of American Folk-Bluegrass-Jamming music so the loss of Jerry Garcia in 1995 made her copper knees weak.
Thankfully, the tremendous talents of Dark Star Orchestra have kept up the tradition of heart-felt jamming alive since 1997. The group has been called a cover band, yet I will raise my torch in salute, then smack you down if you say that in my presence. DSO’s talent and uniqueness make them musicians in their own right.
Standing tall, I have the best view of any NYC and NJ stage, and have been subject to many concerts, whether I like it or not. (Just because I’m heavy and metal, doesn’t mean I always enjoy Heavy Metal) So with this experience, I have a thing or two to say about a good show.
DSO does not just get on stage and play the tunes of the Grateful Dead. Rather, as the Denver Post claimed, DSO is "a perfection-oriented practitioner of homage.” The channelers of the once dominating band of hippiedom get on stage each night and play, to damn-near perfection, a complete set list found in Dead history, song for song.
Like any other band that successfully spread out their career over three decades, the Grateful Dead had distinct eras over the years, from changing keyboardists to their evolving sound.
Now here’s the magic of DSO that makes me jump for joy: When Dark Star Orchestra chooses a show from ’72, they will change instruments and tweak the sound to make it sounds like it is from that era. They do whatever needs to be done to make it feel and seem like you, the audience, are actually at a Grateful Dead concert.
My favorite similarity is the uncanny physical (and of course auditory!) resemblance of rhythm guitarist and vocalist Rob Eaton to a younger Bob Weir, the member of the Dead he so greatly emulates, except, of course, for his flowing mane of long blond hair. But we can’t blame the man for that, can we?
Bob Weir
Rob Eaton
Dark Star Orchestra has played more than 1600 shows over an almost twelve- year career, and shows no sign of ending their career. They bring me back to my younger days, and are Miss Liberty’s recommended band to bring vintage Dead shows to your children and friends. July 11th marks the second year in a row that DSO will play THE BEACH at Governors Island.
They will be joined by the one-man jam band, and their good friend, Keller Williams, who is known for busting out a Dead tune in his own sets from time to time.
Warming up the crowd for both bands will be my man, Pete Francis and Barefoot Truth. What a line-up!
Tickets can be found here, and more information can be found here and you can be the first to hear about newly announced Governors Island shows by joining Miss Liberty’s Twitter feed. This concert series goes weekends till October.
As always, check out my personal favorite website named after me, Liberty Event, to see what amazing shows are coming up like the All Points West Music and Arts Festival rocking me and thousands of others from July 31st to August 2nd on the other side of the river in Liberty State Park featuring Coldplay, Beastie Boys and Tool.
As always, Miss Liberty wants to remind her Dead-loving friends that drinking water prevents cotton-mouth ; ) Hydrate. Hydrate. Hydrate.
I’ll see you soon, honeys.
Peace, music and jam sessions…
Miss L.
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