DSO kicks off the Beach Concert Series with much smoke and jamming

On Saturday, July 11th, Miss Liberty watched familiar faces come together to share the timeless tradition of gathering together for music and dance. Tye-dyed Deadheads old and new converged to sing and dance to the Dark Star Orchestra for the first of many killer concerts at The Beach at Governor’s Island.

Early Saturday afternoon, the kickoff day arrived and the bands started rolling in with their gear. One by one, the bands set up, and played their sound checks. I knew I was in for a memorable night of music.

Around six p.m. Pete Francis, of the much beloved Dispatch, rolled on stage with his current backing band, Barefoot Truth. They got the crowd to move from the beach to the stage very quickly. I even found myself lost in a foot stomping frenzy (or at least trying to. It’s pretty hard to lift your leg when you weigh 450,000 pounds).

Francis led the band through originals, as well as killer extended versions of “Carry Me” and “Two Coins” that rivaled any take done by the band that made him a known name. At the end of their roots rockin’ set I was all warmed up and ready for more.

In between sets, hippies and music lovers alike continued to trickle on to the island from the ferries. Unfortunately, I was not able to join them as I will not leave my appointed post on Liberty Island.

However, standing a statuesque 150 feet tall, I had a terrific view of the party. Now that you can once again visit the inside of my head, I encourage you to join me for the next show. Best seat in the house.

Next up, was jam band icon and one-man band phenomenon, Keller Williams. Like me, Keller stands on stage alone, projecting more energy and excitement then he could as a whole band. Playing a set just over sixty minutes, Williams visited most of his catalogue, including fan favorites “Celebrate Your Youth” and “Kidney in a Cooler” as well as a ripping experimental cover of Phish’s “Birds of a Feather,” which was a pleasant surprise for a crowd who are most likely relishing in the return of the Vermont foursome.

Rob Koritz, drummer for Dark Star Orchestra, came out to do the percussion part of “Kidney,” and as I will mention shortly, Keller returned the favor. Keller is a really great person and an outstanding performer, and I hope the producers bring him back to The Beach again soon.

Once the sun went down, all I could see were the bright colorful lights from the stage. From what it seemed like, the crowd found their spots and let the feelings of Grateful Dead nostalgia take over. I have been standing here since 1886, and have experienced the Dead’s whole career.

Yours truly caught many an epic show in the tri-state area from Giants Stadium, to Madison Square Garden, the Capitol Theater in Passaic, and many more. I was even able to hear some parts of the fabled Barton Hall show at Cornell in May 1977. So yes, I would consider myself a Deadhead, and Dark Star Orchestra did not disappoint in replicating the Dead’s music.

Playing an original set list made up of famous songs by the Grateful Dead, Dark Star Orchestra pleased the crowd from the fans on the railing, to those dancing and twirling in the sand on the beach. With my torch in the air, I stood saluting the dead-ication of the Deadheads who danced and partied through the night.

Opening the set with a funky “Feels Like a Stranger,” DSO rolled through classics such as “Ramblin’ Rose,” “Dancin’ in the Street” and a fun “Eyes of the World” that featured Keller Williams on guitar taking over on lead vocals for a verse or two, right before he had to hurry off stage to make a ferry back to Manhattan.

Though the excitement lasted throughout the show, and the impending thunderstorm held off for the majority of the night, mother nature did not oblige. When she struck, she raged with brutal rain and lighting, forcing the producers to make the appropriate call to end the show an hour early, right after a version of the infamous "Truckin".

Once again, my favorite music blogger, Brooklyn Vegan, gave the The Beach at Governors Island a nod, with some pictures and videos which show why The Beach is well worth the ferry trip. I hope everyone had as much a grand ole’ time as I did, and I look forward to sharing in the groove with y’all soon.

Miss "Deadhead" Liberty

I’ve got a Miracle ! Dark Star Orchestra headlines THE BEACH at Governors Island

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.