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Dark Star Orchestra, Hotel Fort DM. 3/10/01 Close your eyes really tight. Is it? It can't be can it? Well, it isn't, but damn close. It is, the Dark Start Orchestra, the Grateful Dead tribute band that takes its job very seriously. Their gimmick is that they cover ENTIRE SHOWS. Each DSO concert is a carefully selected vintage Dead celebration and they were hot tonight. Although a fairly mellow selection tonight, they did keep the crowd dancing with "Big River" and "Passenger". The sound was rather muddy, as it usually is at "The Fort". The turn out was excellent. My advice to Coffehouse would be more acts like this on the weekends. Des Moines would be a much happier place. Jam Fest 2000, Simon Estes Amp., Des Moines, IA 8/19/00 Expectations were high, I must admit. The prospects of a five band, outdoor music festival seemed exciting. The propects yes, the weather.......Let's just say, Mother Nature was not content in letting it all go down. The day started of well. Floodplane lead off with their Phishy take on the world. I think the enitre set lasted about forty minutes. They are not even warmed up in forty minutes on a good day. Rain managed to trickle drop by drop throughout. I am guessing that had something to do with the rather lackluster performance turned in by the Phoursome. That and they had a gig in Clear Lake that night... Interstellar was next. For those not familiar with Interstellar Bus Stop, check your selves, seriously. These boys enjoy the funk, hell they live it. Original music from the underground must have been their theme tonight, because they bombarded the crowd home grown tune after tune. The highlights: Lush, Funky Food, Triple Sneeze. They have mp3s of the show on their site, www.interstellarbusstop.com. Check them out. The McKenzies were set to follow, that is until the skies opened up. Rain cancelled the festival before they could plug in. I guess the 5 band fest was not meant to be. All in all, good season this year at Simon Estes. Bad encore. |