Dark Star Crashes

Three nights ago I went to go see the Dark Star Orchestra at the Showbox. The Showbox is one of Seattle's better-known venues, and it was clear why this was so: not only did they have a bar in the lobby, but they had three once you got inside. There was no balcony like the 9:30 club, which I found to my liking; the lower ceilings made the whole affair seem much more intimate. If they had rolled tables out to the dance floor, it would have been just like an old vaudeville-and-dinner show from the 20s, or maybe the 30s. Anyways, Dark Star Orchestra is a Grateful Dead cover band (I know, I know) that strives to recreate the experience as much as possible, learning the particular notes played, the style of the time, and even mimicking the Dead's blocking on stage. I saw them once before in April at the Norva in Virginia, and it was a helluva time. The other night wasn't as good; they played an original set list in the style of the late 80s, a point at which I think the Dead lacked the spark of their youth that made them so fun. Despite playing a couple good tracks - Shakedown Street, Minglewood Blues, Althea, and Dark Star - the show overall was kind of slow. Also, the last time I saw them, I was with a huge group of friends who were also into the Dead, and this time I was with my anti-hippie roommate and our befuddled lead guitarist.

Uh, that's about it. We were having drinks before the show and we had this cute Swedish waitress that had the most beautiful gait you ever saw. Also, there was this girl there who looked exactly like Katie Bahr, but I figured that the odds were highly against that actually being the case. At any rate, I decided that Showbox would be our Winterland, our go-to place to go play...after we get a drummer and a keyboardist and a few more songs. But you'll come, won't you?