Rock n Roll, Tie Dye & Kind Bud

Last night I went to see a Grateful Dead cover band, The Dark Star Orchestra. I had a great time inspite of myself. This band does something interesting, each night they recreate an entire Grateful Dead Show. . song for song. Last nights recreation was a show from Red Rocks Ampitheatre 8/30/1978. Here is the set list:

First Set

The Promised Land
Sugaree
Mexicali Blues>
Mama Tried
Stagger Lee
Looks Like Rain
Deal

Second Set

I Need A Miracle
Brown Eyed Women
Estimated Prophet>
The Other One>
Eyes Of The World>
Drums>
Space >
If I Had The World To Give >
Iko Iko>
Around And Around

Encore

U.S. Blues
Music Never Stppped>
Scarlet Bagonia's>
Music Reprise>
Ripple



Like most Dead shows I attended, I experienced an emotional metamorphosis. Last night was no different. I took a journey into my memories and remembered my first Dead show back in 1986 months after my sister was killed in a car crash. The shows I attended in the mid to late 90's were with my ex-wife Moira. There came a flood of other memories. But, as with all of my Dead Show ups and downs, I came out on the other side with a smile on my face, love in my heart and dancing like a drunk freak.

The smell of pot filled the air. Hippie chicks in tie dye twirled to the music and I wanted to hold one of them. I was with my people and it felt good. The band did a few bonus encores not on the Red Rocks Set List including Scarlet Begonia's. It was the last night of their winter tour that stared back in January.