First published in  Lonely Goat Print Magazine Special Edition - February 2000

Dark Star Orchestra Special Edition
- November 11, 1999 -
by Bob Robertson (February, 2000)

Introduction - 11.10.99 - 11.11.99 - 11.12.99 - 11.13.99 - 11.14.99 - Conclusion

The next morning we packed our bags and headed to Asheville for a two night stand. Once again we found a hotel within walking distance of the venue and headed up to Be Here Now early in the afternoon. Be Here Now has a great beer selection and is a kind place to just hang out even when a band is not playing. The guys from DSO arrived a little after we did and we actually had time to introduce ourselves and talk a little. After a couple of pitchers and several fish stories, we headed back to freshen up a bit before the show. The crowd was again smaller than I had anticipated but the energy in the room was great.

The stage set-up was like Knoxville - another early 70s show! The opening "Morning Dew" had everyone scratching their heads trying to figure out what show this could be. The rest of the first set was pretty standard until "They Love Each Other." This could be the best I've ever heard. John's (Jerry) guitar leads and Lisa's (Donna) vocal harmonies were incredible. This was the first moment of the tour that chill bumps filled my body. During set break I happened to talk with a couple who was celebrating their wedding anniversary. It just so happens that he proposed to her while listening to "TLEO."

The second set started out with promise but really kicked in during "Here Comes Sunshine," which dictated the pace for the rest of the show. John (Jerry) was all over it, without dominating and everyone was in top form. The "Weather Report Suite" into "Let it Grow" was surging with energy. It's not the kind of thing one describes with words: it evokes closed-eyed smiles, dancin', swayin', and music playin'. The tasty ensuing "Dark Star Jam" segues into an epic "Eyes of the World." I don't really know what to say. You need to hear it to believe it. After a jumping "Sugar Magnolia," the guys informed us that show was from November 11, 1973 at the Boston Music Hall. The Dead did not perform an encore that nite so DSO treated us to "Ripple" as their filler in celebration of it being their second anniversary playing together.