the hum / By Bob Doran

Four Twenty

Dark Star Orchestra’s stony music plus Taarka, Chi-Town Afrobeat, Earth and One Wise Sound

(April 15, 2010)  It started as a time. 4:20. Time to get stoned. As the story’s told, a now-legendary group of Marin teens gathered at that appointed hour by a statue of Louis Pasteur for post-school bakeage until it became routine. At this point the two numbers are synonymous with the marijuana brand.

By stoner logic, if 4:20 is a designated time to smoke, April 20 — 4/20 — is too, particularly at 4:20 on 4/20. In Humboldt, where, like it or not, marijuana branding is well underway, 4/20 is a major holiday with its own events and associated concerts. First there’s the annual unsanctioned (but police monitored) afternoon gathering in Arcata’s Redwood Park complete with drum circles, guitar strummers and makeshift food stands. There are similar get-togethers elsewhere (Clam Beach is popular — watch out for the plovers), but face it, Arcata is “Pot City, USA.”

Dark Star Orchestra

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Tuesdays are not typically big nightclub nights, but promoters are counting on stony peeps being out in force. Passion Presents alone has three shows that night: Dark Star Orchestra‘s Dead tribute returning to the Eureka Theater, a post-DSO show at the Red Fox with Steve Watts and the Humboldt All Stars and a parallel reggae show in Arcata.

What does 4/20 mean to a band like Dark Star Orchestra? “Let me put it to you this way,” said keyboardist Rob Barraco. “Last year we played 4/20 there and we were bombarded onstage by joints, buds and brownies. It was insanity. I understand the whole lexicon of 4/20, but I’ve never seen anything like it. It was pretty crazy.” It was also something the band has not experienced elsewhere, on 4/20 or otherwise. “I think it was specific to Humboldt,” said Barraco between laughs. “It was big fun. People just had a wonderful time and we’re looking forward to doing it again.”

Of course Grateful Dead music goes hand-in-hand with the stoner lifestyle. “It’s totally psychedelic. It’s all about the exploration, the journey. This music helps propel that — it takes people on a journey, and it takes us too,” Barraco concluded.

The Red Fox afterparty has a band featuring Passion P’s Steve Watts on guitar, Melvin Seals of JGB on keys, guitarist Michael Hinton, plus locals Berel Alexander and Vidagua and an opening set by Peace of Mind Orchestra.

Meanwhile at Humboldt Brews, graying reggae veterans The Wailing Souls share a bill with the always-smiling rootsman Prezident Brown. Again, we’re talkin’ music designed for the stoned.

BTW, there’s an even cooler reggae/hip hop thing Monday at Nocturnum (4/20 Eve if you will) with rising dancehall star Collie Buddz and Phife Dawg (from A Tribe Called Quest) plus Rocker T, Ishi Dube and Selecta Prime. Bonus: free shuttle to and from Hotel Arcata starting at 9 that night.

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