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By the time the music began Friday afternoon, a small crowd filled Gazebo Plaza at Westmoreland and Carroll avenues in Old Town Takoma Park to hear two performers from the Dark Star Orchestra, a popular Grateful Dead tribute band.
Dark Star's John Kadlecik and Topher Dunne were the last musicians to perform at the Gazebo as part of a three-part free concert series hosted by the Old Takoma Business Association and funded by a $1,000 grant from the Takoma Foundation. Organizer David Eisner said the concerts, which were intended to attract newcomers and bring out locals to the business center of old town, were a success.
OTBA featured local drummers Katy Gaughan and Daryhl Lyons on June 12 along with a June 19 set by Jay Summerour and his old-time blues trio. Dark Star certainly drew its fair share of newcomers into the city, including Richard Eichert, a Georgetown resident who has been to more than 90 Dark Star shows.
"I've never been to Takoma Park other than driving past the [route] 495 exit," he said.
Eichert, who brought a devout group of "Deadheads" with him, even had dinner at Middle Eastern Cuisine in Old Town. "I had the chicken teriyaki, it's was great," he said.
Frank Erdesz, another Georgetown resident, said he noticed the performance on the Dark Star Web site and couldn't pass up the chance to see a free show so close to home. He has travelled far and wide to see the group in the past, racking up a total of 86 performances. But he has never been to Takoma Park before.
Another benefit of the concert series is that such shows highlight the city's status as an artistic and culturally-rich suburb — a "hippie neighborhood," as one concertgoer described it. The shows also reward residents for their daily support of the local shops involved in hosting the shows, Eisner said.
"It's rewarding the people in Takoma Park for being good folks," he said, adding that many residents meet new friends and network through the city's many outdoor and free events. "It's putting the community together in a way."
For Kadlecik, a Takoma Park resident, the event signified another chance to show his love to the community he calls home. Despite having achieved fame and a loyal following with his band, he and his new wife, Katy Gaughan, feel a strong connection to the Old Town scene.
"I came home [during our last tour] because we were in the area and Katy and I were just having dinner over at Mark's Kitchen and we ran into Dave Eisner, who told us, ‘Hey, we're doing some Friday night concerts at the gazebo, are you interested?' … Next thing you know, bam, here we are," he said.
More than anything, Kadlecik said he was most attracted by the price of the concert.
"I love the idea of being able to do free shows," he said between sets. "That's what I'm really interested in, just being able to provide free music."
