{image1}In 1970 organizers put together Festival Express, a multi-day, multi-band tour. Essentially, it was Canada's own version of a traveling Woodstock, minus a few key players. In true hobo tradition, Grateful Dead, The Band, Janis Joplin, Buddy Guy, Flying Burrito Brothers and a slew of others hopped aboard a train for what became known as the longest party on two rails.
The spirit of the tour is captured immediately in the introduction of "Fesitval Express" -- a new documentary on the tour -- in a sequence of a train gliding along the Canadian waterways mingled with the Grateful Dead performing "Casey Jones" in Toronto.
Most of the film's richness exists in the documentation of open jams taking place in the train's lounge car. In certain sequences you're able to observe Garcia, Guy, Joplin, The Band's Rick Danko and various other tour members play completely inspired and at ease like old friends. At four or five in the morning the car is alive as though the party just begun.
Early in the tour, fans resort to riotous behavior over the price of admission to the festival. At one point, Jerry Garcia takes the stage offering a speech on how everyone should get with what they're trying accomplish and mellow out. Magically, with the help of the organizers, the concert becomes free and moves to a nearby park.
The Dead step to the stage with "Friend of the Devil" and all is well. Some of the most captivating moments throughout the film capture The Band in their absolute prime with a fully realized take on Bob Dylan's "I Shall Be Released" serving as an exceptional highlight.
At a certain point during the tour, promoters recognized there was not a single dime to be made on the festival but no expense was spared when it came to the artists' royal treatment. There was even an emergency booze stop when $800 of alcohol was brought onboard after a brief drought. Organizers even managed to seize a giant display bottle of Canadian Club from the depot, which was quickly spiked with LSD and consumed well into the night.
"Festival Express" serves as a beautiful reminder of the musical innocence that once existed in harmony with the music industry. When artists performed every night as if it were their last and writing their own legacy every moment while executives looked on, not knowing what was to come.
"Festival Express" opens Friday, Sept. 24 at Landmark's Downer Theatre.
