There were no smoke machines or lasers, just a low-grade sandstorm and the failing light of an Afghan winter afternoon.

For a crowd of 400 Marines, soldiers, sailors, airmen and contractors Tuesday, however, Gary Sinise and his Lt. Dan Band, named for the character Sinise played in the movie Forrest Gump, might as well have been U2.

The crowd roared and snapped photos as the band ripped through a long set of high-energy cover tunes, including "Purple Haze," "Smooth" and "Sweet Home Alabama" in one of the couple of dozen USO shows it plays each year.

The dust, the danger, the boredom all were gone for a couple of hours.

"They're awesome," said Sgt. Kevin Hamlett, 24, of Durham, North Carolina. "Everybody here knows every word to every song they're playing, and they're great."