Rails application failed to start properly + long load time

When I run my rails app on dreamhost it loads for like 15 seconds and
then returns

“Rails application failed to start properly”

I’m running on dreamhost and have made sure to follow all of their
instructions. The site was running fine until the recent Rails 1.1.6
update hit the server. Since then I’ve decided just trying a fresh
install.

I have modified my .htaccess, dispatcher.fcgi and dispatcher.rb to meet
the host’s requirements.

Nothing is being recorded in the log file.

The last time something was recorded it said it was having problems
connecting to the database. But after updating my database.yml file and
then killing all processes on the server (killall -9 ruby) it gives me
the error described above.

When I enter ps -ef | grep dispatch.fcgi into shell nothing is listed.

Any ideas? Thanks in advance.