Frank & Earthy blog
Yo La Tengo at Woodsist Fest
Accord, NY
25 September 2021
jam >
Little Honda (The Hondells)
Let’s Save Tony Orlando’s House
She May, She Might >
Ack Ack Ack Ack (The Urinals) >
She May, She Might >
Ashes
Black Flowers
The Summer
Tired Hippo
Shades of Blue
Stupid Things
False Alarm
For You Too
Double Dare
Time Fades Away (Neil Young)
Sugarcube
Blue Line Swinger
Our Way To Fall
*(encore)*
Big Day Coming (acoustic)
Griselda (Antonia)
Yo La Tengo at White Eagle Hall
Jersey City, NY
24 September 2021
Set 1:
You Are Here >
Forever
The Ballad of Red Buckets
The Point of It
I’m On My Way
Polynesia #1 (Michael Hurley)
Deeper Into Movies
Nowhere Near >
Here You Are
Set 2:
Stockholm Syndrome
The Story of Jazz
Little Eyes
For You Too
Mr. Tough
Sudden Organ
Autumn Sweater
From A Motel 6
Ohm
Blue Line Swinger
*(encore)*
Government Center (Jonathan Richman)
What’cha Gonna Do About It (Small Faces)
You Tore Me Down (Flamin’ Groovies)
The Freewheeling Yo La Tengo at TV Eye
Ridgewood, NY
23 September 2021
Satellite
Let’s Do It Wrong
Right of My Mind (Angry Samoans)
Gotta Get the First Plane Home (The Kinks)
Upside Down
Double Dare
Barnaby, Hardly Working
(What’s So Funny) ‘Bout Peace Love and Understanding (Nick Lowe)
Tears Are In Your Eyes
Sex Beat (Gun Club)
Blue Line Swinger
Did I Tell You?
Ack Ack Ack Ack (The Urinals)
Black Flowers
*(encore)*
Door Into Summer (The Monkees)
Tom Courtenay (Georgia version)
Yo La Tengo at TV Eye
Ridgewood, NY
15 September 2021
You Are Here >
Ashes
False Alarm
Paddle Forward
Season of the Shark
If It’s True
The Crying of Lot G
The Point of It
Move To California (Times New Viking)
I’ll Be Around
For You Too
Stockholm Syndrome
Sugarcube
Time Fades Away (Neil Young)
Decora
Mushroom Cloud of Hiss
*(encore)*
Bomber (Motorhead)
I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry (Hank Williams)
By The Time It Gets Dark (Sandy Denny)
Yo La Tengo at TV Eye
Ridgewood, NY
14 September 2021
This Is Where I Belong (The Kinks)
The Story of Yo La Tango
Double Dare
Shades of Blue
Tiny Birds
She May, She Might >
Ack Ack Ack Ack (The Urinals) >
She May, She Might
Let’s Save Tony Orlando’s House
Is That Enough
One PM Again
Roll On Babe (Derroll Adams)
The Summer
Sudden Organ
Tom Courtenay
Prisoners of Rock ‘n’ Roll (Neil Young)
Before We Run
I Heard You Looking
*(encore)*
Feel A Whole Lot Better (Gene Clark)
Black Hole (The Urinals)
Candy Says (Velvet Underground)
Thanks to AJP, @GenerationLoss, & @ckhesq for the total coverage!
[ If reposting, kindly credit Frank & Earthy: https://jessejarnow.com/category/ylt / @bourgwick ]Yo La Tengo at Greene Space
18 December 2020
*(Hanukkah, night 9)*
opening act: Amy Rigby
comedian: David Sedaris
benefiting: National Independent Venue Association
Here You Are >
The Hour Grows Late
Saturday
From A Motel 6 >
We Travel the Spaceways (Sun Ra)
I Want To Be With You (Bonzo Dog Band)
Before We Run
New Pleasures (Richard Hell)
For You Too
Roll On Babe (Derroll Adams)
Smile A Little Smile (The Flying Machine)
More Stars Than There Are In Heaven (acoustic version)
Shades of Blue
Autumn Sweater (piano version)
Stockholm Syndrome
I Heard You Looking (with Ivan Julian on guitar)
*(encore)*
Aba Dabba Do Dance (The Tradewinds) (with Todd Abramson on vocals)
Keep It Warm (Flo & Eddie)
Outside Chance (The Turtles) (with Wreckless Eric on guitar & vocals)
Whole Wide World (Wreckless Eric) (with WE & Amy Rigby on vocals)
My Little Corner of the World (Bob Hilliard & Lee Pockriss) (with Marilyn Kaplan on vocals)
DJJJ on The Bunny, on PhishXM
2 October 2020
Set 1:
“Dropout Boogie” – Ryan Sawyer, from Your Heart Will Be Your Skin
“Two Hearts” – Kawaguchi Masami’s New Rock Syndicate & Kryssi Battalene, from self-titled
“WZN #1 (Olives In the Ears)” – 75 Dollar Bill, from Freedom of the Press
“The Lucky” – Jim White & Marisa Anderson, from The Quickening
“Oh, Moon!” – Jason McMahon, from Odd West
“O My Stars” – Michael Hurley (feat. Gordon Stone), from Snockgrass
Set 2:
“Two Organs and Dumbek” – Bird Show, from self-titled [plus “All Watched Over By Machines of Love & Grace,” read by computer]
“Valley Spiral” – Gunn/Truscinski Duo, from Soundkeeper
“Sleep. Dream. Wakeup.” – Jeff Bridges, from The Sleeping Tapes
“Walkin’ My Cat Named Dog” – Norma Tanega, from Walkin’ My Cat Named Dog
Hampton Grease Band
GreaseBase: a chronology, 1967-1973
a work in progress
(please comment with all corrections/memories/additions or email!)
Hampton Grease Band: Harold Kelling, Jerry Fields, Mike Holbrook, Glenn Phillips, Bruce Hampton
Notes: Dates & setlist information from Great Speckled Bird archive, Glenn Phillips’s fantastic memoir Echoes: The Hampton Grease Band, My Life, My Music and How I Stopped Having Panic Attacks, and elsewhere. Tons of further info & stories about the Atlanta ’60s-’70s music scene available via The Strip Project. Except for circulating tapes (7/5/70, 5/7/72), all setlists are approximate.
Also including dates for spin-off bands the Stump Brothers (Glenn Phillips, Mike Holbrook, Jerry Fields), Avenue of Happiness (fronted by Mik Copas with Bruce Hampton on guitar), and the Starving Braineaters (Harold Kelling’s post-Hampton Grease Band project).
I published my extensive history, Lost Live Grease: Recovering the Hampton Grease Band (including interviews with Glenn Phillips, Jerry Fields, Mike Holbrook, and others), on Aquarium Drunkard in December 2020.
1967
fall ’67 William Franklin Dykes High School, Atlanta, GA
Fixin’ To Die, I’m So Glad
fall ’67 Poison Apple Room, Stables Bar and Lounge, Atlanta, GA
jams with harmonica player Bill Dicey
patron pulls gun and demands James Brown cover, band plays Popcorn, parts 1 & 2
1968
summer 1968 (left to right: Harold Kelling, Glenn Phillips, Bruce Hampton, Charlie Phillips)
early ’68 Catacombs, Atlanta, GA
spring ’68 Piedmont Park, Atlanta, GA
weekly free shows
7/13/68 Piedmont Park, Atlanta, GA
Piedmont Park Be-In with Celestial Voluptuous Banana, Strange Brew, Danny & Jim, Toni Ganim, Guerilla Theatre
9/28/68 Catacombs, Atlanta, GA
10/xx/68 University of the South, Suwanee, GA
opening for Procul Harum
11/8/68 Peachtree Art Theatre, Atlanta, GA
with underground movies
11/9/68 Peachtree Art Theatre, Atlanta, GA
with underground movies
11/15/68 Peachtree Art Theatre, Atlanta, GA
with underground films
Rock Around the Clock
Miller Francis Jr. in Great Speckled Bird, 11/18/68: “The band was working under at least one handicap (a new drummer)… Everything considered, Grease was very together Friday night — I particularly remember several tripartite guitar improvisations that transcended the dimensions of stage, band, instruments, performers and audience. A high point was Bill Haley’s ‘Rock Around the Clock,’ played almost straight and proving just how really hip the Grease Band is.”
11/28/68 Peachtree Art Theatre, Atlanta, GA
11/29/68 Peachtree Art Theatre, Atlanta, GA
11/30/68 Peachtree Art Theater, Atlanta, GA
1969
Piedmont Park, 8/31/69
1/4/69 Revolution Club, Marietta, GA
with Radar
1/25/69 Revolution Club, Marietta, GA
with the Glorified Square
2/14/69 The Spot, Atlanta, GA
Discovery Inc. presents. With Radar.
3/7/69 Bottom of the Barrel, Atlanta, GA
with Leonda, billed as the Incredible Hampton Grease Band
3/8/69 Bottom of the Barrel, Atlanta, GA
with Leonda, billed as the Incredible Hampton Grease Band
Rock Around the Clock (or previous night)
3/21/69 Bloody Eagle, Atlanta, GA
with the Fifth Order
Great Speckled Bird, 3/31/69
3/29/69 Piedmont Park, Atlanta, GA
Great Speckled Bird 1st Birthday celebration with Crust, Smoke, Nail, Little Phil and the Night Shadow, Toni Ganim, Anne Romaine
4/10/69 Underground Atlanta, Atlanta, GA
with Radar, Banana, Perpetual Motion, Electric Collage Light Show
4/11/69 The Spot, Atlanta, GA
4/14/69 Bottom of the Barrel, Atlanta, GA
4/15/69 Bottom of the Barrel, Atlanta, GA
4/16/69 Bottom of the Barrel, Atlanta, GA
4/17/69 Bottom of the Barrel, Atlanta, GA
4/18/69 Bottom of the Barrel, Atlanta, GA
4/19/69 Bottom of the Barrel, Atlanta, GA
4/25/69 Bottom of the Barrel, Atlanta, GA
4/26/69 Bottom of the Barrel, Atlanta, GA
5/11/69 Piedmont Park, Atlanta, GA
with Allman Brothers Band
5/24/69 Studio Theater, Atlanta Memorial Arts Center, Atlanta, GA
A Research Institute and Production Coordination Guild For the Arts, Inc. (The Guild), poetry by Rosemary Daniell, computer by Gene Nottingham and George Cairnes
5/25/69 Studio Theater, Atlanta Memorial Arts Center, Atlanta, GA
A Research Institute and Production Coordination Guild For the Arts, Inc. (The Guild), poetry by Rosemary Daniell, computer by Gene Nottingham and George Cairnes
5/26/69 Studio Theater, Atlanta Memorial Arts Center, Atlanta, GA
A Research Institute and Production Coordination Guild For the Arts, Inc. (The Guild), poetry by Rosemary Daniell, computer by Gene Nottingham and George Cairnes
5/27/69 Studio Theater, Atlanta Memorial Arts Center, Atlanta, GA
A Research Institute and Production Coordination Guild For the Arts, Inc. (The Guild), poetry by Rosemary Daniell, computer by Gene Nottingham and George Cairnes
5/28/69 Studio Theater, Atlanta Memorial Arts Center, Atlanta, GA
A Research Institute and Production Coordination Guild For the Arts, Inc. (The Guild), poetry by Rosemary Daniell, computer by Gene Nottingham and George Cairnes
5/29/69 Studio Theater, Atlanta Memorial Arts Center, Atlanta, GA
A Research Institute and Production Coordination Guild For the Arts, Inc. (The Guild), poetry by Rosemary Daniell, computer by Gene Nottingham and George Cairnes
5/30/69 Studio Theater, Atlanta Memorial Arts Center, Atlanta, GA
A Research Institute and Production Coordination Guild For the Arts, Inc. (The Guild), poetry by Rosemary Daniell, computer by Gene Nottingham and George Cairnes
5/31/69 Studio Theater, Atlanta Memorial Arts Center, Atlanta, GA
A Research Institute and Production Coordination Guild For the Arts, Inc. (The Guild), poetry by Rosemary Daniell, computer by Gene Nottingham and George Cairnes
6/14/69 Cellar Door, Atlanta, GA
Non-HGB show: Stump Brothers
7/7/69 Unitarian Universalist Church, Atlanta, GA
Non-HGB show: Stump Brothers, billed as “Lecture & Music: Can Discord Be Beautiful?” with Mr. Hoffman
7/7/69 Piedmont Park, Atlanta, GA
with the Grateful Dead, Chicago Transit Authority, Spirit, Delaney & Bonnie & Friends, It’s A Beautiful Day
7/18/69 High Mausoleum, Atlanta, GA
Element, accompanied by Richard Robinson (electronics), with Frank Hughes lights
Clifford Endres in Great Speckled Bird, 7/28/69: “A free-flowing synthesis of light, sound, and action, Element featured the addition of Richard Robinson’s electronic music to the Hampton Grease Band, and backed by one of Frank Hughes’ fine lightshows… The Grease Band, aging like wine in a barrel, played relaxed and mellow and yet upon occasion got up and took right off. Especially tasty was some of Harold Kelling’s lead guitar work. It is said that they were even better on Saturday night.”
7/19/69 High Mausoleum, Atlanta, GA
Element, accompanied by Richard Robinson (electronics), with Frank Hughes lights
8/5/69 Georgian Terrace Hotel, Atlanta, GA
with the Allman Brothers Band
Hampton Grease Band with Electric Collage Light Show, 8/18/69 (more here)
8/19/69 Georgian Terrace Hotel, Atlanta, GA
with Know Body Else, Fear Itself Booger Band, Electric Collage Light Show
8/31/69 Piedmont Park, Atlanta, GA
billed as the Original Hampton Grease Band; with Robin
Turn On Your Lovelight
Clifford Endres in Great Speckled Bird, 9/8/69: “The band is set up then and they begin a long instrumental riff, relaxed and feeling out the day, getting themselves together and the audience together with them. Harold Kelling’s long easy guitar notes climb up and soar out over insistent rhythms working through bass, drums, and second guitar. The music is alive and the audience is betting behind it now as the band finishes out the number and Bruce Hampton takes the mike, tightens the tempo and starts to take care of business, laying down hard-driving lyrics that soon have the crowd swaying, clapping, and then some are up dancing. And on. The music and the gathering went steadily up from there. Shouting and stomping vocals. Beautiful stretched-out instruments, silver singing guitar solos beating against the raindrops. ‘Gonna Let My Love Light Shine.’ Blues. Soul. Rock. The drummer leans into it. Incredible counterpoint guitar work between Glenn Phillips and Harold Kelling, perfectly matched, pushing each other on out, exploding in sound, exploding the people who are following the music now like a jazz audience, applauding riff after riff.”
9/7/69 Piedmont Park, Atlanta, GA
9/14/69 Piedmont Park, Atlanta, GA
police riot; band plays without Bruce Hampton
9/21/69 Piedmont Park, Atlanta, GA
Mini-Pop Festival with Booger Band, Brickwall, Radar, Sweet Younguns
Wolverton Mountain, San Antonio Rose, Rock of Ages
Miller Francis Jr. in Great Speckled Bird, 9/22/69: “The Hampton Grease Band blew everybody’s minds with its sounds, and then brought out a 16-year old black saxophonist, showing a healthy disrespect for the labels we often put on our music and contributing an afternoon of Bill Haley and Pharoah Sanders, The Ventures and John Coltrane.”
9/27/69 Piedmont Park, Atlanta, GA
with the Hand Band, Boogie Chillun, Lee Moses, Allman Brothers Band, Joe South
9/28/69 Piedmont Park, Atlanta, GA
with Radar, Jam (feat. members of Allman Brothers, The Second Coming, Mother Earth), unknown group, The Younguns, Lee Moses, Allman Brothers Band
Wolverton Mountain
10/18/69 Piedmont Park, Atlanta, GA
Piedmont Music Festival with Allman Brothers Band, Mother Earth, Boz Scaggs, the Second Coming, the Booger Band, Radar, Jackie Wilson
11/21/69 Bottom of the Barrel, Atlanta, GA
with David Boice
11/22/69 Bottom of the Barrel, Atlanta, GA
with David Boice
11/23/69 Georgian Terrace Hotel, Atlanta, GA
Turkey Trip with the Younguns, Allman Brothers Band (originally scheduled at Duke Tire Co.)
Hendon, Charlie, Halifax, Has Anybody Seen My Gal, Reelin’ and Rockin’, Wolverton Mountain
E: Rock Around the Clock
Miller Francis Jr. in Great Speckled Bird, 12/1/69: “Just let me say in that their performance at last week’s Turkey Trip, the Hampton Grease Band outdid themselves, performing a mostly all-new set of extended musical explorations that included a longer ‘Mr. Bones,’ and ode to ‘Charlie,’ an incredible hymn to the city of Halifax, Nova Scotia (its lyrics sounded like they were taken from the pages of the World Book Encyclopedia!), a great moment by Hampton on (of all things) ‘Has Anybody Seen My Gal?’ in which he combined vocals with dance and comedy and reached the level that he was worked for these many years, unbelievable instrumentalizations by Glenn and Harold, Charlie and Ted, and a closing ‘Wolverton Mountain’ that drove the crowd into hysterics and brought Hampton & friends back for a fantastic ‘Rock Around the Clock’ — All Hail the Sounds of Suck Rock!”
12/11/69 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
12/xx/69 Cellar Door, Atlanta, GA
12/18/69 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
Miller Francis Jr. in Great Speckled Bird, 12/22/69: “It would be nice for The Bird if the Hampton Grease Band would start doing some less than incredible stuff — our writers are exhausted from thinking of superlatives. But judging from their Standing Room Only five-hour set at the Twelfth Gate on Thursday night (we even postponed our own Coop meeting so we could go and listen), the Grease Band evidently intends to get better and better and even better. What can we say except that this was the largest crowd ever drawn to that establishment (same for the Cellar Door the week before), and for a 50¢ charge, Bruce Hampton & Co. did one of the best things we’ve ever heard. Rumor is that this will be a weekly rendezvous of the Twelfth Gate and the Grease Band ($1 charge), so our advice is–whenever you see the name of this band, go, listen, be thankful for one of the best musical collaborations in the country.”
12/22/69 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
Community Center benefit
1970
Sports Arena, 1/25/70
1/4/70 Electric Eye, Atlanta, GA
with Radar, Booger Band
1/xx/70 Atlanta, GA
Mike Holbrook joins.
1/xx/70 Charlotte, NC
1/xx/70 New York City, NY
studio demos
Hendon, Evans, Hey Old Lady/Bert’s Song
1/25/70 Sports Arena, Atlanta, GA
with Fleetwood Mac, Radar, River People
Jam, Rock Around the Clock
Clifford Endres, in Great Speckled Bird, 2/2/70: “The light-fingered Grease grope, however, is another order of magnitude – or something. The immortal Hampton, leader of the grope, materialized in the limelight to lead off the set performed the ultimate putdown of any and all guitar solos that ever were or will be, including Hendrix, Page and Townsend! And it totally confused whatever musical expectations the audience might have had. Captain ornu Greaseheart then took a saxophone and the band into an egg-sucking number which betrayed influences of Coltrane, Zappa, Pharoah Sanders, and AM radio feedback. Grunts, yelp, words, harmonies, discords, rhythms and counterpoints welded the audience together in miasma of jelly. Glen [sic] Phillips and Harold Kelling, amply supported by the wild drumming of Jerry Field [sic] and the elaborate bass figures of Mike Holbrook stretched into an amazing play of lyrical guitar lines that seemed to have no horizon.
‘They play music that sounds like music feels (!),’ said the beautiful blonde, stoned. Well, it got me off said the beautiful blonde, stoned. Well, it got me off, too. Great to hear how much tighter they have got since last hearing them, some months ago. Apparently the set was cut short become of time hassles, but Hampton closed with a ‘Rock Around the Clock’ that brought the audience to its feet–some of them even getting religion, or so it looked–and the farthest out band around these parts left the stage.”
1/30/70 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
1/31/70 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
2/19/70 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
2/20/70 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
2/27/70 The Zodiac, Atlanta, GA
3/19/70 Southeastern Fairgrounds, Atlanta, GA
Aquarius ’70 with Electric Collage Light Show
3/20/70 Southeastern Fairgrounds, Atlanta, GA
Aquarius ’70 with Electric Collage Light Show
3/21/70 Southeastern Fairgrounds, Atlanta, GA
Aquarius ’70 with Electric Collage Light Show
3/22/70 Southeastern Fairgrounds, Atlanta, GA
Aquarius ’70 with Electric Collage Light Show
3/26/70 Phineaus, Springfield, MA [aka Woodrose Ballroom] with Calico
3/27/70 Phineaus, Springfield, MA [aka Woodrose Ballroom] with Calico
3/28/70 Phineaus, Springfield, MA [aka Woodrose Ballroom] with Calico
3/29/70 Sports Arena, Atlanta, GA
with What Brothers, River People, Ruffin
Charlie Cushing in Great Speckled Bird, 3/30/70: “Finally, the Hampton Grease Band, fresh from its sold out performances at Aquarius ’70! The band has added a sixth member, Bill, who reads newspapers (to himself).”
4/5/70 Sports Arena, Atlanta, GA
with John Mayall, Chakra
4/17/70 The Warehouse, New Orleans, LA
with Country Joe and the Fish
Glenn Phillips: “We started the concert by mimicking the F-I-S-H cheer, shouting at the audience, ‘Give me an S. Give me an O. Give me an F. Give me an A. What’s that spell? SOFA!'”
4/18/70 The Zodiac, Atlanta, GA
with Interprize
4/24/70 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
4/26/70 Sports Arena, Atlanta, GA
Benefit for Midtown Alliance and Community Center, with Radar, Stump Brothers, Axis, Perpetual Motion, Brick Wall, Georgia Power Kompany, What Brothers, Ruffin
4/29/70 Music Hall, Cincinnati, OH
with Mountain
Wolverton Mountain
4/30/70 Ludlow Garage, Cincinnati, OH
with Allman Brothers Band
Allman Brothers cancel after road manager Twiggs Lyndon is detained for stabbing a Buffalo club owner over nonpayment.
5/1/70 Ludlow Garage, Cincinnati, OH
with Tony Williams’ Lifetime feat. Jack Bruce
5/2/70 Ludlow Garage, Cincinnati, OH
with Tony Williams’ Lifetime feat. Jack Bruce
5/3/70 Sports Arena, Atlanta, CA
Non-HGB show: Stump Brothers. Community Benefit. Bruce Hampton joins for several songs.
5/8/70 Glenn Memorial Auditorium, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
with B.B. King and Pegasus Light Show
5/10/70 Sports Arena, Atlanta, GA
with the Grateful Dead (plus most of the Allman Brothers)
Won’t You Come Home Bill Bailey?, Evans
5/16/70 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
5/17/70 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
Non-HGB show: Stump Brothers
5/23/70 Dobbs Hall, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Mik Copas sings with band.
5/30/70 Alumni Memorial Building, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Benefit for the Atlanta Mobe. With the Electric Collage Light Show.
Mik Copas sings with band.
6/6/70 Piedmont Park, Atlanta, GA
6/7/70 Piedmont Park, Atlanta, GA
Non-HGB show. Stump Brothers at Spring Peace Festival with Axis, Ether, Celestial Voluptuous Banana, Country Pye, Eric Quincy Tate, Light Brigade, Eros, Robyn, Perpetual Motion, Ruffin, What Brothers, Stuff, White Lie, Stonehenge, Last Era, Bremrod, Booger Jam, Total Electric, Corn Cobb Jam, Pegasus Lantern Light Show
6/20/70 Cellar Door, Atlanta, GA
Hampton Grease Band, Piedmont Park, 1970
6/21/70 Piedmont Park, Atlanta, GA
Non-HGB show. Stump Brothers with Axis, Celestial Voluptuous Banana, Eric Quincy Tate, Nancy Harmon & The Victory Voices, Robyn, Twelve Eyes, What Brothers, White Lie, Pegasus Lantern Light Show
6/28/70 Chastain Park, Atlanta, GA
Main Event with Radar, the Glass Menagerie, Howard Hanger Trio, Robert Edwin, Linda Harrell, Frank Boggs, Singing Mothers
6/28/70 Piedmont Park, Atlanta, GA
billed as Hampton Grease Jam, with Chakra, Milan, Flint.
7/5/70 Middle Georgia Raceway, Byron, GA
Atlanta International Pop Festival. With Allman Brothers Band, Radar, Savage Grace, Gypsy, Goose Creek Symphony, Ballin’ Jack, B.B. King, Procul Harum, John B. Sebastian, Mountain. Hampton Grease Band played twice.
Halifax, unknown, Maria, Hendon, Wolverton Mountain, Treat Her Right > Bony Maronie
E: I’ll Go Crazy, Rock Around the Clock
7/10/70 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
7/11/70 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
7/18/70 Love Valley Music Festival, Love Valley, NC
with Johnny Jenkins, Tony Joe White, Donnydale, Catfish, Freedom ’70, Peace Core
Ascendant
Jerry Fields: “The scariest gig I remember doing was Love Valley — it was like a redneck Woodstock. Guys were walking around with six-packs of beer on their hips and shooting fireworks at ground level, like parallel to the ground. We went on after a group that performed naked, and they turned on their fog machine for their last song, ‘A Little Help From My Friends.’ Then we came out and opened with ‘Ascendant’ [by John Coltrane bassist Jimmy Garrison, on Elvin Jones’s The Ultimate]. At the end of the song, it was total silence — there was no crowd response at all. There were 75,000 people there, and they didn’t react. It was a really weird feeling — it was like we were in a void.”
7/24/70 Trinity Presbyterian Church Coffee House, Atlanta, GA
7/28/70 Maxwell’s Coffee House, University of West Georgia, Carrollton, GA
non-HGB show: Stump Brothers
8/1/70 AMB Auditorium, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
with Radar, Avenue of Happiness
8/7/70 Ludlow Garage, Cincinnati, OH
with Radar
8/8/70 Ludlow Garage, Cincinnati, OH
with Radar
8/13/70 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
8/14/70 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
8/15/70 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
8/20/70 Municipal Auditorium, Atlanta, GA
with Fleetwood Mac
Jerry Fields: “It was sold out, and any other band would be going, ‘Oh, this is our big break.’ Instead, we go out and we jam for half an hour. No key, nothing — I just count to four, and we go.”
Great Speckled Bird, 8/31/70: “The real show that night was the Hampton Grease Band and their traveling asylum—two or three dozen people in various activities: reading, sewing on a flag, meditating, watching TV, and two go-go girls dancing in black tights, and the band played on! Unbelievable was the guitarist from Avenue of Happiness (which is a whole other trip in itself) coming out and playing a chainsaw during one frantic song. The playing included an attack on a log! The Grease has never been so insane, except maybe the night they flooded the Catacombs by ripping out the plumbing by swinging from the pipes! Another in the continuing saga of ‘Thick Grease.'”
Marthasville Vacuum, 10/1/70 (reprinted in Music To Eat): “On stage with the Grease Band were friends who danced, watched TV, listened to the music and marched around stage as if at home in their living room. One girl even read a book and another sewed on an American flag during the Grease Band’s performance.As to their `music’–and I use the term loosely–the band performed much the same way. Very little of what they did had any context within itself. The casual actions on stage relayed directly to the audience and caused wandering, talking and virtual unrest.”
summer 1970
8/27/70 Bottom of the Barrel, Atlanta, GA
8/28/70 Bottom of the Barrel, Atlanta, GA
8/29/70 Bottom of the Barrel, Atlanta, GA
9/12/70 Pittman Park, Atlanta, GA
Festifall, with Radar, Black Traffic
9/12/70 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
Non-HGB show: Stump Brothers
9/13/70 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
Non-HGB show: Stump Brothers
9/18/70 AMB Auditorium, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
with Stump Brothers, Avenue of Happiness
9/19/70 Cellar Door, Atlanta, GA
9/24/70 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
9/25/70 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
9/26/70 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
Avenue of Happiness feat. Bruce Hampton on guitar
9/27/70 Piedmont Park, Atlanta, GA
with Allman Brothers Band, Eric Quincy Tate, Avenue of Happiness, Stump Brothers, Chakra
9/29/70 West Georgia Fairgrounds, Carrollton, GA
10/11/70 Memorial Coliseum, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
with Three Dog Night
Apache, Evans, Bony Maronie
10/15/70 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
Non-HGB show: Stump Brothers
10/16/70 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
Non-HGB show: Stump Brothers
10/30/70 Apostolic Studios, New York City, NY
10/31/70 Apostolic Studios, New York City, NY
11/1/70 Apostolic Studios, New York City, NY
Music To Eat sessions
Halifax, Hendon, Evans
11/14/70 Trinity Presbyterian Church, Atlanta, GA
11/20/70 Ludlow Garage, Cincinnati, OH
with Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band, Avenue of Happiness, Screaming Gypsy Bandits, Balderdash
11/21/70 Ludlow Garage, Cincinnati, OH
with Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band, Avenue of Happiness, Screaming Gypsy Bandits, Balderdash
11/22/70 Ludlow Garage, Cincinnati, OH
with Winter
11/26/70 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
11/27/70 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
11/28/70 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
12/6/70 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
Non-HGB show: Stump Brothers
12/11/70 Memorial Hall, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
Anti-War Benefit. With Fifth Order, Aurora Light Show
12/13/70 Mudcrutch Farm, Gainesville, FL
Mudcrutch Farm Festival with Mudcrutch, Weston Prim, and others. [possibly 1/23/71]
12/19/70 Trinity Presbyterian Church, Atlanta, GA
12/23/70 Piedmont Park, Atlanta, GA
Non-HGB show: Avenue of Happiness
12/24/70 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
12/25/70 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
12/28/70 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
Non-HGB show: Stump Brothers
12/31/70 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
Non-HGB show: Stump Brothers
1971
Municipal Auditorium, 1/16/71
1/3/71 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
Non-HGB show: Avenue of Happiness
1/4/71 Bottom of the Barrel, Atlanta, GA
1/5/71 Bottom of the Barrel, Atlanta, GA
1/6/71 Bottom of the Barrel, Atlanta, GA
1/7/71 Bottom of the Barrel, Atlanta, GA
1/8/71 Bottom of the Barrel, Atlanta, GA
1/9/71 Bottom of the Barrel, Atlanta, GA
1/10/71 Bottom of the Barrel, Atlanta, GA
1/11/71 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
Non-HGB show: Stump Brothers, with Little Feat
1/12/71 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
Non-HGB show: Stump Brothers, with Little Feat
Clifford Endres in Great Speckled Bird, 1/25/71: “On the bill with Little Feat were the Stump Brothers, one of the Hampton Grease Band’s spin-off groups and always a smile to hear. The Stump Bros. are good musicians and generally play good music which runs from solid rock to primitive jazz with lots of echoes from the Fifties especially in the horn riffs. But this night (Tuesday) John Ivey had joined them on bass. I don’t know whether the addition is permanent or not but I hope it is, because Ivey’s playing took the whole group into another dimension of music. More than technical mastery of his instrument he possesses a musical conception of the bass that is way out front, in both roots and vision, of almost everybody around since Albert Stinson.”
1/13/71 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
Non-HGB show: Stump Brothers, with Little Feat
1/15/71 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
Non-HGB show: Stump Brothers, with Fox Watson
1/16/71 Municipal Auditorium, Atlanta, GA
with Allman Brothers Band
unknown new songs, Evans, Rock Around the Clock, Bony Maroney
Clifford Endres in Great Speckled Bird, 1/25/71: “They turned in a fine set, introducing some new material in the tradition of their tight and complicated best, moving from rock into free jazz breaks a la Roland Kirk with flutes, sticks, and weird little noisemakers and putting down some electronic music on top, too. Strange how the shadow of Zappa peers out from the music of both Hampton and Little Feat in different ways, but it does. The Greasers went on into a great parody of Detroit rock, did their old standby ‘Jim Evans,’ and wound up with ‘Rock Around the Clock’ and ‘Bony Maroney’ just so we wouldn’t forget where they come from — rock classicsville. Their record will be out soon on Columbia, and as an indication of just how good they are–which we who hear them so often tend to forget when the shock of surprise wears off–listen to WREK and the mix they have of ‘Jim Evans’ from the forthcoming album. It relates to the schlock around it like pearls to swine.”
2/4/71 Bottom of the Barrel, Atlanta, GA
Non-HGB show: Stump Brothers
2/5/71 Bottom of the Barrel, Atlanta, GA
Non-HGB show: Stump Brothers
2/5/71 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
Non-HGB show: Avenue of Happiness
2/6/71 Bottom of the Barrel, Atlanta, GA
Non-HGB show: Stump Brothers
2/21/71 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
Non-HGB show: Stump Brothers
2/25/71 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
2/26/71 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
2/27/71 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
4/2/71 Piedmont Park, Atlanta, GA
Non-HGB show: Stump Brothers, Avenue of Happiness
4/3/71 Memorial Hall, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
Anti-War Benefit. HGB featuring Wesson Oil, with Stump Brothers, Henley Walron’s John, Core Dump, Aurora Light Show
4/25/71 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
Non-HGB show: Avenue of Happiness
4/29/71 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
4/30/71 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
5/1/71 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
5/2/71 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
6/5/71 
Fillmore East, New York, NY
with Frank Zappa & the Mothers of Invention, Head Over Heels. First show with Syd Stegall (keyboards).
6/6/71 Fillmore East, New York, NY
with Frank Zappa & the Mothers of Invention, Head Over Heels
6/13/71 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
Non-HGB show: Avenue of Happiness
6/xx/71 Atlanta, GA
Glenn Phillips: “When the band returned to Atlanta, we played at a club owned by a local politician… The next day, when we went back to the club to get our equipment, we discovered that the owner had shut the place down because of financial problems and had locked our equipment inside.” Band is on local news.
7/1/71 Central Theatre, Passaic, NJ
with Alice Cooper
7/9/71 Eastown Theatre, Detroit, MI
with Bloodrock, Suite Charity
7/10/71 Eastown Theater, Detroit, MI
with Bloodrock, Suite Charity
Atlanta Municipal Auditorium, 7/17/71
7/17/71 Municipal Auditorium, Atlanta, GA
First show without Harold Kelling, with Allman Brothers Band, afternoon show only.
new song, Pump Face, Evans
7/22/71 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
7/23/71 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
7/24/71 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
7/25/71 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
Record World, 9/25/71
8/25/71 Gaslight Au Go Go, New York City, NY
with Fat Alice from Dallas
8/26/71 Gaslight Au Go Go, New York City, NY
with Fat Alice from Dallas
8/27/71 Gaslight Au Go Go, New York City, NY
with Fat Alice from Dallas
8/28/71 Gaslight Au Go Go, New York City, NY
with Fat Alice from Dallas
8/29/71 Gaslight Au Go Go, New York City, NY
with Fat Alice from Dallas
8/30/71 Gaslight Au Go Go, New York City, NY
with Fat Alice from Dallas
8/30/71 WKCR, Columbia University, New York City, NY
interview
9/3/71 Winston-Salem Convention Center, Winston-Salem, NC
9/4/71 Hickory Club, Hickory, NC
9/5/71 Hickory Club, Hickory, NC
9/16/71 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
9/17/71 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
9/18/71 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
10/8/71 J&J Center, Athens, GA
with Terry Melton and the Laughing Disaster, Milkweed, Acme Blues Band, Smokewood
10/15/71 Point After Club, Hickory, NC
10/16/71 Point After Club, Hickory, NC
10/17/71 Point After Club, Hickory, NC
11/1/71 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
Non-HGB show: Stump Brothers, with Lawton Singh, Iskon
11/26/71 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
11/27/71 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
12/30/71 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
Non-HGB show: Avenue of Happiness; last show with HGB-related lineup
1972
Head Rest, 8/12/72
1/7/72 Marietta Teen Center, Marietta, GA
1/13/72 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
1/14/72 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
1/15/72 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
1/16/72 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
2/4/72 The Rat, Gainesville, FL
2/5/72 The Rat, Gainesville, FL
2/20/72 Double Calf, Louisville, FL
with Buster Brown
2/24/72 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
2/25/72 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
2/26/72 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
2/27/72 Bell Auditorium, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL
with Radar, Clear
Bony Maroney
3/xx/72 college, SC [maybe]
placeholder; with Bette Midler and Barry Manilow
3/9/72 Student Center, University of West Georgia, Carrollton, GA
with Sewer System, Brer Rabbit, Hydra
3/13/72 People’s Place, Atlanta, GA
3/16/72 Music Connection, Atlanta, GA
Non-HGB show: Stump Brothers, with Atlanta Rhythm Section
3/17/72 Music Connection, Atlanta, GA
Non-HGB show: Stump Brothers, with Atlanta Rhythm Section
3/18/72 Music Connection, Atlanta, GA
Non-HGB show: Stump Brothers, with Atlanta Rhythm Section
spring ’72 Habersham Central High School, Mount Airy, GA
with Chakra and Stonehenge
3/24/72 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
3/25/72 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
Harold Kelling & the Starving Braineaters
4/23/72 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
Non-HGB show: Starving Braineaters
5/1/72 One Eyed Jack’s, Atlanta, GA
Non-HGB show: Starving Braineaters
5/2/72 One Eyed Jack’s, Atlanta, GA
Non-HGB show: Starving Braineaters
5/3/72 One Eyed Jack’s, Atlanta, GA
Non-HGB show: Starving Braineaters
5/6/72 Pickens High School, Jasper, GA
5/7/72 Sports Arena, Atlanta, GA
with Mahavishnu Orchestra
unknown instrumental > Peter Gunn Theme > 7000 Tears, Alphonso and Louise, King of the Road, Pump Face, Creator > unknown instrumental, Knowing You, Tom Corn
E: Rock Around the Clock
broadcast several weeks later on WREK
5/11/72 North Springs, GA
5/12/72 Andalusia High School, Andalusia, AL
5/26/72 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
5/27/72 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
6/10/72 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
Non-HGB show: Stump Brothers
7/14/72 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
7/15/72 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
Hubbler
“Hubbler” included on Glenn Phillips’s Lost At Sea (1975)
7/28/72 People’s Place, Atlanta, GA
8/12/72 Head Rest, Atlanta, GA
with the Chambers Brothers
I Go Crazy, Sunshine Of Your Love parody
8/18/72 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
8/19/72 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
8/20/72 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
broadcast live on WREK
8/24/72 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
Non-HGB show: Starving Braineaters
8/25/72 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
Non-HGB show: Starving Braineaters
8/26/72 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
Non-HGB show: Starving Braineaters
9/2/72 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
Non-HGB show: jam with Glenn Phillips, Mike Holbrook, Jerry Fields, Bill Porter, Starving Braineaters, John Ivey (bass), Al Smith (saxophone), Lance Mohammed (saxophone), Bill Breeze (vibraphone), Tim Embry (electric violin)
broadcast live on WREK
9/7/72 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
Non-HGB show: Stump Brothers
9/8/72 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
Non-HGB show: Stump Brothers
9/28/72 Sports Arena, Atlanta, GA
with Cheech & Chong
10/5/72 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
10/6/72 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
10/7/72 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
courtesy Bill Hardin
10/14/72 B & B Ranch, Duluth, GA
Non-HGB show: Starving Braineaters, with Fletcher and the Piedmonts
10/20/72 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
Non-HGB show: Starving Braineaters
10/21/72 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
Non-HGB show: Starving Braineaters
10/29/72 Lake Spivey, GA
Concert For Bangladesh, with Wet Willie, Eric Quincy Tate, Stonehenge, Road Apple, Kudzu
11/2/72 Mississippi John’s Coffee House, Williams Center, Georgia State University, Statesboro, GA
11/3/72 Recital Hall, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA
broadcast live on WRAS
11/22/72 Municipal Auditorium, Panama City, FL
Thanksgiving festival. With Mourning Glory, The Machine
11/24/72 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
11/25/72 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
12/12/72 Great Southeast Music Hall, Atlanta, GA
with Jeff Espina
12/13/72 Great Southeast Music Hall, Atlanta, GA
with Jeff Espina
12/14/72 Great Southeast Music Hall, Atlanta, GA
with Jeff Espina
12/15/72 Great Southeast Music Hall, Atlanta, GA
with Jeff Espina
12/16/72 Great Southeast Music Hall, Atlanta, GA
with Jeff Espina
12/17/72 Great Southeast Music Hall, Atlanta, GA
with Jeff Espina
12/21/72 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
Non-HGB show: Starving Braineaters
1973
1/4/73 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
1/5/73 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
1/6/73 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
2/2/73 Last Resort, Athens, GA
2/3/73 Last Resort, Athens, GA
2/9/73 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
Non-HGB show: Stump Brothers
2/10/73 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
Non-HGB show: Stump Brothers
2/23/73 Great Southeast Music Hall
Non-HGB show: Starving Braineaters
2/24/73 Great Southeast Music Hall
Non-HGB show: Starving Braineaters
3/2/73 Great Southeast Music Hall, Atlanta, GA
3/3/73 Great Southeast Music Hall, Atlanta, GA
3/10/73 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
Non-HGB show: Starving Braineaters
3/11/73 12th Gate, Atlanta, GA
Non-HGB show: Starving Braineaters
3/24/73 Jekyll Island, GA
Non-HGB show: Starving Braineaters, with Hydra
3/31/73 Recital Hall, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA
final Hampton Grease Band show, featuring a marching band and appearance by Harold Kelling.
I Got A Mind To Give Up Living
4/6/73 Great Southeast Music Hall, Atlanta, GA
Non-HGB show: Stump Brothers, with Kudzu
4/7/73 Great Southeast Music Hall, Atlanta, GA
Non-HGB show: Stump Brothers, with Kudzu
4/8/73 Great Southeast Music Hall, Atlanta, GA
Non-HGB show: Stump Brothers, with Kudzu
5/4/73 Country Store Restaurant, Athens, GA
Non-HGB show: Stump Brothers
7/31/73 Coffee House, West Georgia University, Carrollton, GA
Non-HGB show: Stump Brothers
Me too, Pat. Me, too.
Great Speckled Bird, 1/21/74
APPENDIX: Hampton Grease Band songlist
Originals:
Agony
Alphonso and Louise
Charlie
Creator
Eggs
Evans (a. Egyptian Beaver, b. Evans)
Halifax
Hey Old Lady/Bert’s Song
I’m Bad
Knowing You [speculative title]
Lawton
Hendon (a. Spray Paint, b. Major Bones, c. Sewell Park, d. improvisation)
Hubbler
Maria
Pump Face
Six
7000 Tears [speculative title]
Tom Corn [speculative title]
Upper and Lower Dresden
Covers:
African Village (McCoy Tyner)
Afro Blue (Mongo Santameria) [Stump Bros.]
Apache (The Shadows)
Ascendant (Jimmy Garrison)
Bony Maronie (Larry Williams)
Fixin’ To Die (traditional)
Gillette Razors jingle
Has Anybody Seen My Gal (California Ramblers)
I Got A Mind To Give Up Living (traditional)
I’ll Go Crazy (James Brown)
I’m Bad Like Jesse James (John Lee Hooker)
I’m So Glad (Skip James)
King of the Road (Roger Miller)
Maiden Voyage (Herbie Hancock) [Stump Bros.]
Magnificent Seven Theme (Elmer Bernstein)
Rawhide (Link Wray)
Reelin’ and Rockin’ (Chuck Berry)
Rock Around the Clock (Bill Haley)
Rock of Ages (traditional)
San Antonio Rose (Merle Haggard)
Slaughter On Tenth Avenue (The Ventures)
Straight Alki Blues (Leroy Carr)
Sunshine Of Your Love parody (Cream)
That’ll Be The Day (Buddy Holly)
Treat Her Right (Roy Head & the Traits)
Turn On Your Lovelight (Bobby “Blue” Bland)
Walk Don’t Run (The Ventures)
Wings of a Dove (Bob Ferguson)
Wipe Out (The Surfaris)
Wolverton Mountain (Claude King/Merle Kilgore)
Won’t You Come Home, Bill Bailey? (Hughie Cannon)
(Photo by John Rosenthal)
Also very much a work in progress!
Originally opened as the Commodore Theatre in 1925-1926, used for Yiddish vaudeville and movies, the auditorium at 105 Second Avenue in Manhattan was most famous as the Fillmore East, which Bill Graham operated from 1968 to 1971. But the room had multiple other lives as a music venue, including the Village Theatre, from 1965-1968.
After Bill Graham closed down the Fillmore East in summer 1971, it sat vacant for barely a year. In July 1972, Frank Morgenstern purchased the building (Billboard, 7/22/72, p. 16), announced plans to open as the Village East, but sold the building by fall, before putting on a single show (Rolling Stone, 10/26/72). From November 1972 until early 1973, shows were booked as Village East/Villageast.
In 1974, the building was purchased by the Brooklyn Yeshiva. Later that year Barry Stuart (aka Barry Stein) reopened the venue as the New Fillmore East, but changed it to N.F.E. Theatre after Graham’s disapproval, and shows lasted into early 1975. Several famous bands used it as a practice space, as well. In the ’80s, it became one of Manhattan’s last pre-AIDS mega-discos, The Saint, with the venue entrance possibly moving to 223 E. 6th Street, and hosted
Please post corrections, comments, memories, etc., or email me at link on the right, including with information about for DJs, light artists, and other performers at The Saint.
Village East/Villageast
November 17, 1972
Virgin, rock opera by Father John O’Reilly (opening)
Following three-city promotional tour (Record World, 11/25/72, p. 27).
December 15, 1972
Bloodrock, Elephant’s Memory, Trapeze
Went until dawn, per Billboard. Trapeze has their van and gear stolen (Cash Box, 12/30/72, p. 30).
December 16, 1972
Bloodrock, Foghat, The Fabulous Rhinestones
December 22, 1972
New Groups of the ’70s to Rock the Ages
December 23, 1972
New York Dolls, Teenage Lust, Eric Emerson with the Magic Tramps
December 27, 1972
Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Estus
December 28, 1972
Steve Miller Band, Seatrain, Speedway Johnny (early show only), Rick Roberts (late show only)
Reviewed in Billboard, 1/20/73, p. 18.
December 30-31, 1972
Roy Buchanan, Crazy Horse, Full Moon, Speedway Johnny (early show, 12/30 only), Rick Roberts (late show, 12/30 only)
Reviewed in New York Times, 1/1/73; in Cash Box, 1/13/73 (p. 24).
January 12-13, 1973
Miles Davis, Paul Winter Consort
In Miles’s band: Reggie Lucas, Cedric Lawson, Bala Krishna, Mike Henderson, Badal Roy, Mtume, Al Foster, Dave Liebman. Miles returns to the stage after a car crash in which he broke both legs.
February 2-3, 1973
Joy of Cooking, Goose Creek Symphony, Full Tilt Boogie Band
Photo of marquee by John Rosenthal.
December 26-30, 1973
KISS
KISS rents the Fillmore East to rehearse for their full debut with make-up on December 31st at The Academy. Photos.
January 8, 1974
KISS
KISS plays a promotional event to launch their first album for Casablanca.
New Fillmore East/N.F.E. Theatre
December 7, 1974
Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Bob Seger, David Barretto
re-opening, written up in New York Times
promoted by Barry Stuart
December 31, 1974
Ike and Tina Turner Revue, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Hidden Strength
Reviewed in Billboard (1/25/75, p. 26)
January 14, 1975
Weekly Tuesday talent night begins. Say it lasted for 3 iterations?
January 18, 1975
Roy Buchanan, Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra, Hydra
Reviewed in Billboard.
January 21, 1975
Talent night
January 29, 1975
Talent night
February 3-9, 1975
Blue Oyster Cult rehearses with full lighting rig.
The Dictators also rehearse there during this period.
February 14, 1975
Papa John Creach, Barnaby Eye (cancelled)
Gossip about cancelled shows in New York Times.
February 20, 1975
Elvin Bishop (cancelled)
February 21, 1975
Deodato (cancelled)
February 22, 1975
Argent (cancelled)
The Saint
1980 DJs: Alan Dodd (opening night, 9/20/80), Robbie Leslie
1981 DJs: Robbie Leslie
March 1, 1984
Grace Jones
March 19, 1986
Spin 1st anniversary party: Red Hot Chili Peppers
May 29, 1986
‘60s Ball: Bob Weir, Jorma Kaukonen, Country Joe McDonald, Steve Kimock, Peter Yarrow; Chambers Brothers; Buffy Sainte-Marie (recording)
October 9, 1986
They Might Be Giants
October 31, 1986
Shriekback
August 7, 1987
Dead or Alive
January 15, 1988
Relix 15th anniversary party: The Dinosaurs, Country Joe McDonald, Wavy Gravy (M.C.) (recording)
Jack Casady of Jefferson Airplane/Hot Tuna sat in. Reviewed in New York Times.
January 29, 1988
The Chambers Brothers
Psychedelic Daze Revue
February 19, 1988
Iron Butterfly, Richie Havens, The Vipers
Psychedelic Daze Revue
(Photo via Frank Mastropolo & John “Beedo” Dzubak of Kingdom Come)
Very much a work in progress!
Originally opened as the Commodore Theatre in 1925-1926, used for Yiddish vaudeville and movies, the auditorium at 105 Second Avenue in Manhattan was most famous as the Fillmore East, which Bill Graham operated from 1968 to 1971. But the room had multiple other lives as a music venue.
The bookings by a variety of promoters during the year before Bill Graham’s arrival are perhaps even more eclectic than what followed when Graham took over, perhaps the city’s greatest “lost” rock/jazz/poetry/political/folk venue. (And, after the Fillmore East, it had another checkered life as the New Fillmore East, aka the N.F.E. Theatre, aka the Village East, subject of a separate, much briefer chronology.)
Thanks immeasurably to the work Corry Arnold (of the mighty Lost Live Dead, Hootrollin, and Rock Prosopography) and Marc Skobac, and the It’s All the Streets You Crossed Not That Long Ago blog (who posted tons of great Village Theatre ads and ephemera for the initial research and inspiration, as well as the Independent Voices database.
Please post corrections, comments, memories, etc., or email me at link on the right.
March 28, 1964
Lenny Bruce
November 19, 1965
Donovan
Donovan’s New York debut, promoted by Harold Leventhal, longtime manager of Pete Seeger, The Weavers, and many others. Leventhal had also put on Bob Dylan’s first formal New York concert at Carnegie Chapter Hall in 1961.
November 24, 1965
Chuck Berry, The Blues Project, The Undercurrents
Chuck Berry was backed by Al Kooper and the Blues Project. Hosted by Jack Walker.
November 30, 1965
Lenny Bruce, Mongo Santamaria & Co.
July 29, 1966
The Avant-Garde, presented by Joe Pinelli & Lovebeast Enterprises, MC: Alan Grant
Ornette Coleman Trio, Giuseppi Logan Quartet, Frank Smith Sextet
August 12, 1966
The Avant-Garde, presented by Joe Pinelli & Lovebeast Enterprises, MC: Alan Grant
John Coltrane Quintet, Marion Brown Quintet, Jeanne-Lee/Ran Blake Duo
August 26, 1966
The Avant-Garde, presented by Joe Pinelli & Lovebeast Enterprises, MC: Alan Grant
Archie Shepp Quartet, Albert Ayler Quintet, Frank Smith Sextet
Sepember 19, 1966
Mark Lane on JFK assassination.
September 20, 1966
Timothy Leary, Ralph Metzner
Psychedelic art by Jackie Cassen and Rudi Stern
Billed as “a series of three psychedelic celebrations.”
September 27, 1966
Timothy Leary, Ralph Metzner
Psychedelic art by Jackie Cassen and Rudi Stern
October 3, 1966
LeRoi Jones
October 4, 1966
Timothy Leary, Ralph Metzner
Psychedelic art by Jackie Cassen and Rudi Stern
October 11, 1966
Timothy Leary, Ralph Metzner
Psychedelic art by Jackie Cassen and Rudi Stern
October 18, 1966
Timothy Leary, Ralph Metzner
Psychedelic art by Jackie Cassen and Rudi Stern
October 25, 1966
Timothy Leary, Ralph Metzner
Psychedelic art by Jackie Cassen and Rudi Stern
November 1, 1966
Timothy Leary, Ralph Metzner
Psychedelic art by Jackie Cassen and Rudi Stern
November 8, 1966
Timothy Leary, Ralph Metzner
Psychedelic art by Jackie Cassen and Rudi Stern
November 15, 1966
Timothy Leary, Ralph Metzner
Psychedelic art by Jackie Cassen and Rudi Stern
November 22, 1966
Timothy Leary, Ralph Metzner
Psychedelic art by Jackie Cassen and Rudi Stern
November 29, 1966
Timothy Leary, Ralph Metzner
Psychedelic art by Jackie Cassen and Rudi Stern
December 6, 1966
Timothy Leary, Ralph Metzner
Psychedelic art by Jackie Cassen and Rudi Stern
Allen Ginsberg appeared at the December 6th performance.
December 22, 1966
Jazz concert, featuring Stokely Carmichael
December 26, 1966
John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman Trio
John Coltrane with Pharoah Sanders, Alice Coltrane, Jimmy Garrison, Rashied Ali, Sonny Johnson, Omar Ali, and Algie Bata. Many photos. Gig details.
January 29, 1967
Angry Arts Against the War in Vietnam: Broadway Dissents, featuring Alan Alda, Ruby Dee, John Henry Faulk, Jules Feiffer, Diana Sands, George Tabori
February 2, 1967
Angry Arts Against the War in Vietnam: Judson Chamber Ensemble, Bread and Puppet Theater
February 4, 1967
Angry Arts Against the War in Vietnam: Children’s program at 2 pm: Chalk Talk with Maurice Sendak, Eva Merriam (poetry), Yakim Mime Troupe, films, folksingers; The Last Word (at 8 pm): Jack Glick, Daniel Magrin, Cyrelle Ferman, Phil Corner
February 5, 1967
Angry Arts Against the War in the Vietnam (4pm): Art Farmer, Jimmy Heath, Jackie McLean, Burton Green and Vincent Gaeta, Clifford Thornton, Pharaoh Sanders, Jeremy Steig, Joel Freedman
“Just Music?” report from the Village Voice by Michael Zwerin
“Everybody’s Stepchild,” Michael Zwerein, continued
February 14, 1967
Sweethearts’ Day Poetry Reading featuring Allen Ginsberg, LeRoi Jones, Ishmael Reed, Peter Orlovsky, Allan Katzman, David Henderson, Lorenzo Thomas, Paul Blackburn, Joel Oppenheimer, Len Chandler, Ronald Stone, Denise Nichols, Hart LeRoi Bibbs, Tom Dent
February 17, 1967
Jonas Mekas and Film-Makers’ Distribution Center present Lenny Bruce (1965)
February 22, 1967
WBAI Benefit: Pete Seeger, Tom Paxton, Chad Mitchell Trio, Patrick Sky, Judy Collins
February 25-26, 1967
Albert Ayler Octet
Performances from February 26th were released on In Greenwich Village (Impulse, 1967) and The Village Concerts (ABC Impulse, 1978)
March 3, 1967
Lucas Hoving Dance Company
March 10, 1967
Pomare Dancers
March 12, 1967
Kay Boyle Tribute to the Rev. A.J. Muste: Daniel Berrigan, Dorothy Day, Dave Dellinger, W.H. Ferry, Fred Halstead, Alfred Hessler, Nat Hentoff, Arnold Johnson, Sidney Lens, Bradford Lyttle, David Miller, Bayrd Rustin, I.F. Stone, Marge Swann
March 13, 1967
Eleo Pomare
Subscription dance series for 10 Mondays presented by Eugene Dildine and the Village Theatre
March 17, 1967
Philadelphia Woodwind Quartet, Ornette Coleman Trio
March 20, 1967
Midi Garth (dance)
March 25, 1967
Nina Simone and Miriam Makeba, with Flip Wilson
presented by V. Steven Truett
March 27, 1967
Yukiro (dance)
April 3, 1967
Norman Walker (dance)
April 10, 1967
Paul Sanasardo (dance)
April 14, 1967
Angry Arts (afternoon and evening shows): Free Spirits, Judy Wieder, Robin Roberts, Barbara Dane, Blues Project, Dave Van Ronk, Penny Whistlers, Chad Mitchell Trio, Gene and Franceca, The Magicians, Children of Paradise, Izzy Young (M.C.)
April 17, 1967
Mariane Perra
April 22, 1967
Klay Folk Festival: Beers Family, followed by old-fashioned hootenanny
Presented by Berale Klay and Goya Guitars
April 27, 1967
Merle Marsicano (dance)
April 28, 1967
Chuck Berry
Presented by Psi Upsilon Fraternity
May 1, 1967
Lucas Hoving (dance)
May 2-4, 1967
Abolafia Presidential Love-In (aka Abolafia Cosmic Love-In, aka Cosmic Love Convention): possibly featuring Group Image, Eric Andersen, Alec Leonhardt, Allen Ginsberg, Timothy Leary, Richie Havens, Paul Krassner, Free Spirits, Children Of Paradise, Elaine White, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Described as a “72-Hour Freakathon for Hippies and Saints,” Louis Abolafia was a nudist/love candidate for President and early hippie advocate for the town of Woodstock. Memories from Abolafia’s brother. Associated Press photo.
May 8, 1967
Meredith Monk (dance and music)
May 12, 1967
Malvina Reynolds and the Pennywhistle Singers
Bernie Klay & Goya Guitars presents
May 13, 1967
An Evening With God by Renewal Magazine in Celebration of the Penetcost starring: The Rev. Malcolm Boyd, Dick Gregory, Paul Krassner, Dr. Timothy Leary, Len Chandler, Dr. Harvey Cox
May 15, 1967
Bhaskar (dance)
May 18, 1967
3-Penny Poetry Reading For Life Against the War in Vietnam: Andrei Voznesensky with Sam Abrams, David Antin, John Ashbery, Ted Berrigan, Gordon Bishop, Karl Bissinger, Robert David Cohen, Phillip Corner, Gregory Corso, Robert Creeley, Joe Early, Clayton Eshleman, The Fugs, Donald Gardner, Malcolm Goldstein, Jackson Maclow, Lewis Meyers, Joel Oppenheimer, Jerome Rothenberg, Joel Sloman, Gil Sorrentino
May 19, 1967
Peter Schumann’s Bread and Puppet Theater, The Pennywhistlers
Bernie Klay and Goya Guitars Presents
May 20, 1967
Tribute to Chaim Towber
May 27, 1967
Horace Silver Quintet, Morgana King, Ahmad Jamal Trio
June 3, 1967
Herbie Mann, billed as Impressions of the Middle East.
There was some kind of bazaar set up in the lobby. Herbie Mann’s 1967 album, The Wailing Dervishes, was recorded at this performance, featuring Rufus Harley, Reggie Workman, Bruno Carr, Moulay “Ali” Hafid, Chick Ganimian, Roy Ayers, Steve Knight, Esber Köprücü, Hachig T. Kazarian, Steve Knight, Oliver Collins, and James Glenn.
June 5, 1967
Ruth Currier Dance Troupe
June 11, 1967
WOR-FM 1st Anniversary Party (early & late shows): Blues Project, The Doors, Janis Ian, Chambers Brothers, Richie Havens, Jeremy and the Satyrs, plus Jim Lounsbury, Johnny Michaels, Scott Muni, Murray the “K”, Rosko
June 12, 1967
Charles Weidman Theater Dance Company
June ??, 1967
Trips To Wear (fashion show): Third Eye Band, Quintet Revolutionary
June 25, 1967
Songs For Synanon: Count Basie Band, Arthur Pryscock, Stan Getz Quintet
June 26, 1967
Tamara Woshakiwska, Charlotte Honda and Margot Parsons (dance)
June 28, 1967
Bread For Heads Festival: Mothers of Invention, The Fugs, Left Banke, Allen Ginsberg, Tim Buckley
July 8, 1967
Blues Project, The Who, Richie Havens, Chrysalis, Third World Raspberry (playing after)
Don Friedman Presents Explosion
Purportedly the final Blues Project show.
July 21-22, 1967
The Byrds, Vanilla Fudge, The Seeds (late only on 7/21, early & late on 7/22)
Don Friedman Presents Explosion (7/21 added later)
July 28, 1967
Janis Ian, The Grass Roots (early & late)
Don Friedman Presents Explosion
August 5, 1967
Janis Ian, The Association, Jake Holmes (early & late shows)
Don Friedman Presents Explosion
August ??, 1967
Luis Valdez’s Teatro Campesino
August 16, 1967
The Community Breast, A Benefit For The Community (sponsored by To Each All Things): Tiny Tim, The Fugs, Judy Collins, Richie Havens, Peter Walker
Proceeds to Diggers, Provos, and the Communications Company. Pearls Before Swine cancelled.)
August 21, 1967
Barry Gordon
August 24, 1967
Benefit for the Harlem Six and the black people of Dorchester County, S.C.: James Baldwin, Richie Havens, Ossie Davis, Dick Davy, Frank Mitchell Quintet, Bob and Joe
Billed as James Baldwin’s “first major address in 2 years.” Per the East Village Other, 8/24/67, “Baldwin will relate the unrest in America’s Negro ghettos to American foreign policy in a benefit performance tonight… Baldwin is returning to this country from a two-year writing tour in Europe and Istanbul. Co-sponsoring his appearence are the Charter Group for a Pledge of Conscience and the Dorchester Committee of New York City.
August 25, 1967
The Yardbirds, The Youngbloods, Jake Holmes
Don Friedman Presents Explosion
The night Jimmy Page learned “Dazed and Confused” by hearing Jake Holmes perform it.
August 26, 1967
New Stars in ’67 starring Henry Bell with Julie Janeiro, the Jacksonians, the Young Long Islanders, Samuel Avital, Burton Greene, Sandy Allyne, Martha Reynolds, Yvonne Warden, Mother Hive, Sampson Horten Orcehstra
September ??, 1967
Peace rally with H. Rap Brown & others
“That New Black Magic! Keep It Violent,” Leticia Kent in the Village Voice.
September 2, 1967
Mitch Ryder, Vanilla Fudge, The Illusions
September 5, 1967
James Cotton Blues Band, New York Blood Sweat and Tears (billed as Al Kooper/Steve Katz), The Kingdom Come
September 6, 1967
The Glories, The Vibrations, Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs
September 8, 1967
Sri Swami Sivananda with Bob Fass, Dr. Joseph Gelberman
September 9, 1967
The Doors, The Vagrants, Tim Rose
Dynasty Presents
The Vagrants (from Queens) featured Leslie West, future co-founder of Mountain.
September 22, 1967
Dick Gregory, Charles Mingus, Andrew Hill
September 23, 1967
Cream, Canned Heat
(Moby Grape cancelled.)
“They Play Blues, Not Superstar,” Richard Goldstein in Village Voice
September 30, 1967
Cream, Soul Survivors, Richie Havens
Cream only played early show.
October 7, 1967
Wilson Pickett, The Paupers, Eric Anderson
October 11, 1967
The Weekly Freakly
Announced as a weekly series in Billboard “featuring Lower East Side talent and top recording acts,” I’m going to assume it only happened a handful of times and vanished.
October 14, 1967
Sarah Vaughan and Arthur Prysock
V. Steven Truett presents…
October 15, 1967
October Breakout, MC: Bob Fass
3 pm: Richie Havens, Eric Anderson, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Paul Krassner, Archie Shepp Quartet, Jeremy and the Satyrs, Barbara Dane, Matt Jones
8 pm: Phil Ochs, Charles Mingus, Tim Rose, Moondog and Strings, Paul Krassner, Joe Frazier, Paul Knopf, Bill Fredricks, Elaine White
produced by Topic Magazine and United Jazz Workshops
October 18, 1967
The Weekly Freakly
October 20-21, 1967
Otis Redding and Carla Thomas (cancelled)
October 20-24, 1967
Festival of Changes, A Celebration of the New Destiny; The Sight & Sound of San Francisco Scene: New Salvation Army Banned, The C.I.A. (Center for Interplanetary Activity)
visual disorientation by Liquid Sandwich, Aurora Glory Alice
October 25, 1967
The Weekly Freakly
October 27-29, 1967
Donovan (cancelled)
October 28, 1967
Procol Harum
October 30, 1967
Half Note 10th Anniversary Show: Paul Anka, Carmen McRae, Cannonball Adderley Quintet, Bobby Hackett, Al Cohn (conductor), Alan Grant (M.C.)
October 31, 1967
Halloween Party
November 3, 1967
Yardbirds, Vanilla Fudge (early & late shows)
November 4-6, 1967
Jefferson Airplane (cancelled)
November ??, 1967
James Cotton Blues Band, Blood Sweat and Tears
November 7, 1967
Wilson Pickett, Martha and the Vandellas, James Cotton
November 10-11, 1967
The Doors (cancelled)
November 11, 1967
Moby Grape
November 12, 1967
The Buck Owens Show (4 pm & 8:30 pm): Buck Owens with the Buckaroos, Wynn Stewart, Tommy Collins, Rose Maddox
Bob Wyld and Art Polhemus Present
November 17-18, 1967
Electric Flag, Charles Lloyd (cancelled)
November 18, 1967
Charles Lloyd Quartet (early & late)
November 19, 1967
Cosmos presents: Moondog and Mimi Sym, Group Image & Lights, Aluminum Dream, Tiny Tim, Federal Duck, Charles O’Hegarty, Kingdom Come, Lee Crabtree, Grey Company, Pageant Company, plus underground film, Izzy Young (M.C.)
November 23-24, 1967
(early & late) Moby Grape, Druids of Stonehenge, Charles O’Hegarty, Kingdom Come
November 25-26, 1967
The Who, The Vagrants, Rich Kids
Gary Kurfirst Presents
Perhaps when The Who first met Vagrants/Mountain guitarist Leslie West, who would go on to play on the Who’s Next sessions. Promoter Gary Kurfirst would go on to manage Talking Heads, Blondie, The Ramones, and many others.
December 2, 1967
Mass Meeting, planning for Stop The Draft Week, December 4th-8th, organized by Fifth Avenue Vietnam Peace Parade Committee
December 26-27, 1967
Grateful Dead, Peggy Emerson, Take Five
It snowed through a hole in the ceiling. Complete program for the shows. Program features a track list and coupon for the forthcoming live album Take Five were recording that night, allegedly to be released soon on Constellation Records (of 322 E. 44th Street), but I can find no further evidence of this album, Take Five, or a New York company called Constellation Records. Anybody?
February 2, 1968 [moved to Anderson Theater]
Country Joe & the Fish, Jim Kweskin’s Jug Band, Soft White Underbelly
Soft White Underbelly was the prototype version of Blue Oyster Cult, who later used the closed-down Fillmore East/Village Theatre as a rehearsal space in 1975.
February 23-24, 1968
Pearls Before Swine
