Tessera

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Corry342 @corry342.bsky.social · last wk.

Many note how singular the Grateful Dead's music was in the 1970s. Their business practices were, too. But some contemporary bands shared parts of their touring playbook. I look at bands whose business--not music--mirrored the Dead in the 1970s and '80s. hooterollin.blogspot.com/2026/10/they...

David Davis' 2025 book The Economic History of The Grateful Dead is the most thorough and comprehensive analysis of the business of the Grateful Dead.

The English quartet Ten Years After were one of the few bands who toured as relentlessly as the Grateful Dead. They didn't have much in the way of radio hits, but they absolutely killed it in concert, building a huge, loyal audience. They finally stopped touring in 1975 after they felt worn out (cover of their 2nd album Undead, released on Deram Records July 1968).

The J Geils Band, formed in Boston in 1968, toured hard throughout the 1970s, but they seemed stuck in mid-level arenas. Then their single "Centerfold" hit it big with a video on the new MTV, and J Geils abruptly had a huge new audience. (Freeze Frame album, EMI Records, October 1981).

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Corry342 @corry342.bsky.social · 2w ago

I cannot recommend enough the new book by Addie Mahmassani, Air Split Open (2026: U Of Iowa Press). Mahmassani parses the Folk Music "Revival" by looking at how Odetta and Joan Baez used folk music to provide agency for women. They set the table for Bob Dylan. uipress.uiowa.edu/books/air-sp...

Air Split Open, by Addie Mahmassani (2026: U of Iowa Press) looks at how Odetta and Joan Baez used folk music to give women agency. Bob Dylan took the idea of Agency and ran with it.

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Corry342 @corry342.bsky.social · 2w ago

Do you think the San Diego teens grooved out when Robert Wyatt and Kevin Ayers sang "Why Are We Sleeping" during Soft Machine's opening set? Sadly, I'm guessing no (btw, Soft Machine--no "The"--were a trio again, as Andy Summers had been pushed out. By this time he had hooked up with The Animals).

Michael Daly@michaeldaly64.bsky.social · 2w ago

1968, San Diego, CA

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Corry342 @corry342.bsky.social · last mo.

As if last night's update wasn't enough, we have a new wave. Wise scholars--one in particular--have contributed numerous dates to the Youngbloods Performance History from 1966 to 1968, and I have updated the post (again). rockprosopography101.blogspot.com/2026/09/the-...

On Thursday, July 14, 1966 Jesse Colin Young and The Youngbloods opened the Hullabaloo Scene at Kingsley and 1st Avenues in Asbury Park. Later that night, they played their regular gig at the Cafe Au Go Go in Greenwich Village.

Also on the bill were The Vagrants, from Queens, with guitarist Les Weinstein (you likely know him as Leslie West of Mountain). Plus The Myddle Class, a band of suburban New Jersey teenagers. Among other things, they headlined the first concert the Velvet Underground played, their bass player (Charles Larkey) married Carole King and their singer (David Palmer) was in Steely Dan (he sang "Do It Again".

Jesse Colin Young's Youngbloods were booked at Clevaland's La Cave** (at 10615 Euclid near E 105th) for New Year's Eve 66-67

the two stars (**) were part of the club's name

CCorry342@corry342.bsky.social · last mo.

Thanks to scholarly reader input, we have discovered numerous new Youngbloods performance dates from the very early 1965-66 period. Folk-rockers played a lot of weird gigs in those days. rockprosopography101.blogspot.com/2026/09/the-...

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Corry342 @corry342.bsky.social · last mo.

Thanks to scholarly reader input, we have discovered numerous new Youngbloods performance dates from the very early 1965-66 period. Folk-rockers played a lot of weird gigs in those days. rockprosopography101.blogspot.com/2026/09/the-...

Jesse Colin Young and the Jerry Corbitt Three (soon to be The Youngbloods), are booked at The Pesky Sarpent coffee house in Springfield, MA, from September 21-26 1965 (from the Springfield American)

A UPI wire service promotional photo of The Youngbloods at Jones Beach on Long Island (from the July 3, 1966 Minneapolis Star Tribune). The caption reads: IT WENT SWIMMINGLY. Doing the "Swim" at Jones Beach, N.Y. were Jesse Colin Young and his folk-rock group, The Youngbloods. Young decided that, since it was so hot, the Youngbloods should go to the beach and play it cool. The group included, from left: Jerry Corbitt, Young, Joe Bauer and Banana. The girls were not identified.

Jesse Colin Young and The Youngbloods were booked on Friday, October 28, 1966 at the Magnolia Mall at the Garden State Plaza (later the Paramus Mall and now the Westfield Mall). They would play the Cafe Au Go Go later that night. They were playing in support of an outdoor car show called "Heaven On Wheels."

CCorry342@corry342.bsky.social · last mo.

The Youngbloods were unique in that they were East Coast folkies who became West Coast hippies. I look in detail at the band's performing history from 1966 to '68. Their history is very different than other groups of that era. rockprosopography101.blogspot.com/2026/09/the-...

A flyer for The Youngbloods at Eagles Auditorium, Seattle, WA on Friday September 22 and a midnight show on Saturday night (the Youngbloods were opening for Jefferson Airplane elsewhere earlier in the evening)

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Corry342 @corry342.bsky.social · last mo.

The Youngbloods were unique in that they were East Coast folkies who became West Coast hippies. I look in detail at the band's performing history from 1966 to '68. Their history is very different than other groups of that era. rockprosopography101.blogspot.com/2026/09/the-...

Once they relocated (in Fall '67), The Youngbloods mostly stuck to the West Coast. They played all sorts of gigs. Here is a flyer for a December 22, 1967 the mostly-forgotten (except by me) Concord Coliseum, a converted supermarket in a suburb on the other side of the hills from Berkeley.

In late 1967, RCA Records had the Younbloods ovedub vocals in Italian on their two modest 1967 hits, "Grizzly Bear" (Qui Con Noi, Tra Di Noi") and "Get Together" (Se Qualcano Mi Dira). These two tracks remained mysterious until re-released on a 2015 Japanese Best Of The Youngbloods collection.

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Corry342 @corry342.bsky.social · 2mo ago

The Grateful Dead were huge in New York, and that meant Manhattan. For a few years, however, they did try playing the Outer Boroughs. I look at the Dead's few New York City appearances outside of Manhattan. lostlivedead.blogspot.com/2026/08/the-...

An ad for concerts at the Singer Bowl and the New York State Pavilion from the '64 World's Fair in Summer '69. The Singer Bowl and the Pavilion are in the same park (Flushing Meadows). The Grateful Dead played the Pavilion on July 11-12 '69.

The New York State Pavilion, from the 1964 World's Fair, has not been used (for concerts or anything else) since 1969, yet it remains intact in Flushing Meadows in Corona Park. This photo is from 2013.

The Grateful Dead played Gaelic Park in The Bronx on August 26, 1971. Gaelic Park is at W. 240th St in The Bronx. The next summer (Jul 17 '72), the Allman Brothers played Gaelic Park, and Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir showed up to play "Mountain Jam."

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Corry342 @corry342.bsky.social · 2mo ago

The Grateful Dead were huge in New York, and that meant Manhattan. For a few years, however, they did try playing the Outer Boroughs. I look at the Dead's few New York City appearances outside of Manhattan. lostlivedead.blogspot.com/2026/08/the-...

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Corry342 @corry342.bsky.social · 3mo ago

According to McNally, Owsley sold the system to Bill Graham, so it could stay put at the Fillmore. Since the Dead played Fillmore after Vancouver (Aug 12-13 '66), I assume the system just stayed in place at Fillmore from then on. rockprosopography101.blogspot.com/2011/09/augu...

August 17, 1966 Fillmore Auditorium, San Francisco, CA: Jefferson Airplane (and a new PA)

A promotional photo from the August 10, 1966, San Francisco Chronicle , advertising the Grateful Dead's weekend appearance on August 12 &...

rockprosopography101.blogspot.com

jesse jarnow@bourgwick.bsky.social · 3mo ago

newly surfaced photo is maybe the clearest shot i've seen of owsley's original PA, from its final ride in vancouver, 60 years ago last week, very much resembling a proto-wall of sound. looks like it's got a reel-to-reel built right into the amp-line, just to the right of (i think) garcia?

Jerry Garcia adjusts knob on ornate PA set-up with empty venue floor

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Corry342 @corry342.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Had to let my pretty girl June go. The first part of her life was no good, but when we got her we tried our best to make the second part shine. Shy and subdued, but always patient and full of love. June (2015-2026): safe travels and endless love.

June (Dec 26 2015-Jul 29 2026) on her favorite bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, calm and pretty forever. Safe travels, much love.

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Corry342 @corry342.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Jefferson Airplane were a foundational rock and roll band, by any accounting. But their live concert history is hard to find. I begin the task with a detailed look at Airplane shows from their start on August 13 '65 to the end of '65. rockprosopography101.blogspot.com/2026/07/jeff...

The SF Chronicle ad for The Matrix on Sunday, August 29 1965, likely the first ad in which Jefferson Airplane had been promoted. The Matrix, in the Marina District at 3138 Fillmore, was owned by Marty Balin and partners, and had opened on August 13.

The flyer for the first Family Dog dance at Longshoreman's Hall in San Francisco, with Jefferson Airplane and The Charlatans, on October 16 1965

The Daily Californian (UC student paper) ad for Jefferson Airplane at Harmon Gym, October 20, 1965. This was bassist Jack Casady's debut.

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Corry342 @corry342.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Bob Weir left Kingfish in August '76 because the Grateful Dead returned to touring. But Matt Kelly and Dave Torbert kept the band going, making two albums and touring Europe and the States. I enquire about their tour history from August '76 thru February '79 hooterollin.blogspot.com/2026/06/king...

Kingfish played the tiny Miramar Beach Inn in Half Moon Bay, south of SF, on July 25 1977, to warm up for their European tour.

By strange record company machinations, Kingfish ended up opening for Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow (with Ronnie James Dio) on their massive Summer '77 European tour. The Munich show was on German TV, and later turned into a Rainbow DVD. Kingfish had been on German TV, too, at least one song, but it is no longer on YouTube.

I don't know if Kingfish made many new fans on the Rainbow tour, but that was the record biz back then.

In 1978, Kingfish released their studio album Trident. It was produced by Johnny Sandlin, who had produced Brothers & SIsters for the Allman Brothers. Their label Jet Records also managed Electric Light Orchestra, so Kingfish played many American dates supporting ELO in Fall '78.

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Corry342 @corry342.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Bob Weir left Kingfish in August '76 because the Grateful Dead returned to touring. But Matt Kelly and Dave Torbert kept the band going, making two albums and touring Europe and the States. I enquire about their tour history from August '76 thru February '79 hooterollin.blogspot.com/2026/06/king...

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Corry342 @corry342.bsky.social · 5mo ago

In the 1970s, the rock concert industry exploded, and they needed new, larger venues. Not all of them worked, however. On July 7, 1974 Richie Havens & Roger McGuinn headlined at tiny Islip Speedway, in Long Island. Things did not go well. I enquire. rockarchaeology101.blogspot.com/2026/05/july...

An ad from the July 3 1974 Newsday for the "Long Island Summer Festival" at tiny Islip Speedway in W. Islip, NY on July 7 '74. Headliners were Richie Havens and Roger McGuinn.

By calling it a "Festival," the panicked locals insisted on a daytime event, terrified of a Watkins Glen-type blowout.

The tiny Islip Speedway (just 2/10 of a mile) still hosted a Grand National Stock Car event from 1964-71. More famously, however, in the early 60s, the Speedway invented "Demolition Derbies," which have haunted the American Psyche ever since.

On July 8 '74 Robert Christgau of Newsday published an autopsy of the festival. The speedway could have held 30K, but breakeven would have been about 8000. There were perhaps 3000 present, many of them having gotten in on free tickets.

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Corry342 @corry342.bsky.social · 5mo ago

In the 1970s, the rock concert industry exploded, and they needed new, larger venues. Not all of them worked, however. On July 7, 1974 Richie Havens & Roger McGuinn headlined at tiny Islip Speedway, in Long Island. Things did not go well. I enquire. rockarchaeology101.blogspot.com/2026/05/july...

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Corry342 @corry342.bsky.social · 6mo ago

The Grateful Dead are a California band from San Francisco, but there's more than one California. Highway 99 runs up through the fertile center of the state. I look at the Dead's 60s history in the "other" California. lostlivedead.blogspot.com/2026/04/the-...

The Grateful Dead's first performance in the Central Valley was at the Stockton Ballroom in Stockton, CA, June 7-9, 1966

Governors Hall was the main building at the California State Fairgrounds until 1967. The Grateful Dead played here on December 28, 1966. In 1967, the Fairgrounds moved to its current site at Cal Expo.

On February 17, 1968, Country Joe & The Fish played with the Grateful Dead at the Selland Arena Convention Center in Fresno. This was during the run of shows for Anthem Of The Sun, but the concert was not recorded.

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Corry342 @corry342.bsky.social · 7mo ago

The Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood opened in 1964. In early 1966, The Whisky aligned its booking policy with its sister club The Trip. I review the intersection between The Whisky and The Trip between January and May 1966. rockprosopography101.blogspot.com/2026/03/the-...

A dancer at the Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, circa 1964 (via Alison Martino's Vintage LA page)

The Trip, at 8572 Sunset, a April 1965. An important but now mostly forgotten club. Note that the marquee says EHT, not THE.

An ad for Elmer Valentine's two clubs, The Whisky A Go Go and The Trip, in UCLA's Daily Bruin. The missing "y" (Whisk A Go Go) was intentional. Note also that the ad says "EHT Trip" just like the marquee.

The Whisky and The Trip were among the first two clubs to routinely book both white rock and black soul acts.

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Corry342 @corry342.bsky.social · 7mo ago

The Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood opened in 1964. In early 1966, The Whisky aligned its booking policy with its sister club The Trip. I review the intersection between The Whisky and The Trip between January and May 1966. rockprosopography101.blogspot.com/2026/03/the-...

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Corry342 @corry342.bsky.social · 8mo ago

Too Loose Ta Truck, w Phil Lesh, Terry Haggerty, John Allair and Steve Mitchell, only played 6 gigs back in 1976. It was Phil's only bar band. Why? I review their history, such as it is, in detail. It seems to have been about making a living. hooterollin.blogspot.com/2026/02/too-...

A flyer for Too Loose Ta Truck (as Touloos Ta Truck), with Phil Lesh, playing Berkeley's Long Branch on Wednesday May 26, 1976

Organist John Allair was the key player in Too Loose Ta Truck. He was a Marin legend, and played regularly with Van Morrison for decades. This photo is probably from the early 1960s.

Van Morrison met organist John Allair and drummer Steve Mitchell when he dropped in on their duo gig at lounge called Shipwreck Pete's. Shipwreck Pete's was at the Sportsman Lodge in Novato (now a Days Inn). It was the only music venue in Novato, and one of the few in Marin County with a full bar. Phil Lesh probably dropped in as well, even if he didn't play.

Shipwreck Pete's was just a few miles from the site of Rancho Olompali, which looms large in Grateful Dead history.

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Corry342 @corry342.bsky.social · 9mo ago

Sad as it is when people die, new things come to light. I was tipped to an unknown Bob Weir show, with Kingfish at the Pendleton Armory in Oregon on Tuesday, May 13 '75. An eyewitness says about 100 people were there. lostlivedead.blogspot.com/2009/10/bob-...

Kingfish, featuring Bob Weir and Dave Torbert (ex-NRPS, spelled "Torbit" in the ad) played the Pendleton Armory on Tuesday May 13 1975. The ad is from the Pendleton Eastern Oregonian newspaper. According to an eyewitness, there was no stage and there were about 100 people there.

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Corry342 @corry342.bsky.social · 9mo ago

In late 1974, with the rock concert business bigger than ever, Bill Graham tried to re-start the local concert scene that had defined the Fillmore in the day. Three local bands would headline Winterland for $2 on a Tuesday night. It almost worked. rockarchaeology101.blogspot.com/2026/01/bill...

A San Francisco Examiner ad (from Sep 8 '74) promoting Bill Graham's new Tuesday night series. 3 local bands for $2 at the big Winterland ballroom. The first night (Sep 24 '74) included a guest appearance by the newly-configured Jefferson Starship. Earthquake, Link Wray and The Rubinoos were local nightclub headliners.

One of the most popular local club bands was The Tubes. Years ahead of their time, with clever costumes and effects, each song was a miniature rock video--and rock video was still in the future. "Tubes" alluded to tv tubes, as each performance was a miniature show.

The Tubes headlined Sounds of The City shows twice (Oct 74 and Feb 75), long before their first album. BGP preserved unforgettable video. For the final numbers, lead singer Fee Waybill would dress up as Glitter Rock star Quay Lewd, and the Tubes would inevitably bring down the house with "White Punks On Dope."

Although Bill Graham's series of Sounds Of The City concerts did not take off, there were plenty of great bands. This ad is from the January 5, 1975 Examiner. Upcoming Tuesday nights include Raw Soul on Jan 7 '75 (Raw Soul would become Frankie Beverly and Maze), Kingfish (with Bob Weir and Dave Torbert) on Jan 14 '75 and both Journey and Yesterday & Today on Saturday Jan 18 (both Journey and Y&T had not yet released albums, and were just playing local gigs.

Winterland didn't sell drinks, and not enough people wanted to drive into the city to the seedy Fillmore neighborhood, so the shows didn't get traction. But the music and the bands were there. It was a good experiment that didn't pan out.

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Corry342 @corry342.bsky.social · 9mo ago

People have asked my reflections on Bob Weir's death, but only my sister got the long answer from me. open.substack.com/pub/gina19e/...

Pass this way

Bob Weir, R.I.P.

open.substack.com

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Corry342 @corry342.bsky.social · 10mo ago

The Grateful Dead played UC Berkeley's Greek Theatre 29 times. Their first performance there was on October 1, 1967. We have just an ad, a concert photo and a brief review. I enquire about what we can know from those. lostlivedead.blogspot.com/2025/12/octo...

The Grateful Dead on stage at UC Berkeley's Greek Theatre for the first time, October 1, 1967. Mickey Hart had jammed with them the night before (in SF) but was not on stage. Note only six amps on the backline, two PA amps, and Pigpen's Leslie amp.

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Corry342 @corry342.bsky.social · 11mo ago

Rock was as popular in Nashville in the '70s as it was anywhere. Uniquely, the major rock venue then was an auto racing track rather than a basketball arena. I enquire about concerts at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, 1972-77. rockprosopography101.blogspot.com/2025/11/nash...

Leon Russell headlined the first rock show at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway on July 9, 1972. Poco and JJ Cale opened.

In September 1974, there were three rock concerts at the Nashville Fairgounds Speedway: Mac Davis (Sep 14), Black Oak Arkansas (Sep 16) and Lynyrd Skynyrd (Sep 21).

Lynyrd Skynyrd returned to headline the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway on Jul 30, 1976, bigger than ever. Johnny Winter was sick and the Winter brothers canceled. Ted Nugent opened along with 38 Special.

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Corry342 @corry342.bsky.social · last yr.

Jerry Garcia played Keystone Berkeley 243 times 1972-84), mostly with the Garcia Band. Yet for all that, no one ever discusses that there was almost always an opening act. I enquire about this forgotten slice of JGB history. hooterollin.blogspot.com/2020/04/acou...

Acoustic Opening Acts for The Jerry Garcia Band at Keystone Berkeley 1976-84 (Lost History)

Keystone Berkeley, 2119 University (at Shattuck), some time in the later 1970s. Jerry Garcia Band opening acts were rarely listed on the mar...

hooterollin.blogspot.com

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Corry342 @corry342.bsky.social · last yr.

The Flying Burrito Brothers were The seminal country rock band in '68, and the New Riders weren't far behind in '70. By 1978, however, both bands' were wobbling. They briefly merged. I review two short, strange tours in Spring 78. rockarchaeology101.blogspot.com/2025/09/flyi...

The Marin County Line 1977 New Riders came to their end on March 19, 1978, in, of all places, Panama Red's in Champaign, IL. Buddy Cage and Stephen Love left the band

A rare photo of the merged Burrito/NRPS lineup, touring as The New Riders Of The Purple Sage in Spring 1978. (L-R) Bassist Skip Battin, John Dawson, David Nelson, fiddler Gib Gilbeau and Sneaky Pete Kleinow (drummer Pat Shanahan not pictured).

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Corry342 @corry342.bsky.social · last yr.

The Flying Burrito Brothers were The seminal country rock band in '68, and the New Riders weren't far behind in '70. By 1978, however, both bands' were wobbling. They briefly merged. I review two short, strange tours in Spring 78. rockarchaeology101.blogspot.com/2025/09/flyi...

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Corry342 @corry342.bsky.social · last yr.

Undiscovered Garcia country, even now: a reel with two unreleased Peter Rowan tracks with Jerry Garcia has surfaced. Recorded August 21, 1973 at the Record Plant. 4 other tracks were released on Rowan's 1979 Texican Badman album. Updated an old blog. hooterollin.blogspot.com/2011/10/apri...

Jerry Garcia played on two unreleased Peter Rowan demos recorded at the Record Plant in Sausalito on August 21, 1973. The Dead were recording Wake Of The Flood at the time. Warners financed the demo. Bill Kreutzmann, John Kahn and David Grisman played on the demos, and Chris and Lorin Rowan sang. 4 other tracks from the demo were on Rowan's 1979 album Texican Badman, released in Italy.

The reel from the Record Plant demo by Peter Rowan on August 21, 1973 with two tracks featuring Jerry Garcia on electric guitar ("Lazy Bones" and "Dragon On The Moon." I have not heard the tracks.

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Corry342 @corry342.bsky.social · last yr.

By the '90s, the Grateful Dead were hugely popular in New England, playing big shows for the same promoters over and over. Those promoters got established in the mid-70s. I review the Dead live in Boston and New England from 1973-76. lostlivedead.blogspot.com/2025/08/the-...

A ticket stub for the Grateful Dead at Springfield Civic Center on March 28 1973, promoted by Concept Entertainment, which was likely NY promoter Howard Stein. Stein presented some Dead shows in the '70s, but did not continue with them.

Old and In The Way played the Orpheum Theatre in Boston on June 5 1973. The show was booked by New Jersey's John Scher, instead of Boston's Don Law. Law regularly booked shows at the Orpheum.

An ad for the Grateful Dead at Boston Garden on June 28 '74. Don Law was Boston's leading promoter, and he presented the Dead in association with New Jersey's John Scher. Fans did not care about who presented the show, but the industry would take notice. Law did not typically share promotions, but Scher was an essential part of the Dead's touring from 1974 onwards.

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Corry342 @corry342.bsky.social · last yr.

By the '90s, the Grateful Dead were hugely popular in New England, playing big shows for the same promoters over and over. Those promoters got established in the mid-70s. I review the Dead live in Boston and New England from 1973-76. lostlivedead.blogspot.com/2025/08/the-...