I'm trying to scarf down some food and getting crumbs all over the keyboard. I have to get a blood test tomorrow (cholesterol, etc., standard checkup stuff) and can't eat after 10 PM so I figured I better stock up now. But hard pretzels are rather crumbly.
Not much going on this weekend. I guess the Richmond entertainment world feels that everyone is cooking out or going to the beach so they don't do too much. You can see LL Cool J at Brown's Island on Saturday night. I've always dug LL and you have to admire the guy. In a rap world dominated by singles, where artists come and go with the change of seasons, this guy has managed to stay on top for almost 25 years. Just for the hell of it, check out "Goin' Back to Cali".
If you are are staying home this weekend, you can check out the Moe.Down Music Festival web cast on iClips.net. This is moe.'s festival so you get a number of nice, fat sets from moe. Besides moe., other acts include Sparrow Quartet featuring Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn, Fishbone, Yonder Mountain String Band, The Presidents of the United States of America, and Levon Helm. And because moe. chooses the bands there is always a lot of mixing and matching of musicians. iClips hasn't posted their schedule yet but the fest goes from 5 PM - 1 AM on Friday, noon - 2 AM on Saturday, and noon - midnight on Sunday.
I've been inundated with emails and phone calls asking for another installment of Tony Remembers The Spectrum. Well, maybe not, but I'm going to do one anyway. We pick up with Roger Waters of Pink Floyd on his first solo tour on July 24 or 25 (can't remember which), 1984. Roger was touring behind the "Pros & Cons of Hitchhiking" album which featured Clapton on guitar not just on the album but in his band. I may be wrong about this but this was probably the first time Clapton played in someone else's band since he played with Delaney & Bonnie in 1970. The setup for the show also featured quadrophonic sound in the Spectrum which was pretty cool. The first set was all Pink Floyd stuff. Highlights were "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun" in which they really kicked in the quad sound and "Money". During "Money", they had a nice jam in the middle and I remember Clapton sitting on the drum riser, cigarette stuck on the guitar string at the top of the guitar and ripping off a great solo and then looking at Waters and they both grinned from ear to ear. Here you can check them out playing "Wish You Were Here".
The second set consisted of "Pros & Cons" in its entireity. During the intermission, a backdrop came down on stage that made it appear as if you were lying in bed (you could only see the foot of the bed) watching TV (they showed an old movie on the TV). There was a large picture window with stars in sky also. As the intermission came close to ending, one of the stars slowly (and I mean over a matter of minutes) became larger until it suddenly rushed into the "room" setting off an explosion and starting the album. The performance had videos, blow-up props and caricatures designed by "The Wall" artist Gerald Scarfe. It was really an amazing show.
Until next time, have a great Labor Day weekend!
Tony Jordan
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
The Motels at Capital Ale House Downtown
The Motels play tonight at the Capital Ale House Downtown. They have a new CD, This, out now. I always liked the way lead singer Martha Davis' breathy vocals sounded. Their big hit was "Only The Lonely" but I always preferred "Suddenly Last Summer". That one has a great late-night, melancholy, love-lost kind of feel.
Doors open at 8 tonight and tix are $25.
Doors open at 8 tonight and tix are $25.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Springsteen review, SCI (virtually), The Gambler, John Fogerty
First things first, the Bruce show was excellent. I got into the pit and it was very easy, not too time consuming and soooooooo worth it. Got a numbered wristband at around 3:30 at the Coliseum. Headed down to Capital Ale House. There was a line so we went back to Penny Lane. I hadn't been there in a long time and I remembered how much I liked it. Will have to get back there more often. Had a beer then walked back to the Colisuem where they lined up those with wristbands in groups of 100 (0 - 99, 100 - 199, etc.). We had four numbers in the 560s. They told us that 700 people would get into the pit. There were 1100 people with wristbands so that was pretty good odds. They grabbed someone from a line to pull a number and he pulled ...... 007. Yes! We were in along with everyone else who had a number from 007 to 707. Then more lines as we waited to get a pink wristband to get in the pit, then another line to wait to get into the arena. Lines would be a theme of the night for the Coliseum. In all, process was very well run and we were into the arena around 6:15.
I must say that the Coliseum is absolutely horrible for lines. The people who work there were trying their best and they tried to put beer or food vending in as many nooks and crannies in the hallways as possible. But this place is ill-equipped for a sold-out crowd. As the place filled up, every food or beer line was a minimum of a 30 minute wait. Me and the three guys I was with kept rotating so there was usually a fresh beer coming within a few minutes of running out. But if they aren't going to tear this place down and build a new one, they really need to knock out the outer walls, widen the concourses (which feel like they are as wide as my living room) and add more refreshment vending.
Onto the show. They purposely did not pack the pit completely full, so it was nice and roomy with room to dance. We positioned ourselves in front of Clarence and toward the back of the pack because we didn't need to get crushed right up front. Even that put us at the equivalent of about the 10th row. If Bruce comes back, I will definitely go for general admission again and try to get in the pit. Even if I didn't get in the pit, I would rather be in the general General Admission area than up in the second level where half the lame-o's were sitting on their fat asses for most of the show.
Bruce opened with one of his greatest songs, "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out", working the crowd from the moment he got on stage to get to their feet. He then didn't let up through a blistering six-pack of songs to open:
Tenth Avenue Freeze-out
Radio Nowhere
Out in the Street
Prove It All Night
Lonesome Day
Spirit in the Night
Then came the first request of the night. On the second leg of this tour, Bruce has begun to ask for signs from the audience. He then collects the signs (and he got at least 20 on the first try) and goes through them. Finally, he picks one out, shows it to the band and away they go. What's amazing is that other than some looks between the band and questions of what key something is in, they nail it. Tonight, the first request taken was for "Stand On It", a rockabilly song originally the B-side of "Glory Days", then showing up on the "Tracks" box set. Next up another request, another rocker, "Cadillac Ranch". It occurred to me that though we must switch to more fuel-efficient cars, no one will ever write a song about a Camry Hybrid. Next up another request and one of the highlights of the night for me, a thrilling rendition of "Backstreets".
I put together as much of the Richmond show as I could get on video, in order, from roulette909 & DevDev’s videos in one of my playlists on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=A4C74103ADE13138. Once you get there, scroll down until you get to the first one, Lonesome Day, and click it. Once that one ends, you can look to the Playlist section to the right of the video and then click Play Next to work your way through if it doesn’t Autoplay. Sound varies depending on the vantage of the videographer (roulette behind the stage, DevDev dead center in the front) but generally isn’t too bad. DevDev captures Bruce close-up and roulette provides a nice vantage of the audience, especially during Mary's Place.
If you only have a little time, be sure to check out DevDev’s videos of Backstreets and Crush on You and roulette's Mary's Place.
Anyway, after "Backstreets", Bruce did the song that I totally didn't want him to do, "For You". This is not one of my favorite songs, and he has done it in the last four shows I have seen. And its not like he plays it a lot. But it did give me a chance to go on a beer run. I found a short line, and "For You" is a fairly long song, but as was the course for the night, even a short line at the Coliseum is a long line and I missed the next song, "Youngstown" and Nils Lofgren's killer guitar solo.
Next, more of my favorites, "Murder Incorporated" and "She's The One". "Livin' In the Future" from the Magic CD was next, then a reclaimed "Mary's Place". "Mary's Place" was a centerpiece on the Rising tour, but when they did this in C'ville, it seemed somewhat lackluster. This version was absolutley kick-ass with Bruce getting into rock n' roll preacher mode and the crowd going nuts.
"I'll Work For Your Love" from the Magic CD was next and was fine, but it seemed the audience and the band were taking a breather on this mid-tempo number. It did provide the crowd and Bruce to congratulate Clarence on his recent marriage.
Finally, the set closing four pack that has remained constant throughout the tour:
The Rising
Last to Die
Long Walk Home
Badlands
This captures Bruce's message of hope and political change both implied (Rising, Badlands) and overt (Last To Die & Long Walk Home, both from the latest CD, Magic). Long Walk Home really seems to have been adopted by the fans. Badlands closed the set in typical sing-along, fist-pumping fashion and then, after about a two minute break, it was onto the encores.
And that's were the fun really began. The eight-song (!) encore opened with a request for a song last played in 1980, "Crush On You". Bruce said ""We firmly believe this is the worst song we ever put on a record," Bruce laughed, also revealing that he took the riff from the Car 54, Where Are You? theme." After a few seconds with the band figuring out the riff and what key (it has been 28 years after all), they launched into it with passion and it was a lot of fun, with Bruce remarking when it was done, "That wasn't bad, not bad at all".
Then, a song that used to close shows back in the 70s, "Quarter to Three", a song originally by one of Bruce's main influences, Gary "U.S." Bonds. This was another blast to sing and dance with and the band and audience were really having fun. Then the obilgatory "Born To Run", which is still great to hear and still provides a chill when the house lights come on for the whole song and you watch the whole arena sing-along.
Rosie came on out, with an awesome version of "Rosalita", then "Bobby Jean" with Clarence nailing the solo (he was dead-on all night). "Dancing in the Dark" brought back some good memories of 1984, and Bruce came about a half-inch from accidentally nailing Little Steven in the face with his guitar, when Bruce swung his guitar around his body to start the song (watch the video). Little Steven couldn't help but keep showing the rest of the band how close Bruce had come, holding his fingers thisclose together as they had a good laugh during the song. The Celtic-influenced ode to the immigrants that built this country "American Land" was next. Finally, Bruce brought out Richmond's own Robbin Thompson, who was also in one of Bruce's early bands, Steel Mill, (see last week's blog), for a rousing rendition of "Twist and Shout". We left the show exhausted, hoarse, amazed and aglow as we once again felt the power that is a Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band show.
Not a lot going on in Richmond this weekend as things slow down until after Labor Day. At the Capital Ale House Downtown, its not String Cheese Incident but its as close as you'll get since they broke up. Its the String Cheese Incident Virtual Concert Hi-Def from Red Rocks. Doors open at 9:30 and tix are $10. This is a "a life size and on-stage premiere screening of The String Cheese Incident's final two performances at Red Rocks Amphitheatre on August 11th & 12th, 2007."
Out at Charlottesville Pavilion, on Saturday night is The Gambler himself, Kenny Rogers. Show starts at 7 PM and tix range from $34.50 - 61.50. On Sunday night at the Pavilion is CCR founder and roots rock master, John Fogerty. Show starts at 7 and tix are $37 (GA) and $69 (reserved).
Finally, another festival webcast, this one from the Outside Lands festival, taking place in beautiful Golden Gate Park in SF, CA. The webcast will be on the AT&T Blue Room on Friday (starting at 8:30 PM ET), Saturday (starting at 4 PM ET) and Sunday (starting at 4 PM ET). We unfortunately won't get to see Friday headliners, Radiohead, or Saturday headliners, Tom Petty. But highlights will include Bela Fleck, Steve Winwood, Ben Harper & Innocent Criminals and Primus on Saturday and Sharon Jones & Dap Kings and Cake on Sunday. You can see Sunday's headliner, Jack Johnson, at 10:40 PM on Sunday so if you are having trouble falling asleep that will be like a big glass of warm milk and about as exciting.
And on that note, I am outta here. Have a great weekend!
Tony Jordan
I must say that the Coliseum is absolutely horrible for lines. The people who work there were trying their best and they tried to put beer or food vending in as many nooks and crannies in the hallways as possible. But this place is ill-equipped for a sold-out crowd. As the place filled up, every food or beer line was a minimum of a 30 minute wait. Me and the three guys I was with kept rotating so there was usually a fresh beer coming within a few minutes of running out. But if they aren't going to tear this place down and build a new one, they really need to knock out the outer walls, widen the concourses (which feel like they are as wide as my living room) and add more refreshment vending.
Onto the show. They purposely did not pack the pit completely full, so it was nice and roomy with room to dance. We positioned ourselves in front of Clarence and toward the back of the pack because we didn't need to get crushed right up front. Even that put us at the equivalent of about the 10th row. If Bruce comes back, I will definitely go for general admission again and try to get in the pit. Even if I didn't get in the pit, I would rather be in the general General Admission area than up in the second level where half the lame-o's were sitting on their fat asses for most of the show.
Bruce opened with one of his greatest songs, "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out", working the crowd from the moment he got on stage to get to their feet. He then didn't let up through a blistering six-pack of songs to open:
Tenth Avenue Freeze-out
Radio Nowhere
Out in the Street
Prove It All Night
Lonesome Day
Spirit in the Night
Then came the first request of the night. On the second leg of this tour, Bruce has begun to ask for signs from the audience. He then collects the signs (and he got at least 20 on the first try) and goes through them. Finally, he picks one out, shows it to the band and away they go. What's amazing is that other than some looks between the band and questions of what key something is in, they nail it. Tonight, the first request taken was for "Stand On It", a rockabilly song originally the B-side of "Glory Days", then showing up on the "Tracks" box set. Next up another request, another rocker, "Cadillac Ranch". It occurred to me that though we must switch to more fuel-efficient cars, no one will ever write a song about a Camry Hybrid. Next up another request and one of the highlights of the night for me, a thrilling rendition of "Backstreets".
I put together as much of the Richmond show as I could get on video, in order, from roulette909 & DevDev’s videos in one of my playlists on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=A4C74103ADE13138. Once you get there, scroll down until you get to the first one, Lonesome Day, and click it. Once that one ends, you can look to the Playlist section to the right of the video and then click Play Next to work your way through if it doesn’t Autoplay. Sound varies depending on the vantage of the videographer (roulette behind the stage, DevDev dead center in the front) but generally isn’t too bad. DevDev captures Bruce close-up and roulette provides a nice vantage of the audience, especially during Mary's Place.
If you only have a little time, be sure to check out DevDev’s videos of Backstreets and Crush on You and roulette's Mary's Place.
Anyway, after "Backstreets", Bruce did the song that I totally didn't want him to do, "For You". This is not one of my favorite songs, and he has done it in the last four shows I have seen. And its not like he plays it a lot. But it did give me a chance to go on a beer run. I found a short line, and "For You" is a fairly long song, but as was the course for the night, even a short line at the Coliseum is a long line and I missed the next song, "Youngstown" and Nils Lofgren's killer guitar solo.
Next, more of my favorites, "Murder Incorporated" and "She's The One". "Livin' In the Future" from the Magic CD was next, then a reclaimed "Mary's Place". "Mary's Place" was a centerpiece on the Rising tour, but when they did this in C'ville, it seemed somewhat lackluster. This version was absolutley kick-ass with Bruce getting into rock n' roll preacher mode and the crowd going nuts.
"I'll Work For Your Love" from the Magic CD was next and was fine, but it seemed the audience and the band were taking a breather on this mid-tempo number. It did provide the crowd and Bruce to congratulate Clarence on his recent marriage.
Finally, the set closing four pack that has remained constant throughout the tour:
The Rising
Last to Die
Long Walk Home
Badlands
This captures Bruce's message of hope and political change both implied (Rising, Badlands) and overt (Last To Die & Long Walk Home, both from the latest CD, Magic). Long Walk Home really seems to have been adopted by the fans. Badlands closed the set in typical sing-along, fist-pumping fashion and then, after about a two minute break, it was onto the encores.
And that's were the fun really began. The eight-song (!) encore opened with a request for a song last played in 1980, "Crush On You". Bruce said ""We firmly believe this is the worst song we ever put on a record," Bruce laughed, also revealing that he took the riff from the Car 54, Where Are You? theme." After a few seconds with the band figuring out the riff and what key (it has been 28 years after all), they launched into it with passion and it was a lot of fun, with Bruce remarking when it was done, "That wasn't bad, not bad at all".
Then, a song that used to close shows back in the 70s, "Quarter to Three", a song originally by one of Bruce's main influences, Gary "U.S." Bonds. This was another blast to sing and dance with and the band and audience were really having fun. Then the obilgatory "Born To Run", which is still great to hear and still provides a chill when the house lights come on for the whole song and you watch the whole arena sing-along.
Rosie came on out, with an awesome version of "Rosalita", then "Bobby Jean" with Clarence nailing the solo (he was dead-on all night). "Dancing in the Dark" brought back some good memories of 1984, and Bruce came about a half-inch from accidentally nailing Little Steven in the face with his guitar, when Bruce swung his guitar around his body to start the song (watch the video). Little Steven couldn't help but keep showing the rest of the band how close Bruce had come, holding his fingers thisclose together as they had a good laugh during the song. The Celtic-influenced ode to the immigrants that built this country "American Land" was next. Finally, Bruce brought out Richmond's own Robbin Thompson, who was also in one of Bruce's early bands, Steel Mill, (see last week's blog), for a rousing rendition of "Twist and Shout". We left the show exhausted, hoarse, amazed and aglow as we once again felt the power that is a Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band show.
Not a lot going on in Richmond this weekend as things slow down until after Labor Day. At the Capital Ale House Downtown, its not String Cheese Incident but its as close as you'll get since they broke up. Its the String Cheese Incident Virtual Concert Hi-Def from Red Rocks. Doors open at 9:30 and tix are $10. This is a "a life size and on-stage premiere screening of The String Cheese Incident's final two performances at Red Rocks Amphitheatre on August 11th & 12th, 2007."
Out at Charlottesville Pavilion, on Saturday night is The Gambler himself, Kenny Rogers. Show starts at 7 PM and tix range from $34.50 - 61.50. On Sunday night at the Pavilion is CCR founder and roots rock master, John Fogerty. Show starts at 7 and tix are $37 (GA) and $69 (reserved).
Finally, another festival webcast, this one from the Outside Lands festival, taking place in beautiful Golden Gate Park in SF, CA. The webcast will be on the AT&T Blue Room on Friday (starting at 8:30 PM ET), Saturday (starting at 4 PM ET) and Sunday (starting at 4 PM ET). We unfortunately won't get to see Friday headliners, Radiohead, or Saturday headliners, Tom Petty. But highlights will include Bela Fleck, Steve Winwood, Ben Harper & Innocent Criminals and Primus on Saturday and Sharon Jones & Dap Kings and Cake on Sunday. You can see Sunday's headliner, Jack Johnson, at 10:40 PM on Sunday so if you are having trouble falling asleep that will be like a big glass of warm milk and about as exciting.
And on that note, I am outta here. Have a great weekend!
Tony Jordan
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Art 180's Change for a Ten @ Highwater Restaurant
FYI about a benefit show tonight at Toad's and get free tickets to a Toad's show with your donation:
Art 180's Change for a Ten @ Highwater Restaurant
When
Wednesday, August 20, 2008, 5:30 – 8:30pm
Where
140 Virginia St. Richmond, VA 23219
Event type
Concert
Contact
804.648.toad (8623)
Note
Doors: 5:30pmAll ages
ART 180’s Change for a Ten project asks you to make money. Literally. Create your own $10 bill about what you would change in the community and submit along with a real $10 donation to ART 180, giving young people in challenging circumstances a voice through art. Visit www.art180.org/ten to download the template or make your bill on the spot.
For each “Change for a 10” bill (and $10 donation) that you submit, Toad’s Place will give you 2 free tickets to select shows. There will be no additional fee for the select shows (one of which will be performing on the evening of the event, Strange Design). You MUST present your “Change for a 10” bill (and $10 donation) to receive your tickets!
Toad’s Place will also make available additional tickets that can be purchased at a reduced rate with the $10 donation going toward that ticket purchase.
So go ahead and make your own $10 bill and express the change you’d like to see in the community. Give $10 to help ART 180 run after-school art programs for at-risk youth. And get free tickets to a concert!
You don’t have to be an artist. You just need something to say. And we know you’ve all got that.
Live music on the canal from 6:00-8:00pm, complimentary hors d’oeuvre from 5:30-6:30pm in the restaurant.
Link
www.toadsplacerva.com
Art 180's Change for a Ten @ Highwater Restaurant
When
Wednesday, August 20, 2008, 5:30 – 8:30pm
Where
140 Virginia St. Richmond, VA 23219
Event type
Concert
Contact
804.648.toad (8623)
Note
Doors: 5:30pmAll ages
ART 180’s Change for a Ten project asks you to make money. Literally. Create your own $10 bill about what you would change in the community and submit along with a real $10 donation to ART 180, giving young people in challenging circumstances a voice through art. Visit www.art180.org/ten to download the template or make your bill on the spot.
For each “Change for a 10” bill (and $10 donation) that you submit, Toad’s Place will give you 2 free tickets to select shows. There will be no additional fee for the select shows (one of which will be performing on the evening of the event, Strange Design). You MUST present your “Change for a 10” bill (and $10 donation) to receive your tickets!
Toad’s Place will also make available additional tickets that can be purchased at a reduced rate with the $10 donation going toward that ticket purchase.
So go ahead and make your own $10 bill and express the change you’d like to see in the community. Give $10 to help ART 180 run after-school art programs for at-risk youth. And get free tickets to a concert!
You don’t have to be an artist. You just need something to say. And we know you’ve all got that.
Live music on the canal from 6:00-8:00pm, complimentary hors d’oeuvre from 5:30-6:30pm in the restaurant.
Link
www.toadsplacerva.com
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Springsteen & Richmond - The Complete History, Smashing Pumpkins, Gongzilla
Been watching a ton of Olympics or at least trying to in between all the commercials. Is it just me or does it seem like they show about three minutes of games and then five minutes of commercials?
Saturday, out at the Charlottesville Pavilion, Smashing Pumpkins or whatever is left of them, will be playing. Doors open at 6, show starts at 7 and tix are $41. It looks like its Billy Corgan and Jimmy Chamberlain so they do meet my 50% original band member rule to call them by the band name.
Saturday night here in Richmond at the Capital Ale House Downtown, is Gongzilla. According to the Captial Ale House site: "Journalist Bill Milkowski called GZ “simply mind-boggling”. The group is a mass of contradictions in perfect balance. A band with international roots (USA, Quebec, Philippines); GZ has a reputation for concise songs and transcendent jams. All this emanates from the fusion origins of Bon Lozaga and Hansford Rowe who met while playing in one of the idioms seminal groups – Gong. Bon and Hansford decided to tinker further with the Petri dish that was Gong, and begat a further evolution. They formed Gongzilla and released a series of Mahavishnu-esque improvisational rock albums featuring second guitarists on each one, including jazz fusion legend Allan Holdsworth, David Torn and David Fiuczynski, and a number of drummers, including Pierre Moerlen and Gary Husband. " Doors open at 9 and tix are $7.
I did get to check out the Capital Ale House Downtown Music Hall for their free Blues N Brews Happy Hour last week. The beers, as always, were excellent. The venue is very nice with the front windows opening up almost from floor to ceiling to let a nice breeze in. If you are going to talk, however, plan to do it between the band sets. The place isn't very big and even though we sat toward the back, it was still very loud.
Last and certainly not least, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band are coming to the Richmond Coliseum on Monday. Show starts at 7:30. As of right now (Wednesday 10:43 PM), the show is completely sold out. However, if you don't have tickets yet, but want to go, keep checking that Ticketmaster site. Tickets, and often good ones, have been known to pop up as the show date approaches. I once scored second row tix to see Bruce on the Tom Joad tour on the day of the show.
In honor of that, here is the info on every show Bruce has played in Richmond. This comes from the Brucebase site, a great site for Bruce setlists. The only thing that would make this better would be a search engine ala the excellent Grateful Dead Setlist Program. But I did the searching for you so here it is. This will help show Bruce's long connection to Richmond. If anyone out there has any recollections of these shows, please post them in the Comments.
UPDATE: The Richmond Times-Dispatch has an article today with Bruce memories from Richmonders and many of the shows below are mentioned: http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/entertainment.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-08-14-0009.html.
Hope to see you at the Bruce show and I hope to see you up front in the pit. Bruce, if you read this, please play "Kitty's Back"!
Tony Jordan
Note that the dates are European style - day/month/year
01/06/69 - MONROE PARK, RICHMOND, VA
VOODOO CHILD / JENNIFER / CROWN LIQUOR
Complete set details are not known, although the three above-mentioned songs are from a fan recollection that's deemed reliable. "Jennifer" is a known Springsteen composition from the period that has yet to circulate on any tape. This is CHILD's (Bruce's band) first trip to Richmond and this is a free outdoor concert. New Jersey band BROTHER DUCK also makes the trip and opens the show. CHILD's performance here has huge impact and many more trips to Richmond will follow over the next 18 months. MERCY FLIGHT drummer Davy Hazlett is in the audience.
19/09/69 - FREE UNIVERSITY, RICHMOND, VA
No set details known. One show, with CHILD having sole billing. Held indoors at the University's "Center" (a venue that would later change it’s name to “The String Factory” in May 1970)
20/09/69 - FREE UNIVERSITY, RICHMOND, VA
SISTER THERESA (3:52) / RESURRECTION (8:05) / GARDEN STATE PARKWAY BLUES (19:34, end cut) / THE WAR IS OVER (11:10) / KT-88 (3:45) / GOIN DOWN SLOW (15:22)
ONE show, held indoors at the University’s “Center”, with CHILD the lone act on the bill. The above-mentioned setlist is taken from a circulating 62-minute indoor audience recording of only fair sound quality. This is currently the earliest known CHILD-STEEL MILL audio in circulation. This audio first surfaced over 27 years ago but quickly became cannibalized in the tape trading pool. In 1977 two of these tracks (“Sister Theresa” and “Resurrection”) appeared on the vinyl boot “RESURRECTED” without any source information. The remainder of the audio has never been issued on any mainstream LP (or CD) boot and since the early 1980’s has tended to circulate with tracks missing. Fortunately it has begun to circulate again in recent years on CDR in its original 62-minute edition. There are discernable edits between tracks and this is not the complete show, which is likely to have lasted about 90 minutes and included 2 or 3 additional songs. However it is all the audio from this gig that is known to exist. All songs are complete except for “Garden State Parkway Blues”, which is faded out prematurely and could be missing several minutes. “KT-88”, an instrumental, is introduced by Bruce as a new creation. This is the only circulating performance of “Sister Theresa” and the flute-like sound heard on this track (and others in this show) is a recorder being played by Vini Lopez.
Over the years there has been considerable speculation regarding the time and location of this audio. The earliest traded specimens of this audio identified the source as a date-unspecified 1969 gig a Richmond club called “The String Factory”. Since no verified gig date at The String Factory was found in any early timeline sources, some collectors began assigning the audio to other gig dates. Consequently this audio has been linked to a plethora of shows from 1969 and 1970. It turns out that the early source identification was fairly accurate. This material is indeed from 1969 in Richmond – but it’s from “The Center”, which changed its name to “The String Factory” in the fall of 1970. This performance is prior to March 1970, as it features Vinnie Roslin on bass and background vocals. Although there were several shows at The Center during the Vinnie Roslin era, the sound of a heavy thunderstorm can be heard outside the building during “Garden State Parkway Blues” - this allows the candidate gigs from the winter months to be eliminated. Note: this audio may be from the previous evening’s performance on the 19th.
01/11/69 - VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY, RICHMOND, VIRGINIA
No set details known. ONE show, double bill, held in the VCU Gym, with CHILD headlining and Richmond band RAIN opening. Following this show the band returned to New Jersey only to learn that another progressive rock band from Long Island, NY was not only using the name “Child”- they’d also just released an album under that name on the Roulette Records label. Consequently this Nov 1st gig is believed to have been the last gig performed prior to the band’s decision to change its name from Child to “Steel Mill” (a name suggested by a friend of Vini Lopez). For the remainder of November and December the group’s promotional material tended to incorporate both names in order to minimize confusion.
20/11/69 - FREE UNIVERSITY, RICHMOND, VA
RESURRECTION
No set details known. One show, with STEEL MILL headlining and MERCY FLIGHT opening for them for the first time (as substitutes for the billed MORNING DISASTER, who cancelled). Held indoors at the University's "Center".
21/11/69 - RANDOLPH-MACON COLLEGE, ASHLAND, VA
No set details known. One show, triple billing, held in the school's 3,500-seat Crenshaw Gymnasium. CHILD-STEEL MILL (who were paid $650) have second billing to headliner, CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY (who were paid $3,000). Richmond band NATURAL WILDLIFE opens the show. This concert had an unusal "alternating sets" structure. CHICAGO performed two 45-minute sets and CHILD-STEEL MILL played about 45 minutes AFTER each of CHICAGO's sets. Very strange indeed. The concert was not a sellout. Note: press surrounding this show used the name "Child", not "Steel Mill", although posters may have been adjusted to accomodate the new band name.
22/11/69 - RANDOLPH-MACON COLLEGE, ASHLAND, VA
No set details known. One show, triple billing, held in the school's 3,500- seat Crenshaw Gymnasium. This concert (the second in two nights) was part of a major sporting and cultural activities weekend at Randolph-Macon. CHILD-STEEL MILL (who were paid $650) have second billing to headliner IRON BUTTERFLY (who were paid a whopping $7,500 - that's substantial for this time period). Richmond band NATURAL WILDLIFE opens the show. Unlike the previous night this concert had a traditional performing structure. CHILD-STEEL MILL played about 60 - 70 minutes. The concert was not a sellout and lost money. Note: press surrounding this show used the name "Child", not "Steel Mill", although posters and handbills may have been adjusted to accommodate the name change.
27/02/70 - FREE UNIVERSITY, RICHMOND, VA
No set details known. ONE evening show, held at ‘The Center’ (note: this venue would be re-named ‘The String Factory’ in May 1970), with STEEL MILL the sole act on the bill. The band drove non-stop from California to Richmond to make it on time to this gig – and they just made it. In a 1979 interview in the fanzine ‘Thunder Road’ Vini Lopez commented: "we had to get back to Richmond in 3 days to do a gig. We made it. But that was a delirious show. I drove most of the way back, me and Tinker".
28/02/70 - FREE UNIVERSITY, RICHMOND, VA
GUILTY / JEANNIE I WANT TO THANK YOU / YOU SAY YOU LOVE ME / CALIFORNIA BLUES / I AM THE DOCTOR / GOIN’ BACK TO GEORGIA / AMERICA UNDER FIRE / THE WAR IS OVER / ON THE ROAD / SWEET MELINDA / CROWN LIQUOR / LADY WALKIN’ DOWN BY THE RIVER
ONE show, held in the school’s “Center” (this venue will soon be renamed “The String Factory in May 70), with STEEL MILL the sole act on the bill. The above-mentioned 12-song setlist is culled from a 90min+ audience tape of the show that is in extremely limited circulation. This is likely to represent most if not the entire show and it includes the only known audio of “You Say You Love Me” and “On The Road”, plus a rare performance of Billy Chinnock’s composition “Crown Liquor”. This gig is believed to have been bassist Vinnie Roslin’s final performance as a member of Steel Mill. His replacement will be Steve Van Zandt.
27/03/70 - HULLABALOO, RICHMOND, VA
No set details known. ONE show, with STEEL MILL the sole act on the bill. This is the earliest verified public performance to feature new member Steve Van Zandt on bass. By 1970 the once-hip national Hullabaloo chain of discothèques had veered in a decidedly top-40 direction - far removed from the progressive rock of Steel Mill. Tom Yolton, guitarist for Richmond band Mercy Flight, has jokingly commented….."when word came out that STEEL MILL was playing Hullabaloo everyone said….where the hell is that? It turned out it was well away from the VCU campus. It was a club with mirrors on the walls. I remember asking someone in the band about it later and getting some reply like “Oh man did that suck...nobody was there and they wanted us to play dance music"
28/03/70 - HULLABALOO, RICHMOND, VA
No set details known. ONE show, with STEEL MILL (featuring new band member Steve Van Zandt on bass) the sole act on he bill.
01/05/70 - HULLABALOO, RICHMOND, VA
No set details known. ONE show, with STEEL MILL the sole act on the bill. A return weekend engagement at the club (the group had first played here in late March).
02/05/70 - HULLABALOO, RICHMOND, VA
No set details known. ONE show, with STEEL MILL the sole act on the bill.
23/05/70 - VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY, RICHMOND, VA
MC Introduction – KT 88 (4.13) / JEANNIE I WANT TO THANK YOU (9:07) / I AM THE DOCTOR (7:31) / SOMETHING’S GOTTA BREAK (8:00) / TEMPORARILY OUT OF ORDER (6:49) / SWEET MELINDA (5:47) / COME ON (4:30) / RESURRECTION (11:10) / AMPLIFIER BLUES (9:29) / FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH – RUN SHAKER LIFE – TWENTY MORE MILES (12:59, end cut)
ONE show, double bill, held in the VCU Gym, with STEEL MILL headlining and MERCY FLIGHT opening. This gig is infamous because it ended with Vini Lopez arrested for unruly behavior. The above-noted setlist is culled from a circulating 80-minute audience recording of only fair quality. There are continuity cuts between most songs. This is not the complete show, which contained at least 20 minutes more music (2-4 songs). This audio has never appeared on any mainstream bootleg but does circulate via various custom sources – some with between-song chatter deleted or songs missing. This audio is sometimes attributed to an alleged gig at VCU Gym on May 16, 1970. However VCU’s archives don’t indicate any show on the 16th. Comments made by Springsteen during the show point to the audio as being from the documented May 23, 1970 VCU gig. Mercy Flight’s co-manager, Russell Clem, can be heard introducing STEEL MILL. During the middle of the country-rock inspired “I Am The Doctor” Springsteen tells crowd “we went swimming today down in the James River (outside Richmond) and we took our surfboards with us”. During the intro to “Resurrection” Springsteen mentions canoeing earlier that afternoon. Bruce sings, “here we are back in Richmond, Virginia again” as the opening line of “Amplifier Blues”.
From the outset of this show there were problems with the school’s generators. There was a power outage during MERCY FLIGHT’s opening tune, “Mississippi Queen” and the problems continued intermittently for the remainder of the evening. This, combined with VCU officials’ complaints about the loudness of STEEL MILL’s performance, caused tension between the band and officials. Springsteen and Lopez can be heard making related comments during the show. Following “Jeannie I Want To Thank You” Bruce remarks to the crowd “there’s a weird thing going on between your officials and us”. At another point Bruce can be heard extorting: “there should be no restrictions on me”. At another point Bruce tells the crowd “we’re gonna finish this one with you guys and split to the middle of the road and play”. Despite the drama the audience is enthusiastic and the band’s performance is excellent. The MC’s comments and opening instrumental are in the correcting performing order. The rest of the audio is in its likely running order. Although it has not surfaced as part of the circulating audio, there’s attendee recollection that “Guilty” was performed following the opening instrumental “KT-88” (there’s an edit so this is plausible). All songs are complete except for the final song, which is cut prematurely close to its true conclusion. It is likely there was another song played after “Twenty More Miles” that’s missing from the audio source – and it would seem it was during that point that VCU officials shut the band’s power off as they overran the 11PM curfew. Lopez in an act of defiance continued playing his drums, which resulted in him being hauled way for disorderly conduct – an incident that Vini has jokingly referred to in several interviews.
19/06/70 - THE STRING FACTORY, RICHMOND, VA
No set details known. ONE show, with STEEL MILL the sole act on the bill. This venue had previously been owned and operated by Free University under the name ‘The Center” and Child-Steel Mill had player here several times (see listings). It was sold in March 1970 and re-opened, revamped and under private ownership, in May 1970 as ‘The String Factory’.
20/06/70 - THE STRING FACTORY, RICHMOND, VA
No set details known. ONE show, with STEEL MILL the sole act on the bill.
14/08/70 - 7TH AND MARSHALL STREET PARKING DECK, RICHMOND, VA
MC Introduction - DANCING IN THE STREETS (8.20) / COME ON (4.30) / KT88 (3.50) / THE WAR IS OVER (14.28) / WHY DO YOU DO THAT (6.14) / SHERLOCK GOES HOLMES (9.46) / GOING BACK TO GEORGIA (5.18) / RESURRECTION (13.52) / GUILTY (7.58) / WE'LL ALL MAN THE GUNS (11:26) / RUN SHAKER LIFE - TWENTY MORE MILES (14.43) / GOOD LOVIN' WOMAN (9:34)
ONE show, triple bill, with blues band MARLO MAYS & THE STINGERS opening, MERCY FLIGHT performing second and STEEL MILL headlining and closing. Held under the stars on the upper deck of the parking complex. The general concept for this show was modeled after The Beatles memorable rooftop performance in the film “Let It Be” (which was in theatres at the time). This is one the most famous of all Steel Mill’s gigs and it’s now firmly a part of Richmond folklore. Promoter Russell Clem provides the immortal MC introduction. This was Steel Mill’s first gig in about a month and their performance actually starts off somewhat ragged as a result – something both Bruce and Vini Lopez apologize for this during the show.
The above-mentioned 12-song setlist is culled from audio from this show that circulates in several variations. An audience tape of only fair quality has been in circulation for many years. Fortunately a substantially better (very good) quality and more complete specimen of this audience recording has emerged in the collector market over the past couple of years – and it is absolutely worth obtaining. In addition to the new audience source, some soundboard audio has also recently emerged from this show. The soundboard audio is missing two tracks (“The War Is Over” and “Guilty”) found on the audience recording and the soundboard quality isn’t nearly as good as the better of the two audience sources. Importantly though, the soundboard audio includes the show’s encore “Good Lovin’ Woman”, which is not found on the audience audio. None of the above-mentioned audio has ever been released on any mainstream bootleg.
The 12-song, 110-minute setlist is not the complete show. It would appear that the audience audio is complete up to an including “We’ll All Man The Guns”. There is then a 2 – 4 song segment of the show that has never circulated from any source. One of the songs definitely performed during this “missing” segment was “The Wind And The Rain”. Both "I Am The Doctor" and "Sweet Melinda" have cropped up in attendee recollections and may have also filled this gap in this show. From an historical standpoint the two most important tracks are “We’ll All Man The Guns” (Bruce introduces it as just written) and Bruce’s 1969 song “Good Lovin’ Woman” (Bruce introduces it as “an old song”). Neither of these two songs are available elsewhere. NOTE: A day or so after this show Springsteen met privately with Mercy Flight's lead singer Robbin Thompson and offered him a position in Steel Mill. After a few days of deliberation Thompson accepted the offer, resigning from MERCY FLIGHT on Aug 23, 1970 and relocating to New Jersey to join Steel Mill the following week.
11/10/70 - THE MOSQUE, RICHMOND, VA
I CAN’T TAKE IT (8:35) / WHY’D YOU DO THAT (5:58) / SHERLOCK GOES HOLMES (10:02) / GOIN’ BACK TO GEORGIA (4:50)
ONE show, double bill, with STEEL MILL opening for headliner THE IKE AND TINA TURNER REVUE. A soul band and a progressive rock group was a strange billing combination – consequently it’s perhaps not surprising that less than half the tickets to the 3,000-seat Mosque were sold. Former ‘Back Door Club’ owner John Richardson, who orchestrated the event, has stated that he lost a fair chunk of money on this show. The above-mentioned setlist is taken from a circulating 29-minute audience recording of only fair quality. This audio has not been issued on any mainstream commercial boot but is circulating via custom sources, sometimes with the venue-date unidentified. As undercard STEEL MILL would have played about 60-70 minutes, so there are likely 3 to 5 songs missing from the circulating audio. The audio evidence supports reports that the venue was half empty. The crowd reaction to Steel Mill is polite but indifferent – an indicator the band wasn’t headlining. “Why’d You Do That” includes a customized refrain mentioning the town of Woodland Falls that seems to have been used only when playing in Virginia. “Goin’ Back To Georgia” features Bruce and Robbin Thompson alternating the lead vocal.
23/10/70 - UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, RICHMOND, VA
Set details unknown. One show. STEEL MILL headline. New Jersey folk singer JEANNIE CLARK is the support act.
25/10/70 - RICHMOND ARENA, RICHMOND, VA
No set details known. ONE show, quadruple billing, featuring STEEL MILL, BIG BROTHER, FEAST and S.R.C. The headliner, SRC, was a Detroit-based outfit that, at the time, had three weak selling LPs out on Capitol Records, as well as a classic 60’s garage-type single "Black Sheep, Black Sheep". SRC is probably best known via its earlier mid-60's incarnation called ‘The Fugitives’.
18/07/71 - MONROE PARK, RICHMOND, VA
No set details known. ONE daytime outdoor show, with the 10-piece BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN BAND headlining. Support act was SUNNY JIM. This was the first known gig a Springsteen-led band had played in Monroe Park since his Richmond debut (with CHILD) on June 1, 1969. Apparently after their show some of the BSB and its entourage went to see an outdoor concert by ‘The Byrds’ somewhere in the general vicinity (possibly the State Fairgrounds in Richmond).
23/10/71 - UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, RICHMOND, VA
No set details known. ONE show, triple bill, with The Bruce Springsteen Band headlining. Undercards were New Jersey-based outfits TUMBLEWEED and BLACK FORREST RHODES, both of who had recently become involved with Tinker West’s Blah Productions. The 3-member, acoustic-orientated TUMBLEWEED deserve special mention. They had recently returned from studio sessions in Nashville (booked under the name MONTANA FLINTLOCK) – events orchestrated by Mike Appel. TUMBLEWEED would turn out to be the original connection between Tinker West and Appel, one that would soon see Tinker drive Springsteen to New York to meet Mike.
Although pre-concert promotional material for this Oct 23rd performance specifies a 5-member BSB lineup (see below), this show probably included three of the part-time members of the group – Harvey Cherlin (trumpet) plus Delores Holmes & Barbara Dinkins on background vocals. In interview Cherlin has mentioned this specific 8-member lineup as performing au gratis gig at University Of Richmond in October 1971 that Cherlin further states was his final-ever gig with Springsteen. NOTE: An audience recording (see the 30/10/71 listing for details) is often linked to this show but it does not feature either Cherlin or Barbara Dinkins.
30/10/71 - VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY, RICHMOND, VA
MC’s introduction / GOT MY MOJO WORKING (6:14) / LIVIN’ ROCK AND ROLL (4:06) / TALKIN’ ABOUT MY BABY (8:26) / HOOCHIE COOTCHIE MAN (8:29) / DON’T YOU WANT TO BE AN OUTLAW (8:07)
ONE show, triple bill, with the BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN BAND supporting headliner CACTUS. The Paul Butterfield Blues Band was originally scheduled to headline with Cactus 2nd billed. However Butterfield cancelled a couple of weeks beforehand and Springsteen was substituted. Though not mentioned on the gig Poster (below), also on the bill and opening the show with a 45-minute performance was local band MORNING SON (John Mulkins, David Waddle and Steve Knopp). Audio evidence suggests the BSB lineup for this show was the core 5-piece band, plus the vocal duo of Delores Holmes and Francine Daniels (who’d recently replaced vocalist Barbara Dinkins).
The above-mentioned setlist is taken from an audience recording of only fair quality that started circulating in the early 80’s and then widely propagated after it was booted on the LP “BRUCE 1971”. The original boot correctly identified the audio source venue as the VCU Gym. However, because no 1971 VCU gig had been identified by 1980’s concert history sources, some people began linking this audio to other shows. This 40 minutes of audio (which is only about half the total performance) now circulates via homemade CDR, sometimes with material from other shows. Bruce would later utilize the melody from “Talkin’ About My Baby” for his far superior 1972 composition “Janey Needs A Shooter”. The ladies are heard on the three Springsteen compositions but not the two cover songs.
04/02/72 - THE BACK DOOR, RICHMOND, VA
DOWN TO MEXICO / I REMEMBER / ALL I WANNA DO IS DANCE / BLESS MY SOUL / MAGIC LOVING / LOVE IS A CRAZY THING / THE BAND’S JUST BOPPIN’ THE BLUES / JUST CAN’T CHANGE / WHEN YOU DANCE / LIKE A STRANGER / MAKE UP YOUR MIND / COWBOYS OF THE SEA / SOMETHING YOU GOT / DARKNESS DARKNESS / IT’S ALL OVER NOW, BABY BLUE / DOWN THE ROAD APIECE / BRIGHT LIGHTS BIG CITY / SITTING ON TOP OF THE WORLD / I’M INTO SOMETHING GOOD – TAKE OUT SOME INSURANCE
ONE show, with THE BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN BAND the sole act on the bill. This was opening night of 9-show residency that encompassed three of the four weekends in February. The above-mentioned 19-songs are culled from circulating audience audio from the 9-show residency that would seem to encompass parts of four of these nine shows – consequently there are multiple performances of some songs (a total of 25 recordings encompassing 229 minutes). Most of these 25 recordings have been in circulation since the mid 1980’s and more than half have been issued on various mainstream bootleg titles. The remainder of the audio is only circulating via private CDR sources. The overall sound quality is good.
The so-called “Backdoor Club Tapes” represent some of the most perplexing live audio to sort out, primarily due to the fact that nearly all the between-song audio appears to have been cut by the original taper prior to the audio entering into collector circulation. Because of the lack of audio continuity it is extremely difficult to tell which recordings emanate from which shows - and virtually impossible to decipher the correct running order. Although the shows of Feb 4th and 26th are often cited on trade lists, these two dates appear to based on the fact that for many years these were the only two dates known to have been played at the club. It is now known the residency was much longer, so this material could be from any of the shows. However it is more likely that most of it comes from the final weekend’s performances.
Southside Johnny was a guest on the first weekend. However Southside’s harp playing is only heard on one track, “Bright Lights Big City”. Bruce handles the harmonica on “Just Cant Change”, one of his better songwriting efforts of 1971. Two other standout songs are “Like A Stranger” and “Make Up Your Mind”. The most interesting track is the full band version of “Cowboys Of The Sea” – a song that clearly foreshadows the change of lyric style that Bruce was adopting at the time. NOTE: For complete details on all the various Backdoor Club audio click HERE.
05/02/72 - THE BACK DOOR, RICHMOND, VA
ONE show, with the BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN BAND the sole act on the bill. The 2nd of 9 shows held at the club during February. Note: see 04/02/72 listing for details on circulating audio from this residency.
06/02/72 - THE BACK DOOR, RICHMOND, VA
ONE show, with the BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN BAND the sole act on the bill. The 3rd of 9 shows held at the club during February. Note: see 04/02/72 listing for details on circulating audio from this residency.
18/02/72 - THE BACK DOOR, RICHMOND, VA
ONE show, with the BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN BAND the sole act on the bill. The 4th of 9 shows held at the club during February. Note: see 04/02/72 listing for details on circulating audio from this residency.
19/02/72 - THE BACK DOOR , RICHMOND, VA
ONE show, with the BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN BAND the sole act on the bill. The 5th of 9 shows held at the club during February. Note: see 04/02/72 listing for details on circulating audio from this residency.
20/02/72 - THE BACK DOOR, RICHMOND, VA
ONE show, with the BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN BAND the sole act on the bill. The 6th of 9 shows held at the club during February. Note: see 04/02/72 listing for details on circulating audio from this residency.
25/02/72 - THE BACK DOOR, RICHMOND, VA
ONE show, with the BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN BAND the sole act on the bill. The 7th of 9 shows held at the club during February. Note: see 04/02/72 listing for details on circulating audio from this residency.
26/02/72 - THE BACK DOOR, RICHMOND, VA
ONE show, with the BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN BAND the sole act on the bill. The 8th of 9 shows held at the club during February. Note: see 04/02/72 listing for details on circulating audio from this residency.
27/02/72 - THE BACK DOOR, RICHMOND, VA
ONE show, with the BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN BAND the sole act on the bill. The 9th of 9 shows held at the club during February. Note: see 04/02/72 listing for details on circulating audio from this residency
17/03/72 - RICHMOND ARENA, RICHMOND, VA
DO IT WITH A FEELING (10:30) / COMING HOME (7:42) / CHEROKEE QUEEN (5:57) / LOOK TOWARDS THE LAND (10:43) / NOT FADE AWAY – BO DIDDLEY’S A GUNSLINGER (8:47) / MOUNTAIN JAM – WHEN YOU DANCE (13:01, start-end cut) / GOIN’ BACK TO GEORGIA (6:10) / GOT MY MOJO WORKIN’ (7:48) / IT’S ALL OVER NOW, BABY BLUE (12:01)
ONE show, quadruple bill, with the Bruce Springsteen Band opening the evening’s festivities for BANG, THE MIKE QUATRO JAM BAND and MITCH RYDER & DETROIT. This was a festival-styled show, with each act allocated 80 – 90 minute time slots. Although Mitch Ryder was top-billed it was electronic space music favorite Mike Quatro (70’s rocker Suzi Quatro’s brother) who performed last. In an attempt to minimize the 6,500-seat Richmond Arena’s notorious echo problems the promoter revamped the seating layout to 4,500. However an article in the following day’s paper noted a turnout of only about 1,000. A newspaper review of the show briefly mentions Springsteen and notes the wide variety of styles performed in his set. The audio evidence certainly supports that assessment.The above-mentioned 9-song setlist, some of it not necessarily in the correct performing sequence, is culled from 83 minutes of good quality soundboard audio. Most of this audio has been in collector circulation since the early 1980’s, although it tended to circulate in bits and pieces and only “Cherokee Queen” has appeared on any mainstream bootleg. “Cherokee Queen” (the only circulating audio rendition) was pressed on acetate as a Sioux City publishing demo later in 1972. Recently (in 2007) a veteran collector discovered an old tape, long overlooked in his collection, that contained a previously undocumented, additional song from this show (the Springsteen-written “Coming Home”) that is one of the performance highlights.
For many years this show’s audio was incorrectly attributed to a Nov 1970 Steel Mill gig in Richmond. However this is not Steel Mill, as Robbin Thompson is not present, Springsteen and Van Zandt share lead guitar duties and David Sancious is on keyboards. Springsteen plays piano on both “Cherokee Queen” and “Look Toward The Land” (with Sancious handling organ). Unfortunately both the opening and closing couple of minutes of “Mountain Jam – When You Dance” is cut and not circulating complete. Although bottom billed some loyal Springsteen fans were present at this show. For the first encore voices can be heard near the front of the stage yelling for “Resurrection” (a song Bruce stopped playing when Steel Mill folded). Bruce doesn’t oblige, but instead delivers “Goin’ Back To Georgia” – itself rarely played by the BSB. Bruce performs a condensed arrangement, without any band harmony vocals.
14/02/73 - VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY, RICHMOND, VA
LOST IN THE FLOOD / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / 634-5789 (SOULSVILLE, USA) / MARY QUEEN OF ARKANSAS (5:12) / FOR YOU (4:58) / DOES THIS BUS STOP AT 82ND STREET (5:02) / BLINDED BY THE LIGHT / THUNDERCRACK (12:20) / ROSALITA - FUN FUN FUN (12:45) / announcements (0:25)ONE show, double bill, with Bruce and the boys opening for headliner DAN HICKS & HIS HOT LICKS. Springsteen was allowed to present a headliner-length performance of nearly 90 minutes – and he stole the show from Hicks. The above-mentioned setlist represents Springsteen's entire song presentation from this show in the correct sequence, as sourced from a newspaper review of the show in conjunction with a recently circulating (but very poor quality) 45-minute audience tape encompassing 5 of the show’s 9 songs. The taper apparently did not record Bruce’s opening three numbers and “Blinded By The Light”.From an historical standpoint the significant performance is "Rosalita". This is a unique arrangement that not only features a near-complete rendition of The Beach Boys "Fun Fun Fun" sandwiched in the middle, but also incorporates a cosmic story-rap that finds an 8yr old Springsteen locked in an Alabama jail with Dennis Wilson, James Brown and Wilson Pickett (whose “634-5789” Bruce covered earlier in the show). The subtle audio edit heard after "Thundercrack" (the end of the main set) and before "Rosalita" (the encore) merely eliminates several minutes of cheering as the audience coaxes Bruce and the band back for a final song. Following "Rosalita" the MC can be heard announcing that Dan Hicks & His Hot Licks will follow. Grateful thanks to Jeff Crossan for the news article, photos and additional information
31/05/73 - RADIO STATION WGOE-FM, RICHMOND, VA
SATIN DOLL (1.10) / DOES THIS BUS STOP AT 82ND ST? (4.54) / CIRCUS SONG (4.58) / GROWIN’ UP (3.18) / NEW YORK SONG (5.34) / YOU MEAN SO MUCH TO ME (6.39) Bruce’s 2nd known radio show – but this one is unusual because it took place at Richmond’s Alpha Sound Studios, not at the station itself. It was broadcast live by WGOE-FM via a remote link. In addition to the DJ the small audience heard in the studio included Mike Appel, Jim Cretecos, Albee Tellone and David Sancious (who had yet to join the band but who was employed at the studio at the time). The above-mentioned 6-song setlist is the complete performance. After the show Mike Appel took possession of the Master Tape, so none of the performance was ever re-broadcast by the station. Fortunately a fan taped the entire show from their radio, although the sound quality result was weak. Although this audience audio had been in circulation since the mid 1970’s it had never appeared on any mainstream bootleg, exception for the track “You Mean So Much To Me”, which first surfaced on the 1976 vinyl LP boot “RESURRECTED” in poor quality. This later appeared in better quality on the CD “RADIO WAVES” (Great Dane). The entire fan-recorded version is now available on a custom CDR boot entitled “STRICTLY PROHIBITED”.A low generation copy of the entire original master tape (noted above) first surfaced (in very limited hands) in the early 1990’s. Then the recording of the track "You Mean So Much To Me" from this source emerged on the 1998 boot ‘DEEP DOWN IN THE VAULTS’ (E Street)" and in 1999 on ‘MISSING TRACKS, VOL ONE’ (Thrill Hill). The complete master tape in perfect sound quality finally emerged into the wider collector community in early 2007. This performance (which features all the band in cameos except for Vini Lopez) is highlighted by what many consider the definitive available version of “You Mean So Much To Me”. During the show a fan calls into the radio station and requests Bruce’s old Steel Mill chestnut “Resurrection” – but Bruce doesn’t play it. Interestingly as Bruce takes his seat to perform a song solo at the piano one of the entourage can be heard saying “Janey?” – apparently thinking Bruce was going to perform the recently composed “Janey Needs A Shooter” to which Bruce replies “no” and instead delivers a fine version of his then-new “New York Song”.
31/05/73 - COLISEUM, RICHMOND, VA
SANTA ANNA / SECRET TO THE BLUES / TOKYO / THUNDERCRACK
ONE show, double bill, with Springsteen opening for headliners CHICAGO. The 2nd of 12 consecutive shows opening for them. The above-mentioned 4-song partial setlist is culled from a weak quality 35-minute audience tape of the show that circulates among collectors. This is not the complete performance, which lasted about 60 minutes and included 3 or 4 additional, but undocumented, songs. This audio appears to capture the last half of Springsteen’s set. The audio of "Thundercrack" is incomplete - the last several minutes are missing. From a historical standpoint the most interesting track here is "Secret To The Blues" - one of only two circulating audio performances and the better of the two.
30/11/73 - VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY, RICHMOND, VA
Due to last minute venue/contractual difficulties at VCU, this concert was POSTPONED and RE-SCHEDULED to 25/01/74 at The Mosque. This concert was to have featured Springsteen headlining and GOOSE CREEK SYMPHONY as the opener and, indeed, this was the lineup that performed at the 25/1/74 show (see listing in BRUCEBASE)
25/01/74 - MOSQUE, RICHMOND, VA
SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / NEW YORK CITY SERENADE / BLINDED BY THE LIGHT / LET THE FOUR WINDS BLOW / KITTYS BACK / FOR YOU / ROSALITA / TWIST AND SHOUT
ONE show, double bill, with Springsteen headlining and local outfit GOOSE CREEK SYMPHONY opening. This was a rescheduled show, originally booked for 30/11/73 at the VCU Gym but postponed. The above-mentioned 8-song (90-minute) setlist is from a circulating audience recording of only fair quality.
13/04/74 - RICHMOND COLISEUM, RICHMOND, VA
CANCELLED concert, never re-scheduled. Information is sketchy but it’s believed Springsteen was the scheduled undercard for this gig – anyone who has further details please contact Brucebase.
01/08/75 - MOSQUE THEATRE, RICHMOND, VA
INCIDENT ON 57TH STREET / 10TH AVENUE FREEZE OUT / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / E ST SHUFFLE / SAINT IN THE CITY / SHES THE ONE / THUNDER ROAD / GROWIN' UP / UP ON THE ROOF / KITTYS BACK / NYC SERENADE / ROSALITA / 4TH JULY ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / A LOVE SO FINE / CAROL / QUARTER TO THREE
Audience tape - includes the first confirmed version of Up On The Roof. Available on CDR "At The Mosque Theatre"
06/03/03 Richmond Coliseum, Richmond, VA
S/C:- includes GUILTY / LOCAL HERO
THE RISING / LONESOME DAY / NO SURRENDER / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / EMPTY SKY / YOU'RE MISSING / WAITIN' ON A SUNNY DAY / YOU CAN LOOK ..... / TWO HEARTS / WORLD'S APART / BADLANDS / SHE'S THE ONE / MARY'S PLACE / COUNTIN' ON A MIRACLE / FOR YOU / INTO THE FIRE / LET'S GO, LET'S GO, LET'S GO / GLORY DAYS / BORN TO RUN / MY CITY OF RUINS / BORN IN THE USA / LAND OF HOPE AND DREAMS / DANCING IN THE DARK
Audience tape - Bruce was joined on-stage by Richmond native and former Steel Mill vocalist Robbin Thompson and Southeastern Virginia native Bruce Hornsby for the Hank Ballard song "Let's Go, Let's Go, Let's Go," which was premiered in Jacksonville. "Mary's Place" includes brief snippets of "Rescue Me" & "I Can't Turn You Loose". According to an Interview with Robin Thompson in "Upstage News" (December 2003), when he arrived at the venue the band were trying to play Guilty, an old Steel Mill number. He enquired of Bruce if that was what they were gonna do, but Bruce replied that they couldn't remember it. If anyone was taping the soundcheck - we sure would like to hear this one.
24/10/05 - Richmond Coliseum, Richmond, VA
MY BEAUTIFUL REWARD / REASON TO BELIEVE / DEVILS AND DUST / LONESOME DAY / LONG TIME COMING / SILVER PALOMINO / YOU CAN LOOK... / THE RIVER / TOUGHER THAN THE REST / JOHNNY 99 / PART MAN PART MONKEY / ALL I'M THINKING ABOUT / RENO / NOTHING MAN / INCIDENT ON 57TH STREET / THE RISING / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / JESUS WAS AN ONLY SON / THIS HARD LAND / THE NEW TIMER / MATAMOROS BANKS / GROWIN' UP / 4TH JULY ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / THE PROMISED LAND / DREAM BABY DREAM
Audience tape. [Note from Tony: This was the solo Devils & Dust tour.]
Saturday, out at the Charlottesville Pavilion, Smashing Pumpkins or whatever is left of them, will be playing. Doors open at 6, show starts at 7 and tix are $41. It looks like its Billy Corgan and Jimmy Chamberlain so they do meet my 50% original band member rule to call them by the band name.
Saturday night here in Richmond at the Capital Ale House Downtown, is Gongzilla. According to the Captial Ale House site: "Journalist Bill Milkowski called GZ “simply mind-boggling”. The group is a mass of contradictions in perfect balance. A band with international roots (USA, Quebec, Philippines); GZ has a reputation for concise songs and transcendent jams. All this emanates from the fusion origins of Bon Lozaga and Hansford Rowe who met while playing in one of the idioms seminal groups – Gong. Bon and Hansford decided to tinker further with the Petri dish that was Gong, and begat a further evolution. They formed Gongzilla and released a series of Mahavishnu-esque improvisational rock albums featuring second guitarists on each one, including jazz fusion legend Allan Holdsworth, David Torn and David Fiuczynski, and a number of drummers, including Pierre Moerlen and Gary Husband. " Doors open at 9 and tix are $7.
I did get to check out the Capital Ale House Downtown Music Hall for their free Blues N Brews Happy Hour last week. The beers, as always, were excellent. The venue is very nice with the front windows opening up almost from floor to ceiling to let a nice breeze in. If you are going to talk, however, plan to do it between the band sets. The place isn't very big and even though we sat toward the back, it was still very loud.
Last and certainly not least, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band are coming to the Richmond Coliseum on Monday. Show starts at 7:30. As of right now (Wednesday 10:43 PM), the show is completely sold out. However, if you don't have tickets yet, but want to go, keep checking that Ticketmaster site. Tickets, and often good ones, have been known to pop up as the show date approaches. I once scored second row tix to see Bruce on the Tom Joad tour on the day of the show.
In honor of that, here is the info on every show Bruce has played in Richmond. This comes from the Brucebase site, a great site for Bruce setlists. The only thing that would make this better would be a search engine ala the excellent Grateful Dead Setlist Program. But I did the searching for you so here it is. This will help show Bruce's long connection to Richmond. If anyone out there has any recollections of these shows, please post them in the Comments.
UPDATE: The Richmond Times-Dispatch has an article today with Bruce memories from Richmonders and many of the shows below are mentioned: http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/entertainment.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-08-14-0009.html.
Hope to see you at the Bruce show and I hope to see you up front in the pit. Bruce, if you read this, please play "Kitty's Back"!
Tony Jordan
Note that the dates are European style - day/month/year
01/06/69 - MONROE PARK, RICHMOND, VA
VOODOO CHILD / JENNIFER / CROWN LIQUOR
Complete set details are not known, although the three above-mentioned songs are from a fan recollection that's deemed reliable. "Jennifer" is a known Springsteen composition from the period that has yet to circulate on any tape. This is CHILD's (Bruce's band) first trip to Richmond and this is a free outdoor concert. New Jersey band BROTHER DUCK also makes the trip and opens the show. CHILD's performance here has huge impact and many more trips to Richmond will follow over the next 18 months. MERCY FLIGHT drummer Davy Hazlett is in the audience.
19/09/69 - FREE UNIVERSITY, RICHMOND, VA
No set details known. One show, with CHILD having sole billing. Held indoors at the University's "Center" (a venue that would later change it’s name to “The String Factory” in May 1970)
20/09/69 - FREE UNIVERSITY, RICHMOND, VA
SISTER THERESA (3:52) / RESURRECTION (8:05) / GARDEN STATE PARKWAY BLUES (19:34, end cut) / THE WAR IS OVER (11:10) / KT-88 (3:45) / GOIN DOWN SLOW (15:22)
ONE show, held indoors at the University’s “Center”, with CHILD the lone act on the bill. The above-mentioned setlist is taken from a circulating 62-minute indoor audience recording of only fair sound quality. This is currently the earliest known CHILD-STEEL MILL audio in circulation. This audio first surfaced over 27 years ago but quickly became cannibalized in the tape trading pool. In 1977 two of these tracks (“Sister Theresa” and “Resurrection”) appeared on the vinyl boot “RESURRECTED” without any source information. The remainder of the audio has never been issued on any mainstream LP (or CD) boot and since the early 1980’s has tended to circulate with tracks missing. Fortunately it has begun to circulate again in recent years on CDR in its original 62-minute edition. There are discernable edits between tracks and this is not the complete show, which is likely to have lasted about 90 minutes and included 2 or 3 additional songs. However it is all the audio from this gig that is known to exist. All songs are complete except for “Garden State Parkway Blues”, which is faded out prematurely and could be missing several minutes. “KT-88”, an instrumental, is introduced by Bruce as a new creation. This is the only circulating performance of “Sister Theresa” and the flute-like sound heard on this track (and others in this show) is a recorder being played by Vini Lopez.
Over the years there has been considerable speculation regarding the time and location of this audio. The earliest traded specimens of this audio identified the source as a date-unspecified 1969 gig a Richmond club called “The String Factory”. Since no verified gig date at The String Factory was found in any early timeline sources, some collectors began assigning the audio to other gig dates. Consequently this audio has been linked to a plethora of shows from 1969 and 1970. It turns out that the early source identification was fairly accurate. This material is indeed from 1969 in Richmond – but it’s from “The Center”, which changed its name to “The String Factory” in the fall of 1970. This performance is prior to March 1970, as it features Vinnie Roslin on bass and background vocals. Although there were several shows at The Center during the Vinnie Roslin era, the sound of a heavy thunderstorm can be heard outside the building during “Garden State Parkway Blues” - this allows the candidate gigs from the winter months to be eliminated. Note: this audio may be from the previous evening’s performance on the 19th.
01/11/69 - VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY, RICHMOND, VIRGINIA
No set details known. ONE show, double bill, held in the VCU Gym, with CHILD headlining and Richmond band RAIN opening. Following this show the band returned to New Jersey only to learn that another progressive rock band from Long Island, NY was not only using the name “Child”- they’d also just released an album under that name on the Roulette Records label. Consequently this Nov 1st gig is believed to have been the last gig performed prior to the band’s decision to change its name from Child to “Steel Mill” (a name suggested by a friend of Vini Lopez). For the remainder of November and December the group’s promotional material tended to incorporate both names in order to minimize confusion.
20/11/69 - FREE UNIVERSITY, RICHMOND, VA
RESURRECTION
No set details known. One show, with STEEL MILL headlining and MERCY FLIGHT opening for them for the first time (as substitutes for the billed MORNING DISASTER, who cancelled). Held indoors at the University's "Center".
21/11/69 - RANDOLPH-MACON COLLEGE, ASHLAND, VA
No set details known. One show, triple billing, held in the school's 3,500-seat Crenshaw Gymnasium. CHILD-STEEL MILL (who were paid $650) have second billing to headliner, CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY (who were paid $3,000). Richmond band NATURAL WILDLIFE opens the show. This concert had an unusal "alternating sets" structure. CHICAGO performed two 45-minute sets and CHILD-STEEL MILL played about 45 minutes AFTER each of CHICAGO's sets. Very strange indeed. The concert was not a sellout. Note: press surrounding this show used the name "Child", not "Steel Mill", although posters may have been adjusted to accomodate the new band name.
22/11/69 - RANDOLPH-MACON COLLEGE, ASHLAND, VA
No set details known. One show, triple billing, held in the school's 3,500- seat Crenshaw Gymnasium. This concert (the second in two nights) was part of a major sporting and cultural activities weekend at Randolph-Macon. CHILD-STEEL MILL (who were paid $650) have second billing to headliner IRON BUTTERFLY (who were paid a whopping $7,500 - that's substantial for this time period). Richmond band NATURAL WILDLIFE opens the show. Unlike the previous night this concert had a traditional performing structure. CHILD-STEEL MILL played about 60 - 70 minutes. The concert was not a sellout and lost money. Note: press surrounding this show used the name "Child", not "Steel Mill", although posters and handbills may have been adjusted to accommodate the name change.
27/02/70 - FREE UNIVERSITY, RICHMOND, VA
No set details known. ONE evening show, held at ‘The Center’ (note: this venue would be re-named ‘The String Factory’ in May 1970), with STEEL MILL the sole act on the bill. The band drove non-stop from California to Richmond to make it on time to this gig – and they just made it. In a 1979 interview in the fanzine ‘Thunder Road’ Vini Lopez commented: "we had to get back to Richmond in 3 days to do a gig. We made it. But that was a delirious show. I drove most of the way back, me and Tinker".
28/02/70 - FREE UNIVERSITY, RICHMOND, VA
GUILTY / JEANNIE I WANT TO THANK YOU / YOU SAY YOU LOVE ME / CALIFORNIA BLUES / I AM THE DOCTOR / GOIN’ BACK TO GEORGIA / AMERICA UNDER FIRE / THE WAR IS OVER / ON THE ROAD / SWEET MELINDA / CROWN LIQUOR / LADY WALKIN’ DOWN BY THE RIVER
ONE show, held in the school’s “Center” (this venue will soon be renamed “The String Factory in May 70), with STEEL MILL the sole act on the bill. The above-mentioned 12-song setlist is culled from a 90min+ audience tape of the show that is in extremely limited circulation. This is likely to represent most if not the entire show and it includes the only known audio of “You Say You Love Me” and “On The Road”, plus a rare performance of Billy Chinnock’s composition “Crown Liquor”. This gig is believed to have been bassist Vinnie Roslin’s final performance as a member of Steel Mill. His replacement will be Steve Van Zandt.
27/03/70 - HULLABALOO, RICHMOND, VA
No set details known. ONE show, with STEEL MILL the sole act on the bill. This is the earliest verified public performance to feature new member Steve Van Zandt on bass. By 1970 the once-hip national Hullabaloo chain of discothèques had veered in a decidedly top-40 direction - far removed from the progressive rock of Steel Mill. Tom Yolton, guitarist for Richmond band Mercy Flight, has jokingly commented….."when word came out that STEEL MILL was playing Hullabaloo everyone said….where the hell is that? It turned out it was well away from the VCU campus. It was a club with mirrors on the walls. I remember asking someone in the band about it later and getting some reply like “Oh man did that suck...nobody was there and they wanted us to play dance music"
28/03/70 - HULLABALOO, RICHMOND, VA
No set details known. ONE show, with STEEL MILL (featuring new band member Steve Van Zandt on bass) the sole act on he bill.
01/05/70 - HULLABALOO, RICHMOND, VA
No set details known. ONE show, with STEEL MILL the sole act on the bill. A return weekend engagement at the club (the group had first played here in late March).
02/05/70 - HULLABALOO, RICHMOND, VA
No set details known. ONE show, with STEEL MILL the sole act on the bill.
23/05/70 - VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY, RICHMOND, VA
MC Introduction – KT 88 (4.13) / JEANNIE I WANT TO THANK YOU (9:07) / I AM THE DOCTOR (7:31) / SOMETHING’S GOTTA BREAK (8:00) / TEMPORARILY OUT OF ORDER (6:49) / SWEET MELINDA (5:47) / COME ON (4:30) / RESURRECTION (11:10) / AMPLIFIER BLUES (9:29) / FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH – RUN SHAKER LIFE – TWENTY MORE MILES (12:59, end cut)
ONE show, double bill, held in the VCU Gym, with STEEL MILL headlining and MERCY FLIGHT opening. This gig is infamous because it ended with Vini Lopez arrested for unruly behavior. The above-noted setlist is culled from a circulating 80-minute audience recording of only fair quality. There are continuity cuts between most songs. This is not the complete show, which contained at least 20 minutes more music (2-4 songs). This audio has never appeared on any mainstream bootleg but does circulate via various custom sources – some with between-song chatter deleted or songs missing. This audio is sometimes attributed to an alleged gig at VCU Gym on May 16, 1970. However VCU’s archives don’t indicate any show on the 16th. Comments made by Springsteen during the show point to the audio as being from the documented May 23, 1970 VCU gig. Mercy Flight’s co-manager, Russell Clem, can be heard introducing STEEL MILL. During the middle of the country-rock inspired “I Am The Doctor” Springsteen tells crowd “we went swimming today down in the James River (outside Richmond) and we took our surfboards with us”. During the intro to “Resurrection” Springsteen mentions canoeing earlier that afternoon. Bruce sings, “here we are back in Richmond, Virginia again” as the opening line of “Amplifier Blues”.
From the outset of this show there were problems with the school’s generators. There was a power outage during MERCY FLIGHT’s opening tune, “Mississippi Queen” and the problems continued intermittently for the remainder of the evening. This, combined with VCU officials’ complaints about the loudness of STEEL MILL’s performance, caused tension between the band and officials. Springsteen and Lopez can be heard making related comments during the show. Following “Jeannie I Want To Thank You” Bruce remarks to the crowd “there’s a weird thing going on between your officials and us”. At another point Bruce can be heard extorting: “there should be no restrictions on me”. At another point Bruce tells the crowd “we’re gonna finish this one with you guys and split to the middle of the road and play”. Despite the drama the audience is enthusiastic and the band’s performance is excellent. The MC’s comments and opening instrumental are in the correcting performing order. The rest of the audio is in its likely running order. Although it has not surfaced as part of the circulating audio, there’s attendee recollection that “Guilty” was performed following the opening instrumental “KT-88” (there’s an edit so this is plausible). All songs are complete except for the final song, which is cut prematurely close to its true conclusion. It is likely there was another song played after “Twenty More Miles” that’s missing from the audio source – and it would seem it was during that point that VCU officials shut the band’s power off as they overran the 11PM curfew. Lopez in an act of defiance continued playing his drums, which resulted in him being hauled way for disorderly conduct – an incident that Vini has jokingly referred to in several interviews.
19/06/70 - THE STRING FACTORY, RICHMOND, VA
No set details known. ONE show, with STEEL MILL the sole act on the bill. This venue had previously been owned and operated by Free University under the name ‘The Center” and Child-Steel Mill had player here several times (see listings). It was sold in March 1970 and re-opened, revamped and under private ownership, in May 1970 as ‘The String Factory’.
20/06/70 - THE STRING FACTORY, RICHMOND, VA
No set details known. ONE show, with STEEL MILL the sole act on the bill.
14/08/70 - 7TH AND MARSHALL STREET PARKING DECK, RICHMOND, VA
MC Introduction - DANCING IN THE STREETS (8.20) / COME ON (4.30) / KT88 (3.50) / THE WAR IS OVER (14.28) / WHY DO YOU DO THAT (6.14) / SHERLOCK GOES HOLMES (9.46) / GOING BACK TO GEORGIA (5.18) / RESURRECTION (13.52) / GUILTY (7.58) / WE'LL ALL MAN THE GUNS (11:26) / RUN SHAKER LIFE - TWENTY MORE MILES (14.43) / GOOD LOVIN' WOMAN (9:34)
ONE show, triple bill, with blues band MARLO MAYS & THE STINGERS opening, MERCY FLIGHT performing second and STEEL MILL headlining and closing. Held under the stars on the upper deck of the parking complex. The general concept for this show was modeled after The Beatles memorable rooftop performance in the film “Let It Be” (which was in theatres at the time). This is one the most famous of all Steel Mill’s gigs and it’s now firmly a part of Richmond folklore. Promoter Russell Clem provides the immortal MC introduction. This was Steel Mill’s first gig in about a month and their performance actually starts off somewhat ragged as a result – something both Bruce and Vini Lopez apologize for this during the show.
The above-mentioned 12-song setlist is culled from audio from this show that circulates in several variations. An audience tape of only fair quality has been in circulation for many years. Fortunately a substantially better (very good) quality and more complete specimen of this audience recording has emerged in the collector market over the past couple of years – and it is absolutely worth obtaining. In addition to the new audience source, some soundboard audio has also recently emerged from this show. The soundboard audio is missing two tracks (“The War Is Over” and “Guilty”) found on the audience recording and the soundboard quality isn’t nearly as good as the better of the two audience sources. Importantly though, the soundboard audio includes the show’s encore “Good Lovin’ Woman”, which is not found on the audience audio. None of the above-mentioned audio has ever been released on any mainstream bootleg.
The 12-song, 110-minute setlist is not the complete show. It would appear that the audience audio is complete up to an including “We’ll All Man The Guns”. There is then a 2 – 4 song segment of the show that has never circulated from any source. One of the songs definitely performed during this “missing” segment was “The Wind And The Rain”. Both "I Am The Doctor" and "Sweet Melinda" have cropped up in attendee recollections and may have also filled this gap in this show. From an historical standpoint the two most important tracks are “We’ll All Man The Guns” (Bruce introduces it as just written) and Bruce’s 1969 song “Good Lovin’ Woman” (Bruce introduces it as “an old song”). Neither of these two songs are available elsewhere. NOTE: A day or so after this show Springsteen met privately with Mercy Flight's lead singer Robbin Thompson and offered him a position in Steel Mill. After a few days of deliberation Thompson accepted the offer, resigning from MERCY FLIGHT on Aug 23, 1970 and relocating to New Jersey to join Steel Mill the following week.
11/10/70 - THE MOSQUE, RICHMOND, VA
I CAN’T TAKE IT (8:35) / WHY’D YOU DO THAT (5:58) / SHERLOCK GOES HOLMES (10:02) / GOIN’ BACK TO GEORGIA (4:50)
ONE show, double bill, with STEEL MILL opening for headliner THE IKE AND TINA TURNER REVUE. A soul band and a progressive rock group was a strange billing combination – consequently it’s perhaps not surprising that less than half the tickets to the 3,000-seat Mosque were sold. Former ‘Back Door Club’ owner John Richardson, who orchestrated the event, has stated that he lost a fair chunk of money on this show. The above-mentioned setlist is taken from a circulating 29-minute audience recording of only fair quality. This audio has not been issued on any mainstream commercial boot but is circulating via custom sources, sometimes with the venue-date unidentified. As undercard STEEL MILL would have played about 60-70 minutes, so there are likely 3 to 5 songs missing from the circulating audio. The audio evidence supports reports that the venue was half empty. The crowd reaction to Steel Mill is polite but indifferent – an indicator the band wasn’t headlining. “Why’d You Do That” includes a customized refrain mentioning the town of Woodland Falls that seems to have been used only when playing in Virginia. “Goin’ Back To Georgia” features Bruce and Robbin Thompson alternating the lead vocal.
23/10/70 - UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, RICHMOND, VA
Set details unknown. One show. STEEL MILL headline. New Jersey folk singer JEANNIE CLARK is the support act.
25/10/70 - RICHMOND ARENA, RICHMOND, VA
No set details known. ONE show, quadruple billing, featuring STEEL MILL, BIG BROTHER, FEAST and S.R.C. The headliner, SRC, was a Detroit-based outfit that, at the time, had three weak selling LPs out on Capitol Records, as well as a classic 60’s garage-type single "Black Sheep, Black Sheep". SRC is probably best known via its earlier mid-60's incarnation called ‘The Fugitives’.
18/07/71 - MONROE PARK, RICHMOND, VA
No set details known. ONE daytime outdoor show, with the 10-piece BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN BAND headlining. Support act was SUNNY JIM. This was the first known gig a Springsteen-led band had played in Monroe Park since his Richmond debut (with CHILD) on June 1, 1969. Apparently after their show some of the BSB and its entourage went to see an outdoor concert by ‘The Byrds’ somewhere in the general vicinity (possibly the State Fairgrounds in Richmond).
23/10/71 - UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, RICHMOND, VA
No set details known. ONE show, triple bill, with The Bruce Springsteen Band headlining. Undercards were New Jersey-based outfits TUMBLEWEED and BLACK FORREST RHODES, both of who had recently become involved with Tinker West’s Blah Productions. The 3-member, acoustic-orientated TUMBLEWEED deserve special mention. They had recently returned from studio sessions in Nashville (booked under the name MONTANA FLINTLOCK) – events orchestrated by Mike Appel. TUMBLEWEED would turn out to be the original connection between Tinker West and Appel, one that would soon see Tinker drive Springsteen to New York to meet Mike.
Although pre-concert promotional material for this Oct 23rd performance specifies a 5-member BSB lineup (see below), this show probably included three of the part-time members of the group – Harvey Cherlin (trumpet) plus Delores Holmes & Barbara Dinkins on background vocals. In interview Cherlin has mentioned this specific 8-member lineup as performing au gratis gig at University Of Richmond in October 1971 that Cherlin further states was his final-ever gig with Springsteen. NOTE: An audience recording (see the 30/10/71 listing for details) is often linked to this show but it does not feature either Cherlin or Barbara Dinkins.
30/10/71 - VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY, RICHMOND, VA
MC’s introduction / GOT MY MOJO WORKING (6:14) / LIVIN’ ROCK AND ROLL (4:06) / TALKIN’ ABOUT MY BABY (8:26) / HOOCHIE COOTCHIE MAN (8:29) / DON’T YOU WANT TO BE AN OUTLAW (8:07)
ONE show, triple bill, with the BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN BAND supporting headliner CACTUS. The Paul Butterfield Blues Band was originally scheduled to headline with Cactus 2nd billed. However Butterfield cancelled a couple of weeks beforehand and Springsteen was substituted. Though not mentioned on the gig Poster (below), also on the bill and opening the show with a 45-minute performance was local band MORNING SON (John Mulkins, David Waddle and Steve Knopp). Audio evidence suggests the BSB lineup for this show was the core 5-piece band, plus the vocal duo of Delores Holmes and Francine Daniels (who’d recently replaced vocalist Barbara Dinkins).
The above-mentioned setlist is taken from an audience recording of only fair quality that started circulating in the early 80’s and then widely propagated after it was booted on the LP “BRUCE 1971”. The original boot correctly identified the audio source venue as the VCU Gym. However, because no 1971 VCU gig had been identified by 1980’s concert history sources, some people began linking this audio to other shows. This 40 minutes of audio (which is only about half the total performance) now circulates via homemade CDR, sometimes with material from other shows. Bruce would later utilize the melody from “Talkin’ About My Baby” for his far superior 1972 composition “Janey Needs A Shooter”. The ladies are heard on the three Springsteen compositions but not the two cover songs.
04/02/72 - THE BACK DOOR, RICHMOND, VA
DOWN TO MEXICO / I REMEMBER / ALL I WANNA DO IS DANCE / BLESS MY SOUL / MAGIC LOVING / LOVE IS A CRAZY THING / THE BAND’S JUST BOPPIN’ THE BLUES / JUST CAN’T CHANGE / WHEN YOU DANCE / LIKE A STRANGER / MAKE UP YOUR MIND / COWBOYS OF THE SEA / SOMETHING YOU GOT / DARKNESS DARKNESS / IT’S ALL OVER NOW, BABY BLUE / DOWN THE ROAD APIECE / BRIGHT LIGHTS BIG CITY / SITTING ON TOP OF THE WORLD / I’M INTO SOMETHING GOOD – TAKE OUT SOME INSURANCE
ONE show, with THE BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN BAND the sole act on the bill. This was opening night of 9-show residency that encompassed three of the four weekends in February. The above-mentioned 19-songs are culled from circulating audience audio from the 9-show residency that would seem to encompass parts of four of these nine shows – consequently there are multiple performances of some songs (a total of 25 recordings encompassing 229 minutes). Most of these 25 recordings have been in circulation since the mid 1980’s and more than half have been issued on various mainstream bootleg titles. The remainder of the audio is only circulating via private CDR sources. The overall sound quality is good.
The so-called “Backdoor Club Tapes” represent some of the most perplexing live audio to sort out, primarily due to the fact that nearly all the between-song audio appears to have been cut by the original taper prior to the audio entering into collector circulation. Because of the lack of audio continuity it is extremely difficult to tell which recordings emanate from which shows - and virtually impossible to decipher the correct running order. Although the shows of Feb 4th and 26th are often cited on trade lists, these two dates appear to based on the fact that for many years these were the only two dates known to have been played at the club. It is now known the residency was much longer, so this material could be from any of the shows. However it is more likely that most of it comes from the final weekend’s performances.
Southside Johnny was a guest on the first weekend. However Southside’s harp playing is only heard on one track, “Bright Lights Big City”. Bruce handles the harmonica on “Just Cant Change”, one of his better songwriting efforts of 1971. Two other standout songs are “Like A Stranger” and “Make Up Your Mind”. The most interesting track is the full band version of “Cowboys Of The Sea” – a song that clearly foreshadows the change of lyric style that Bruce was adopting at the time. NOTE: For complete details on all the various Backdoor Club audio click HERE.
05/02/72 - THE BACK DOOR, RICHMOND, VA
ONE show, with the BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN BAND the sole act on the bill. The 2nd of 9 shows held at the club during February. Note: see 04/02/72 listing for details on circulating audio from this residency.
06/02/72 - THE BACK DOOR, RICHMOND, VA
ONE show, with the BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN BAND the sole act on the bill. The 3rd of 9 shows held at the club during February. Note: see 04/02/72 listing for details on circulating audio from this residency.
18/02/72 - THE BACK DOOR, RICHMOND, VA
ONE show, with the BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN BAND the sole act on the bill. The 4th of 9 shows held at the club during February. Note: see 04/02/72 listing for details on circulating audio from this residency.
19/02/72 - THE BACK DOOR , RICHMOND, VA
ONE show, with the BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN BAND the sole act on the bill. The 5th of 9 shows held at the club during February. Note: see 04/02/72 listing for details on circulating audio from this residency.
20/02/72 - THE BACK DOOR, RICHMOND, VA
ONE show, with the BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN BAND the sole act on the bill. The 6th of 9 shows held at the club during February. Note: see 04/02/72 listing for details on circulating audio from this residency.
25/02/72 - THE BACK DOOR, RICHMOND, VA
ONE show, with the BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN BAND the sole act on the bill. The 7th of 9 shows held at the club during February. Note: see 04/02/72 listing for details on circulating audio from this residency.
26/02/72 - THE BACK DOOR, RICHMOND, VA
ONE show, with the BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN BAND the sole act on the bill. The 8th of 9 shows held at the club during February. Note: see 04/02/72 listing for details on circulating audio from this residency.
27/02/72 - THE BACK DOOR, RICHMOND, VA
ONE show, with the BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN BAND the sole act on the bill. The 9th of 9 shows held at the club during February. Note: see 04/02/72 listing for details on circulating audio from this residency
17/03/72 - RICHMOND ARENA, RICHMOND, VA
DO IT WITH A FEELING (10:30) / COMING HOME (7:42) / CHEROKEE QUEEN (5:57) / LOOK TOWARDS THE LAND (10:43) / NOT FADE AWAY – BO DIDDLEY’S A GUNSLINGER (8:47) / MOUNTAIN JAM – WHEN YOU DANCE (13:01, start-end cut) / GOIN’ BACK TO GEORGIA (6:10) / GOT MY MOJO WORKIN’ (7:48) / IT’S ALL OVER NOW, BABY BLUE (12:01)
ONE show, quadruple bill, with the Bruce Springsteen Band opening the evening’s festivities for BANG, THE MIKE QUATRO JAM BAND and MITCH RYDER & DETROIT. This was a festival-styled show, with each act allocated 80 – 90 minute time slots. Although Mitch Ryder was top-billed it was electronic space music favorite Mike Quatro (70’s rocker Suzi Quatro’s brother) who performed last. In an attempt to minimize the 6,500-seat Richmond Arena’s notorious echo problems the promoter revamped the seating layout to 4,500. However an article in the following day’s paper noted a turnout of only about 1,000. A newspaper review of the show briefly mentions Springsteen and notes the wide variety of styles performed in his set. The audio evidence certainly supports that assessment.The above-mentioned 9-song setlist, some of it not necessarily in the correct performing sequence, is culled from 83 minutes of good quality soundboard audio. Most of this audio has been in collector circulation since the early 1980’s, although it tended to circulate in bits and pieces and only “Cherokee Queen” has appeared on any mainstream bootleg. “Cherokee Queen” (the only circulating audio rendition) was pressed on acetate as a Sioux City publishing demo later in 1972. Recently (in 2007) a veteran collector discovered an old tape, long overlooked in his collection, that contained a previously undocumented, additional song from this show (the Springsteen-written “Coming Home”) that is one of the performance highlights.
For many years this show’s audio was incorrectly attributed to a Nov 1970 Steel Mill gig in Richmond. However this is not Steel Mill, as Robbin Thompson is not present, Springsteen and Van Zandt share lead guitar duties and David Sancious is on keyboards. Springsteen plays piano on both “Cherokee Queen” and “Look Toward The Land” (with Sancious handling organ). Unfortunately both the opening and closing couple of minutes of “Mountain Jam – When You Dance” is cut and not circulating complete. Although bottom billed some loyal Springsteen fans were present at this show. For the first encore voices can be heard near the front of the stage yelling for “Resurrection” (a song Bruce stopped playing when Steel Mill folded). Bruce doesn’t oblige, but instead delivers “Goin’ Back To Georgia” – itself rarely played by the BSB. Bruce performs a condensed arrangement, without any band harmony vocals.
14/02/73 - VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY, RICHMOND, VA
LOST IN THE FLOOD / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / 634-5789 (SOULSVILLE, USA) / MARY QUEEN OF ARKANSAS (5:12) / FOR YOU (4:58) / DOES THIS BUS STOP AT 82ND STREET (5:02) / BLINDED BY THE LIGHT / THUNDERCRACK (12:20) / ROSALITA - FUN FUN FUN (12:45) / announcements (0:25)ONE show, double bill, with Bruce and the boys opening for headliner DAN HICKS & HIS HOT LICKS. Springsteen was allowed to present a headliner-length performance of nearly 90 minutes – and he stole the show from Hicks. The above-mentioned setlist represents Springsteen's entire song presentation from this show in the correct sequence, as sourced from a newspaper review of the show in conjunction with a recently circulating (but very poor quality) 45-minute audience tape encompassing 5 of the show’s 9 songs. The taper apparently did not record Bruce’s opening three numbers and “Blinded By The Light”.From an historical standpoint the significant performance is "Rosalita". This is a unique arrangement that not only features a near-complete rendition of The Beach Boys "Fun Fun Fun" sandwiched in the middle, but also incorporates a cosmic story-rap that finds an 8yr old Springsteen locked in an Alabama jail with Dennis Wilson, James Brown and Wilson Pickett (whose “634-5789” Bruce covered earlier in the show). The subtle audio edit heard after "Thundercrack" (the end of the main set) and before "Rosalita" (the encore) merely eliminates several minutes of cheering as the audience coaxes Bruce and the band back for a final song. Following "Rosalita" the MC can be heard announcing that Dan Hicks & His Hot Licks will follow. Grateful thanks to Jeff Crossan for the news article, photos and additional information
31/05/73 - RADIO STATION WGOE-FM, RICHMOND, VA
SATIN DOLL (1.10) / DOES THIS BUS STOP AT 82ND ST? (4.54) / CIRCUS SONG (4.58) / GROWIN’ UP (3.18) / NEW YORK SONG (5.34) / YOU MEAN SO MUCH TO ME (6.39) Bruce’s 2nd known radio show – but this one is unusual because it took place at Richmond’s Alpha Sound Studios, not at the station itself. It was broadcast live by WGOE-FM via a remote link. In addition to the DJ the small audience heard in the studio included Mike Appel, Jim Cretecos, Albee Tellone and David Sancious (who had yet to join the band but who was employed at the studio at the time). The above-mentioned 6-song setlist is the complete performance. After the show Mike Appel took possession of the Master Tape, so none of the performance was ever re-broadcast by the station. Fortunately a fan taped the entire show from their radio, although the sound quality result was weak. Although this audience audio had been in circulation since the mid 1970’s it had never appeared on any mainstream bootleg, exception for the track “You Mean So Much To Me”, which first surfaced on the 1976 vinyl LP boot “RESURRECTED” in poor quality. This later appeared in better quality on the CD “RADIO WAVES” (Great Dane). The entire fan-recorded version is now available on a custom CDR boot entitled “STRICTLY PROHIBITED”.A low generation copy of the entire original master tape (noted above) first surfaced (in very limited hands) in the early 1990’s. Then the recording of the track "You Mean So Much To Me" from this source emerged on the 1998 boot ‘DEEP DOWN IN THE VAULTS’ (E Street)" and in 1999 on ‘MISSING TRACKS, VOL ONE’ (Thrill Hill). The complete master tape in perfect sound quality finally emerged into the wider collector community in early 2007. This performance (which features all the band in cameos except for Vini Lopez) is highlighted by what many consider the definitive available version of “You Mean So Much To Me”. During the show a fan calls into the radio station and requests Bruce’s old Steel Mill chestnut “Resurrection” – but Bruce doesn’t play it. Interestingly as Bruce takes his seat to perform a song solo at the piano one of the entourage can be heard saying “Janey?” – apparently thinking Bruce was going to perform the recently composed “Janey Needs A Shooter” to which Bruce replies “no” and instead delivers a fine version of his then-new “New York Song”.
31/05/73 - COLISEUM, RICHMOND, VA
SANTA ANNA / SECRET TO THE BLUES / TOKYO / THUNDERCRACK
ONE show, double bill, with Springsteen opening for headliners CHICAGO. The 2nd of 12 consecutive shows opening for them. The above-mentioned 4-song partial setlist is culled from a weak quality 35-minute audience tape of the show that circulates among collectors. This is not the complete performance, which lasted about 60 minutes and included 3 or 4 additional, but undocumented, songs. This audio appears to capture the last half of Springsteen’s set. The audio of "Thundercrack" is incomplete - the last several minutes are missing. From a historical standpoint the most interesting track here is "Secret To The Blues" - one of only two circulating audio performances and the better of the two.
30/11/73 - VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY, RICHMOND, VA
Due to last minute venue/contractual difficulties at VCU, this concert was POSTPONED and RE-SCHEDULED to 25/01/74 at The Mosque. This concert was to have featured Springsteen headlining and GOOSE CREEK SYMPHONY as the opener and, indeed, this was the lineup that performed at the 25/1/74 show (see listing in BRUCEBASE)
25/01/74 - MOSQUE, RICHMOND, VA
SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / NEW YORK CITY SERENADE / BLINDED BY THE LIGHT / LET THE FOUR WINDS BLOW / KITTYS BACK / FOR YOU / ROSALITA / TWIST AND SHOUT
ONE show, double bill, with Springsteen headlining and local outfit GOOSE CREEK SYMPHONY opening. This was a rescheduled show, originally booked for 30/11/73 at the VCU Gym but postponed. The above-mentioned 8-song (90-minute) setlist is from a circulating audience recording of only fair quality.
13/04/74 - RICHMOND COLISEUM, RICHMOND, VA
CANCELLED concert, never re-scheduled. Information is sketchy but it’s believed Springsteen was the scheduled undercard for this gig – anyone who has further details please contact Brucebase.
01/08/75 - MOSQUE THEATRE, RICHMOND, VA
INCIDENT ON 57TH STREET / 10TH AVENUE FREEZE OUT / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / E ST SHUFFLE / SAINT IN THE CITY / SHES THE ONE / THUNDER ROAD / GROWIN' UP / UP ON THE ROOF / KITTYS BACK / NYC SERENADE / ROSALITA / 4TH JULY ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / A LOVE SO FINE / CAROL / QUARTER TO THREE
Audience tape - includes the first confirmed version of Up On The Roof. Available on CDR "At The Mosque Theatre"
06/03/03 Richmond Coliseum, Richmond, VA
S/C:- includes GUILTY / LOCAL HERO
THE RISING / LONESOME DAY / NO SURRENDER / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / EMPTY SKY / YOU'RE MISSING / WAITIN' ON A SUNNY DAY / YOU CAN LOOK ..... / TWO HEARTS / WORLD'S APART / BADLANDS / SHE'S THE ONE / MARY'S PLACE / COUNTIN' ON A MIRACLE / FOR YOU / INTO THE FIRE / LET'S GO, LET'S GO, LET'S GO / GLORY DAYS / BORN TO RUN / MY CITY OF RUINS / BORN IN THE USA / LAND OF HOPE AND DREAMS / DANCING IN THE DARK
Audience tape - Bruce was joined on-stage by Richmond native and former Steel Mill vocalist Robbin Thompson and Southeastern Virginia native Bruce Hornsby for the Hank Ballard song "Let's Go, Let's Go, Let's Go," which was premiered in Jacksonville. "Mary's Place" includes brief snippets of "Rescue Me" & "I Can't Turn You Loose". According to an Interview with Robin Thompson in "Upstage News" (December 2003), when he arrived at the venue the band were trying to play Guilty, an old Steel Mill number. He enquired of Bruce if that was what they were gonna do, but Bruce replied that they couldn't remember it. If anyone was taping the soundcheck - we sure would like to hear this one.
24/10/05 - Richmond Coliseum, Richmond, VA
MY BEAUTIFUL REWARD / REASON TO BELIEVE / DEVILS AND DUST / LONESOME DAY / LONG TIME COMING / SILVER PALOMINO / YOU CAN LOOK... / THE RIVER / TOUGHER THAN THE REST / JOHNNY 99 / PART MAN PART MONKEY / ALL I'M THINKING ABOUT / RENO / NOTHING MAN / INCIDENT ON 57TH STREET / THE RISING / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / JESUS WAS AN ONLY SON / THIS HARD LAND / THE NEW TIMER / MATAMOROS BANKS / GROWIN' UP / 4TH JULY ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / THE PROMISED LAND / DREAM BABY DREAM
Audience tape. [Note from Tony: This was the solo Devils & Dust tour.]
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Boston, Tony joins the Bee Gees, and Watermelon Fest
Ah the weekend is just about upon us. As I write this, I am listening to the Taper's Section on the Grateful Dead site. On the Taper's Section, they feature some selections from shows on this week in GD history. This week they are featuring a sequence from one of the only two West Coast shows I attended on 8/4/89 at Cal Expo in Sacramento. (My second West Coast show was the next night.) The sequence is quite a unique order of songs and very well played to boot.
Anyway on to the weekend. Friday night at Innsbrook, Boston (the band, not the entire city) will perform. Sure they lost their lead singer, Brad Delp, last year, but they've found two new guys to take his place, one of which I believe they discovered on YouTube. This seems to be a growing trend among '70s bands as Journey also found their latest singer on YouTube. Perhaps I will post my stunning version of "Jive Talkin'" on YouTube in the hopes that I can get hired by the Bee Gees. I would look kick-ass in polyester.
Anyway, tickets for Boston are $25 and the gates open at 6 PM with an opening band. The rich bastards have filled up the Gold Circle so they can be really close when they relive their 70s memories of their brother crankin' up "More Than A Feeling" while washing his Camaro on a Saturday afternoon. And that's not a bad thing.
Also on Friday, Rodrigo y Gabriela bring their acoustic-metal-flamenco guitar playing to The National. Doors open at 8, the opener is Ki:Theory Acoustic and tix are $30.
Over at Capital Ale House Downtown, Larry Keel & Natural Bridge will play. Doors open at 9:30 and tix are $12. I saw them back-up Keller Williams and they were pretty good. Here's what the Capital Ale House site says about them:
Connecting traditional songs of yesterday with their own original and inventive sounds of today, Larry Keel & Natural Bridge create astonishingly powerful acousticmusic rich in heritage, heart and hot licks! With a style that evokes both atomic rock energy and dynamic tonal purity, Keel and hisensemble are intent upon taking their instruments and their voices to their fullest potential for emotion and amazement. While paying respect to the legacy left by the forefathers of bluegrass, Keel bridges the gap between traditional and contemporary American Mountain Music. Larry Keel & NaturalBridge includes flatpicking guitar master Larry Keel (guitar, vocals), Jenny Keel (bass fiddle, vocals), Mark Schimick (mandolin, vocals), and Jason Flournoy (banjo, vocals).
Anyway on to the weekend. Friday night at Innsbrook, Boston (the band, not the entire city) will perform. Sure they lost their lead singer, Brad Delp, last year, but they've found two new guys to take his place, one of which I believe they discovered on YouTube. This seems to be a growing trend among '70s bands as Journey also found their latest singer on YouTube. Perhaps I will post my stunning version of "Jive Talkin'" on YouTube in the hopes that I can get hired by the Bee Gees. I would look kick-ass in polyester.
Anyway, tickets for Boston are $25 and the gates open at 6 PM with an opening band. The rich bastards have filled up the Gold Circle so they can be really close when they relive their 70s memories of their brother crankin' up "More Than A Feeling" while washing his Camaro on a Saturday afternoon. And that's not a bad thing.
Also on Friday, Rodrigo y Gabriela bring their acoustic-metal-flamenco guitar playing to The National. Doors open at 8, the opener is Ki:Theory Acoustic and tix are $30.
Over at Capital Ale House Downtown, Larry Keel & Natural Bridge will play. Doors open at 9:30 and tix are $12. I saw them back-up Keller Williams and they were pretty good. Here's what the Capital Ale House site says about them:
Connecting traditional songs of yesterday with their own original and inventive sounds of today, Larry Keel & Natural Bridge create astonishingly powerful acousticmusic rich in heritage, heart and hot licks! With a style that evokes both atomic rock energy and dynamic tonal purity, Keel and hisensemble are intent upon taking their instruments and their voices to their fullest potential for emotion and amazement. While paying respect to the legacy left by the forefathers of bluegrass, Keel bridges the gap between traditional and contemporary American Mountain Music. Larry Keel & NaturalBridge includes flatpicking guitar master Larry Keel (guitar, vocals), Jenny Keel (bass fiddle, vocals), Mark Schimick (mandolin, vocals), and Jason Flournoy (banjo, vocals).
Alternative Pop Rock band The Whigs will headline a show at the Canal Club on Friday night with three other bands. Show starts at 8 PM and tix are $13. If you like Son Volt, My Morning Jacket, or The Raconteurs, you may dig these guys.
There are also three outdoor festivals to choose from this weekend: Carib Fest, Filipino Festival and the 25th Annual Carytown Watermelon Festival. The weather looks good for this weekend, in the 80s, so you may see me and the family at the Watermelon Fest. For details on all the fests, check out this article from the Times-Dispatch: http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/living.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-08-07-0003.html.
Also, the massive coverage of the Olympics begins on all the channels NBC Universal owns along with their web site. You will be able to see every event at the Olympics with that. Go ahead and try. I dare you. China will be doing their best to make you think they are a benign, clean and peaceful nation when they are really the closest thing we have to the polluted technological totalitarian nation of Orwell's 1984. But the games themselves should be good. Just don't believe all that "China loves you" hype.
On that lovely note, have a great weekend and I'll see you at the Watermelon Fest!
Tony Jordan
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Dark Star Orchestra, Bruce's Pit
Wednesday night, Grateful Dead tribute band, Dark Star Orchestra, comes to Innsbrook Pavilion. Gates open at 6 and tix are $15 in advance, $20 at the gate. It says there will be "guests TBA" which usually means they will find a local band to open. DSO are probably the best Dead tribute band out there. They take an actual setlist from a Dead show and recreate the show, using the arrangements of that era. For example, last Thursday night they did the setlist from 11/6/77. I've seen them before, I'll probably see them again, but I'm passing this time because the money and night out are going to Springsteen in two weeks. I figured I could see a cover band I've seen many times covering a band I saw around 70 times and who will be back here within six months or go see living legend and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer who is still playing three hour shows and creating vital new music. It wasn't much of a call.
Speaking of Bruce, the Coliseum has posted the General Admission Pit Line Procedure for the Bruce show. Bruce has been doing this for the last few tours to help beat the scalpers.
That's all for now. Have a wonderful Wednesday!
Tony Jordan
Speaking of Bruce, the Coliseum has posted the General Admission Pit Line Procedure for the Bruce show. Bruce has been doing this for the last few tours to help beat the scalpers.
That's all for now. Have a wonderful Wednesday!
Tony Jordan
Mike Gordon @ Plan 9 & Toad's Today
Mike Gordon, bassist and occassional singer formerly (and futurely?) of Phish will be doing an in-store concert at Plan 9 today at 1 PM for free and then playing at Toad's Place tonight. Doors open at Toad's at 8 PM and tix are $20. The Bridge will be opening.
On guitar for Mike's band is Scott Murawski, from Max Creek and most famous for melting my roommate's face in college. In the mid-80's there were only three jam bands: The Grateful Dead, The Radiators and in the Northeast, Max Creek. Max Creek played at my college's All College Day end of spring semester celebration in 1988. They immediately became Mark's favorite band and he was often heard to exclaim after a particularly hot Scottie solo, "Dude, Scottie is totally melting my face!" So if you go to either show today, be sure to wear face protection, to prevent your face from being melted.
On a non-related note, I found this on YouTube last night and thought it was pretty damn cool: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnhKPw2NXIw. Its called Blondie vs. The Doors - Rapture Riders.
See you at Plan 9 today.
Tony Jordan
On guitar for Mike's band is Scott Murawski, from Max Creek and most famous for melting my roommate's face in college. In the mid-80's there were only three jam bands: The Grateful Dead, The Radiators and in the Northeast, Max Creek. Max Creek played at my college's All College Day end of spring semester celebration in 1988. They immediately became Mark's favorite band and he was often heard to exclaim after a particularly hot Scottie solo, "Dude, Scottie is totally melting my face!" So if you go to either show today, be sure to wear face protection, to prevent your face from being melted.
On a non-related note, I found this on YouTube last night and thought it was pretty damn cool: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnhKPw2NXIw. Its called Blondie vs. The Doors - Rapture Riders.
See you at Plan 9 today.
Tony Jordan
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