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| Oakland's first psychedelic rock venue, the Veterans Memorial Building at 200 Grand Avenue |
I have published a large number of blog posts about the 1960s and 70s rock history of Berkeley and Oakland, CA. The posts are scattered about several different blogs, and go back many years. They do a tell a story, of sorts, when seen together, so I have gathered them here. I had to do this for my own purposes, so it made the most sense to make this generally accessible.
The posts below are about the rock history of Berkeley, Oakland and the East Bay. They
cover landmarks, events and bands. Since bands don't really have a
location, I have been broad-minded about what counts as an East Bay band. I have also included some key blog pages from the ChickenOnAUnicycle site managed by my co-conspirator Ross, since it has an Alameda County focus. I have extended my coverage out to Contra Costa County, however, since it won't have a tracker of its own.
For bands that are truly East Bay bands, like Country Joe and The Fish or the Loading Zone, I have only included posts about the bands themselves, rather than just posts about events where they played (if I included every post of a concert where Country Joe played, the post would be too long). In general, this Navigation post works in conjunction with my other Navigation posts. While there is some intentional duplication, all of my useful posts and web pages (plus some other select posts) are included in either this tracker or the ones listed below.
Lost Live Dead and Hooterollin' By Show Date
60s and 70s Rock Nightclub History
Family Dog on The Great Highway
The Family Dog on The Great Highway, at 660 Great Highway in San Francisco, near Ocean Beach, was only open from June 1969 through August 1970. An ongoing project reviews every single presentation.
Grateful Dead Spin-offs/60s Rock History
Besides having a link to posts on non-Garcia Grateful Dead outfits (Bob Weir & Kingfish, etc), this Navigation post serves as the general catch-all for 60s and 70s rock history posts that don't fit logically in the other trackers.
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| The Jabberwock, at 2901 Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley ca 1966 |
Berkeley VenuesThe Blind Lemon, 2362 San Pablo Avenue, Berkeley, CA
The ur-site.
The Jabberwock, 2901 Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley, CA 1964-67
The Jabberwock was a folk club, but it gave birth to Country Joe and The Fish.
List of Jabberwock Performances 1964-July 8, 1967
The Questing Beast, 2504 San Pablo Avenue, Berkeley, CA: Performance History 1965-66
County Joe and The Fish got started at the Jabberwock, but they went electric at the Questing Beast.
New Orleans House, 1505 San Pablo Avenue, Berkeley, CA Performance Listing 1966-1970
The
New Orleans, opened as a home for New Orleans-style jazz, rapidly
became a rock club by 1966. It was the primary nightclub for original
rock music in Berkeley throughout the 1960s. We attempt to identify
every performer from 1967 to 1969, and its an excellent survey of
original California rock bands just one tier below the Fillmore and
Avalon.
1505 San Pablo Avenue, Berkeley, CA: New Orleans House Performers List, July-September 1967 ('67 Berkeley VII)
Freight and Salvage, 1827 San Pablo Avenue, Berkeley, CA Performance Listing 1968-70
The
Freight and Salvage was really a folk club, but it was founded by
Berkeley hippies in 1968, and it was part of the rock music community,
in it own way. We attempt to identify every performer at the Freight and
Salvage in 1968 and '69, and its a primer on American music over the
next 50 years.
Mandrake's, 1048 University Avenue, Berkeley, CA Performance List 1965-1973
Mandrake's,
a converted pool hall on University and San Pablo, mainly presented
blues and jazz, but by the end of the 1960s, it presented a lot of rock
as well.
The Babylon, 2504 San Pablo Avenue, Berkeley, CA Performance Listings 1969-70
The Babylon featured original rock music, almost all from local East Bay bands.
The Long Branch, 2504 San Pablo Avenue, Berkeley, CA Performers Listing May-December 1971
The
Long Branch, at the infamous Berkeley music address of 2504 San Pablo,
expanded the building and replaced the Babylon in May 1971. This post is
a detailed discussion of every performer who was known to have played
the Long Branch in 1971, even if some dates are uncertain.
2504 San Pablo Avenue, Berkeley, CA: The Long Branch Performance History October-December 1973 (Long Branch III)
Keystone Berkeley, 2119 University Avenue, Berkeley, CA Performance Listings 1972
The
Keystone Berkeley replaced the New Monk, going from a fraternity beer
joint to Berkeley's primary rock club throughout the 1970s. This post is
a detailed discussion of every performer who played Keystone Berkeley
in 1972.
Keystone Berkeley, Berkeley, CA: Performance Listings, January-April 1975
The Keystone was still the second best gig in the Bay Area during this period.
2119 University Avenue, Berkeley, CA: The Keystone Berkeley
Jerry
Garcia played the Keystone Berkeley at least 243 times. His
relationship to Keystone Berkeley was unique to Garcia's career, and an
essential lynchpin of the club.
Bay Area Survey Rock Nightclub Survey, January-April 1974 Performance Listings
A
snapshot of East Bay rock nightclubs in 1974, including analysis of
performers for Keystone Berkeley (January), the Long Branch (February),
Bill Graham Presents (March, at Winterland and Berkeley Community
Theater) and the Freight and Salvage (April).
New Orleans House Performance List August 1969
Berkeley and East Bay Concerts, July-December 1967 ('67 Berkeley IX)
Berkeley and East Bay Concerts, April-June 1967 ('67 Berkeley VI)
Berkeley and East Bay Rock Concerts, January-March 1967 ('67 Berkeley III)
Berkeley and East Bay Rock Concerts October-December 1966 (Berkeley V)
Provo Park, Berkeley Concerts 1967-69
Berkeley and East Bay Rock Concerts July-September 1966 (Berkeley IV)
Berkeley and East Bay Rock Concerts April-June 1966 (Berkeley III)
Berkeley and East Bay Rock Concerts January-March 1966 (Berkeley II)
Berkeley and East Bay Rock Concerts October-December 1965 (Berkeley I)
2976 College Avenue, Open Theater, Berkeley, CA 1965-1966 History
Open Theater, Berkeley, CA (2976 College Avenue) 1965-66: early Ian Underwood
Oakland and East Bay Venues
200 Grand Avenue, Oakland, CA-Veterans Memorial Building
The Yellow Brick Road, 37266 Niles Boulevard, Fremont, CA: June 1967-January 1968 (Work In Progress)
1825 Salvio Street, Concord, CA: Concord Coliseum Performances 1967-68
Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia Landmark Guide: Oakland
The Grateful Dead at The Oakland Coliseum Arena and Stadium 1974-95
East Bay Bands
Loading Zone Performance List 1970 (Loading Zone I)
Loading Zone Performance List 1971 (Loading Zone II)
Loading Zone Performance List 1972 (Loading Zone III)Cleanliness and Godliness Skiffle Band
Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen Performance List 1969: Berkeley Beginnings
Freight and Salvage 1968-69 Performers Update: George Inskeep
Freight and Salvage 1968-69 Performers Update: Salt Creek, John Schank, Chris Kearney
Freight and Salvage 1968-69 Performers: Update
Berkeley Events
October 15, 1962: Closing of Tsubo's, Berkeley, CA
December 2, 1966 Pauley Ballroom, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA: Grateful Dead/Country Joe And The Fish
May 23, 1967 Lower Sproul Plaza, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA: Country Joe & The FishCountry Joe & The Fish, with a new album out, played Lower Sproul for free. They drowned out a protest. It was the last time that Joe & Barry did this, but it wasn't the last time a free concert drowned out political action.
August 1, 1969 The Bear's Lair, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA: Marmaduke with Jerry Garcia
March 3-4, 1970 The New Orleans House, Berkeley: Hot Tuna/Dry Creek Road
June 1971 New Monk, Berkeley, CA: The Grateful Dead with Merl Saunders
A fellow blogger pieces together some long-obscured facts and figures
out the Grateful Dead showed up for a Garcia/Saunders gig at the New
Monk. It's also possible, even likely, that they played again in March,
1972, by which time the venue had changed its name to Keystone Berkeley.
August 14-15, 1971 Berkeley Community Theater, Berkeley, CA: Grateful Dead/New Riders of The Purple Sage
Ned Lagin makes his Bay Area debut.
April 27, 1973 Keystone Berkeley, Berkeley, CA: Old And In The Way/Banana And The Bunch
February 2, 1974 Keystone Berkeley, Berkeley, CA: New Riders Of The Purple Sage
Jerry Garcia makes his last appearance with the Riders.
April 10, 1974 Freight & Salvage, Berkeley, CA: David Grisman and David Nichtern
February 25, 1975 Keystone Berkeley, Berkeley, CA: Good Old Boys/Soundhole
Jerry Garcia joins Frank Wakefield and David Nelson for a little weeknight bluegrass in Berkeley (and Marin, too).
October 11-12, 1975 Keystone Berkeley, Berkeley, CA: Jerry Garcia Band with Nicky Hopkins
The mysterious Tim Hensley joins the group on electric piano for both these shows.
December 31, 1975 Keystone Berkeley, Berkeley, CA; Jerry Garcia Band with Nicky Hopkins
December 21-22, 1976 Keystone Berkeley, Berkeley, CA: Jerry Garcia Band
Who was John Rich? This post interrogates the mystery of pedal steel
guitarist John Rich, a band member for this weekend only. The mystery is
solved when Rich himself joins in the Comment thread.
September 19, 1984 Julia Morgan Theater, Berkeley, CA: Tom Constanten/Electric Guitar Quartet
A pretty singular event.
Oakland Events
July 12, 1967 Oakland Auditorium Arena, Oakland, CA: Grass Roots/Moby Grape "Crepuscular Happening"The White Star Tuna company, looking to attract newly-married teenagers, sponsored two Oakland concerts with the Grass Roots and then The Doors.
November 9, 1969 Oakland Coliseum Arena, Oakland, CA: Rolling Stones
The Stones end up borrowing most of the Dead's sound system for the late show, and rock history is irrevocably changed.
March 5, 1971 Oakland Auditorium Arena, Oakland, CA: Grateful Dead
October 9-10, 1976 Oakland Coliseum Stadium: The Who/The Grateful Dead
August 4-5, 1979 Oakland Auditorium Arena, Oakland, CA: The Grateful Dead
Home court advantage.
January 13, 1980 Oakland Coliseum Arena, Oakland, CA: Grateful Dead/Jefferson Starship/Beach Boys/Joan Baez/Carlos Santana
April 25, 1981 Berkeley Community Theater, Berkeley, CA: Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann (SEVA Sing Out For Sight Benefit)
December 31, 1982 Oakland Auditorium Arena, Oakland, CA: Grateful Dead/The Dinosaurs
December 31, 1982 Oakland Auditorium Arena, Oakland, CA: Grateful Dead/The Dinosaurs
Two posts on this show--one on the Dinosaurs, and one speculating about
an unnamed guest percussionist during the Dead's third set.
October 31, 1986 Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center, Oakland, CA: Jerry Garcia Band/Kingfish with Bob Weir
January
23, 1988 Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center, Oakland, CA: Carlos Santana
and Friends/Tower of Power with Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir
Jerry still had it, for this night at least. All hail.
May 27, 1989 Oakland Coliseum Stadium, Oakland, CA: John Fogerty with Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir
Jerry Garcia gets to be just another guy in the band, perhaps for the
last time, when he and Bob Weir help back John Fogerty at a high-profile
benefit.
East Bay Events
April 15-21, 1966, Frenchy's, Hayward, CA: Peter Lewis with Peter and The Wolves
May 21, 1966, Frenchy’s, Hayward, CA: Neil Diamond/The Mothers
September 30-October 1, 1967: Frenchy's, Hayward, CA: Sly and The Family Stone plus T-Bone Walker
February 7, 1969, Berkeley Community Theater, Berkeley: Judy Collins
Contra Costa Events
October 23, 1966 Las Lomas High School, Walnut Creek, CA: Grateful Dead
July 22, 1967 Springhill Road, Lafayette, CA: Country Joe and The Fish
March 1-2, 1968 Clifford's Catering, Walnut Creek, CA: Grateful Dead
The Dead didn't play the Looking Glass, they played Clifford's. JGMF has the whole story.
September 7, 1981 Concord Pavilion, Concord, CA: Jerry Garcia Band/The Edge/Queen Ida
On Labor Day 1981, the Jerry Garcia Band played the 9,000-capacity
Concord Pavilion in the afternoon with two other bands. For a dollar.
Posts
Great research! A few addtl noteworthy GD East Bay concert dates/venues:
ReplyDelete5/14/66 Grateful Dead at Berkeley Veterans Memorial Hall on Center across from Berkeley High/BCT, apparently one of their first indoor concerts. In your linked blog on spring '66 concerts you mention this show and note that the venue is 'tiny.' Not sure I'd describe it as tiny, or even small. I attended a couple Berkeley Veteran's Hall shows, one seated and one a dance floor setup, and iirc it was a pretty huge, wide/deep open auditorium space in a building that takes up half a city block. Dinosaurs, Barry Melton, Country Joe occasionally played the Veteran's Hall in the '80s and '90s.
10/26/66 Grateful Dead North Face Ski Shop Berkeley (this was tiny!!!)
10/23/66 Grateful Dead Las Lomas High School, Walnut Creek
2/9/74 Jerry Garcia, Merl Saunders, Martin Fierro Rheem Theater Orinda (great performance!)
6/8/74 Day on the Green Grateful Dead, Beach Boys, NRPS, Commander Cody Oakland Coliseum
Jerry Garcia and John Kahn at the Dunsmuir in Oakland, 8/18/85
10/31/88 Halloween JGB show at the Kaiser with Edgar Winter and Leon Russell !!iwt!!
10/31/89 JGB Concord Pavillion