I think this was my first concert, suitably with one of my all-time favorite artists. Local band the Nebulas opened. Unfortunaely, Brian Wilson was no longer touring with the band, having been replaced by Bruce Johnston who nearly knocked me over as they left the stage. We were right up front, and I don't remember the set list, but I do remeber the striped shirts they all wore. I found live music to be very exciting, and was hooked. (Poster from a few months earlier)

The original Electric Factory was in an old warehouse on Arch Street. Small, no frills, but hosted the best bands of the day. There were three benches between the stage and light show platform, and we got seats in the second row for this show. Remains one of my top concert memory of all time. Already a big Zappa fan, we were blown away by both the comedy routines and the musicanship. Highlights included the hysterical doo-wop Valerie and an improvisational King Kong with Frank conducting various sound effects and riffs.

We didn't get seats this time, but we were only about three people back. This has to be my most sensual concert experience. Although Janis was no beauty, the combination of her sexual tension and the uknown girl spooned against me, made for a very erotic night. (Poster for different show)

Another memorabe concert experience, but quite unlike the previous trips to the Electric Factory. The very mellow (probably stoned) crowd sat or layed on the floor for the whole perfomance. Very trippy light show, and Gracie Slick was radiant. "Philly Jam " song from the concert provided by Craig Fenton here

After missing his performance at the Electric Factory, we got another chance to see Jimi at a less than ideal venue. Destined to become the primary Philly concert venue for big acts, the Spectrum got off to a rough start by employing a gimicky rotating stage. Sure, everyone eventually got a center seat, but most of the time was spent looking at the back of speakers and listening to the sounds bonce off of the opposite wall. Add that blunder to the fact that I lost the crown to my front tooth after a sneeze on the way up, the result was a dissapointing concert experience. At least I got to see him. Article

I was a big fan at the time, but all I recall is the lousy sound system.

In the summer of '69, two 3-day rock festivals were being advertised on the East Coast with essentially the same lineups. One was less than 2 hours away and cost $15, the other cost $24 and would require a 4 hour trip. It seemed like a no-brainer, but I still have regrets that I wasn't part of that other festival held in the rain in NY. Never the less, I got to see Janis Joplin, Creedence Clearwater Revival, the Jefferson Airplane, Santana, Joe Cocker, Butterfield Blues Band and Canned Heat who all played at Woodstock two weeks later. Most memorable momments for me ocurred during Tim Buckley's set when a large part of the crowd stripped and jumped into the tracks' lagoon, and Joni Mitchell walking off in a huff after only three songs because people weren't paying enough attention to her. The Chambers Brothers brought down the house with Time Has Come Today and Little Richard closed out the festival in the raCrosby, Stills and Nash and The Moody Blues didn't show and there were "only" 110,000 or so in attendance, and no film was made, so it never went down in the historical conscious of the era, but it was a highlight for me. (Program pg 1, pg 2)