Greg’s Happenings
Jackson Browne headlines at Mountain Aire ’78!Photo by the late Steve Grandstaff.
My personal guru, Mahat, told me there was something mystical and magical about the dates of August 15 – 17. Indeed, those were the dates of the legendary Woodstock Festival in 1969. Joe Cocker performed there. And now, 39 years later, on August 17, 2008, Joe appeared at Ironstone Amphitheatre and, quite simply, electrified the concert-goers – again! He’d croon a soulful song, and moments later belt out a bluesy ballad: “The Letter”, “Hitchcock Railway”, “You Are So Beautiful”, “You Can Leave Your Hat On”, and many more. The crowd loved every second of it! Returning to the stage for an encore, Joe let loose with “She Came in Through the Bathroom Window”, and “Cry Me a River”. Joe’s still got it!!
Headliner, The Steve Miller Band didn’t disappoint, either. Mesmerizing the audience with his thrilling guitar work, Steve and the band spiced up their performance with some rather hypnotizing synthesizer, four new songs, friendly dialogue with the crowd and an encore that included “The Joker”. It was one incredible evening!
Now I must change gears and get ready for Willie Nelson (Friday, Sept. 5). My personal guru/fashion consultant has assisted me in a makeover. Under his advice, I have shaved off my beard, and have begun wearing a KKBN (country music, 93.5 FM) tee shirt – and a Baily “Wild Bunch” cowboy hat, (made in Texas.) The cowboy karma must be with me, too; as I’ve found seven Willie Nelson cassettes (in excellent condition!) while visiting The Red Church Thrift Shop (Tuolumne Road in East Sonora) and Mark Twain/St. Joseph Thrift Shop (Main Street, Angels Camp), over the last four weeks! Life is good!
MARK YOUR CALENDARS! The next Karaoke night at Twain Harte’s Courtside Bar & Grill is Thursday, August 28 (and every Thursday night, thereafter). I tell ya, man, Karaoke is spreading through the Mother Lode like wildfire – no, that would be a very bad play on words. Although Courtside’s Karaoke on the nights of August 7 and 14 took a while for containment – and was still out of control through those evenings! Evidently, TH needed Karaoke! Actually, every town does! Karaoke is also on tap at Micki and Larry’s Sports Pub in Copperopolis, Saturday night, August 30; and every Friday night at the Pine Tree at Mono Way/Hess in E. Sonora.
Crazy Ivan appears in Eproson Park, Saturday, August 23 at 6 p.m. (no cover charge!) The new publication, Discover Twain Harte describes Crazy Ivan as “Tuolumne County’s Dance Party Band! For sure, they are WILD and CRAZY! Anyway, the magazine recommends you “bring a lawn chair and a picnic and enjoy Summers in Twain Harte!” Groovy!
MotherLoder’s and flatlanders come together at Mountain Aire!
Photo by the late Steve Grandstaff.
The Growler Craft Brewery in Murphys is shaping up as one of the “in” spots along Hwy 4! Appearing on Saturday, August 30 (8:30 p.m.), is none other than Thick Soup! Their music has been described as “honest acoustic music, with an emphasis on original composition, favoring jazz, blues and bluegrass. Growler owner Richard Howell and Manager James Werthman (formerly the booking agent for the legendary Mountain Aire Concerts) are happy to present the start of their Saturday Night Music Series! ”This will be, primarily, a local, acoustic musicians’ outlet in a coffee house setting,” James explains. “And there’s never a door or cover charge. Cheers!” he adds.
Check out these pictures of Mountain Aire! Jackson Browne was hot in 1978! After his self-titled debut album (released in 1972) produced the #8 hit, “Doctor My Eyes,” and went gold! His next two LPs, “For Everyman” (1973) and “Late for the Sky” (1974) went platinum! And his disc, “The Pretender” (1976) became his first top 10 LP! A lot of people don’t know this, but Jackson co-wrote the Eagles’ first hit, “Take It Easy”! Hey! Recognize anybody in that crowd photo?
Quite a few people have been saying, “Bring Mountain Aire back!!!” And I agree, that would be TOTALLY COOL! And that might be just the thing to revive the Calaveras Fairgrounds! Anybody else want to weigh in on this issue? Till then, peace, love and happy thoughts of the 60s and 70s and 80s!
Are you in Sonora? Do you know my pal Skeezix? His real name is Robert “Bob” Corrado. We hitched out to the Haight back in the late sixties early seventies. I hitched back east went to India with my guru and Bob stayed in The Haight to work with the Free Clinic. Last I knew, he was a stockbroker in Sonora. Peace. Jimmy
August 25th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
Nice to read your article and the music and performers bring back youthful memories. Thanks for your writing.
And, under a different subject, have you discontinued your poster distribution business? If not, we’d like to bring you back and if so, remember, we owe you money. We need an invoice and we will mail you a check - and, if you still drive around, please let us know. Mary Jane Genochio
Calaveras Arts Council 754-1774
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:13 pm
Mounatain aire ‘78 was my first concert. Changed my life! Any photos, posters, etc. are wanted
October 16th, 2009 at 6:49 am