Gibson343 SF memories

[alfredovu]

With his kind permission, the great Avalon Ballroom SF Oct 69 memories published in WGO#5. Enjoy!

[schnittstelle]

Fantastic to read! Thanks a lot Gibson343 for sharing your memories and your permission! I really liked your accurate observations and all the vivid details. And thanks to alfredovu for posting this here, too!

[stooge]

I have WGO 5, and i didn't know Aral was in fact Gibson 343!
Nice to virtually meet you, I've read this article over and over during the years
and I love it (and a bit jealous too)

[gibson343]

Hi

There are some corrections to be made to this article written in 4 hours
on a Sunday night while my girlfriend at the time waited for me.
I told her it would be 2 so that last 2 hours were rushed.
First of all, the venue was not the Avalon. I actually
called Chet Helms looking for possible recordings. He
pointed out that the Avalon was abandoned after 1968
due to complaints about the noise levels. The Family Dog
resumed operations at a hall near the beach next to an
amusement park called Playland. I remember waiting all
afternoon outside the venue panhandling so I could buy
$1.00 tacos at a stand nearby. The date of the show is
November 8 1969. I was randomly guessing in my hurry to
finish the piece. Bob was there, but I made no connection.
I did meet Mark Farren of the Deviants. He looked VUish
so I asked him if he was with the band. He had an afro
and was wearing makeup.
Finally when they finished Afterhours they starting playing
something that sounded like the more melodic parts of
Murder Mystery with Moe and Lou singing. It seemed like this
for a moment but realized they were onto something else.
The song segued into Ocean/Here Comes the Waves.
For years I oftened wondered what that piece was.
I even thought maybe they played Little Sister, with Moe
instead of Nico singing, I was enamored of that song for years,
still am. Then I thought perhaps it was Ride into the Sun after
I heard the VU's version in the 90's. I now realize it was
I'm Sticking with You, thanks to the Quine tapes.
I replayed the show in my head for years afterwards making
note of the songs playe. I was quite familiar
with the 1st 3 LPs. I noted they did nothing from White Light/
White Heat. Many a girlfriend had to hear me relate the show
over and over, including my hilarious (to them) attempts
at demonstrating their moves on stage.
Oh, I have written this before but I think the version of
IWFTM listed as being from 11/8/69 on Robert's tapes
may be misdated, to a lesser degree I think this of
WGO.
When I listen to WLWH on the Jan 10 1969 set, the overloaded
coda reminds me of how they ended IWFTM. This is not
the case with the version on the Quine recordings which is simply
played fast. I also remember the amps over loading and
cutting out at the end of this opening number. When I listen
to I Can't Stand It on the Boot vol 1 set, the solo loses something
in the upper registers. I noticed this live, but thought I was
to preoccupied by watching Lou's gyrations, which were uber-human.
However with Bob's recordings sounding the same I think
they may have done something to their equippment.

[stooge]

Thanks a lot for that piece, gibson 343!
I was always love that kind of articles, full of details
this is the most fascinating period for the velvet underground as far as i'm concerned
I love the way they played, cool & self confident in small clubs, the set lists were amazing
the end cole, matrix, vulcan gas, second fret & other quiet knight are simply magical names
for me

[MJG196]

There are some corrections to be made to this article written in 4 hours
on a Sunday night while my girlfriend at the time waited for me.
I told her it would be 2 so that last 2 hours were rushed.
First of all, the venue was not the Avalon. I actually
called Chet Helms looking for possible recordings. He
pointed out that the Avalon was abandoned after 1968
due to complaints about the noise levels. The Family Dog
resumed operations at a hall near the beach next to an
amusement park called Playland. I remember waiting all
afternoon outside the venue panhandling so I could buy
$1.00 tacos at a stand nearby. The date of the show is
November 8 1969. I was randomly guessing in my hurry to
finish the piece. Bob was there, but I made no connection.
I did meet Mark Farren of the Deviants. He looked VUish
so I asked him if he was with the band. He had an afro
and was wearing makeup.
Finally when they finished Afterhours they starting playing
something that sounded like the more melodic parts of
Murder Mystery with Moe and Lou singing. It seemed like this
for a moment but realized they were onto something else.
The song segued into Ocean/Here Comes the Waves.
For years I oftened wondered what that piece was.
I even thought maybe they played Little Sister, with Moe
instead of Nico singing, I was enamored of that song for years,
still am. Then I thought perhaps it was Ride into the Sun after
I heard the VU's version in the 90's. I now realize it was
I'm Sticking with You, thanks to the Quine tapes.
I replayed the show in my head for years afterwards making
note of the songs playe. I was quite familiar
with the 1st 3 LPs. I noted they did nothing from White Light/
White Heat. Many a girlfriend had to hear me relate the show
over and over, including my hilarious (to them) attempts
at demonstrating their moves on stage.
Oh, I have written this before but I think the version of
IWFTM listed as being from 11/8/69 on Robert's tapes
may be misdated, to a lesser degree I think this of
WGO.
When I listen to WLWH on the Jan 10 1969 set, the overloaded
coda reminds me of how they ended IWFTM. This is not
the case with the version on the Quine recordings which is simply
played fast. I also remember the amps over loading and
cutting out at the end of this opening number. When I listen
to I Can't Stand It on the Boot vol 1 set, the solo loses something
in the upper registers. I noticed this live, but thought I was
to preoccupied by watching Lou's gyrations, which were uber-human.
However with Bob's recordings sounding the same I think
they may have done something to their equippment.

Thanks a lot for that, Gibson! I was just bitching to someone how there are so few people here who have stories to tell about seeing them live.

[Chance]

there are so few people here who have stories to tell about seeing them live.

Yeah, but every one of them started a band!

[schnittstelle]

The club gigs of 69 are also my most favorite live period of the band.
Nothing can beat these recollections of people who have been there. Listening to a recording and reading this, makes you almost feel you're there...

Thank you very much!

[velvetfan]

The club gigs of 69 are also my most favorite live period of the band.
Nothing can beat these recollections of people who have been there. Listening to a recording and reading this, makes you almost feel you're there...

Thank you very much!

Yes, I love these stories too. I saw them in '93 and as good as it was; it pales in comparison to '69 and before. Oh for a time machine; I would make a beeline for NYC, buy about 100 sealed Bananas, stock singles, perhaps an ATP 45 rpm pic sleeve, and then head for the Factory! Oh what fun I would have and of course I would attend every show with a DAT recorder from the future! I would even have a copy of "Sweet Rock And Roll"

[Doctor Bob]

there are so few people here who have stories to tell about seeing them live.

Yeah, but every one of them started a band!