![]() ![]() In fact, Ace of Cups only released their debut album more than 50 (!) years after forming, as lead singer Denise Kaufman detailed to the Houston Press back in 2018. Both are rare since precious little footage of these groups exist. Screen shot from Mercury Studios Of the best historical importance here are live performances from the all-female group Ace of Cups (the gorgeous “Music,” “Simplicity,” and “Gospel Song,” showcasing their vocal harmonies) and Sons of Champlin (a horn-driven “Freedom”). As well as the free concerts in the city’s parks that were so important. It’s definitely of the now period as he namechecks local venues like the Avalon, Fillmore West, and Carousel. He gives an even-keeled history of San Francisco music history, but this is not from the distance of time. Gleason himself as the avuncular and erudite on-screen narrator of Westpole (1969), subtitled An Essay on the San Francisco Adult Rock Scene. ![]() ![]() It’s not surprising when Captain Trips is credited in the end roll as “Guru.” One can imagine someone today recognizing a grandparent and going “Poppy! Is that you smoking a joint?” “Nana, are you showing your boobs?”īut it’s Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead-filmed in his backyard with his family of Mountain Girl and daughter Sunshine swinging in a tire-who is the most clear-eyed and succinct about the family and bonds of the San Francisco groups He calls the Airplane “amazing musicians, poets, and crazy people,” as well as vocalizing his hopes and aspirations for the San Francisco Scene going forward. ![]() Videos throughout are intercut of familiar topless (male and female) fans grooving to music as part of a larger audience. They’re much more successful with a groovy “Subway” (intercut with footage of roadies setting up their equipment for the festival) and a psychedelic blues take on Bo Diddley’s “Mona.” Vocalist Dino Valenti and lead guitarist John Cipollina (who sings “Mona”) make the most impact here. Of the songs here, the countryfied “Warm Red Wine” and “Somebody’s Crying” flatline. Quicksilver Messenger Service are usually not mentioned in discussions of the “big bands” out of San Francisco, but for a while they were among the most popular locally, they just never broke through. Friend David Crosby drops by, and he and Kaukonen go into a comedy bit about drugs, finally asking the cameraman if he has any. I find it’s a lot easier to focus on a girl. Screen shot from Mercury Studios “I usually like to pick a chick out of the crowd. Guitarist Jorma Kaukonen wastes not a single note throughout, and Balin’s vocal power is on full display, especially in the hard rock of “Emergency.” True to the tenor of the times, he tells the camera in one of the few spoken interview segments of his stage practice. Co-lead vocalists Grace Slick and Marty Balin shine on “Mexico” and an extra funky “Plastic Fantastic Lover” respectively. A ferocious “Volunteers” (with its “Got a Revolution!” exhortation) really smokes and is intercut with new footage of protest rallies. The revelation here is how more expansive and rocking the Airplane are, especially for those who only know their most famous hits (“White Rabbit,” “Somebody to Love”). Go Ride the Music (1969) focuses on live performances from the then white-hot Jefferson Airplane (seven songs, filmed on a soundstage) and Quicksilver Messenger Service (four songs, filmed at an outdoor festival). They provide an incredible window of the place and an era from both a musical and sociological perspective. Rarely seen since their original broadcasts more than 50 years ago (and fortunate to still exist, given the proclivity for one-off TV shows of the era to be discarded or – gasp – even taped over!), a new DVD from Mercury Studios collects three of the specials in one package. In addition to covering them in the paper, he co-produced three hour-long of-the-moment documentaries for the city’s KQED Public Television. DVD cover He was an early and fervent proponent of bands like the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Santana, and other rock groups concentrated in the Bay Area. ![]()
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