In these early days promoting events at the Fillmore Auditorium, Bill Graham often took the unique approach of having the featured act perform a first set to open the night. The support acts would then play during the break, followed by a second set by the headliner. In addition, many of these Fillmore Auditorium shows were billed as dance events rather than concerts, with no assigned seating on the floor, and were also some of the earliest productions to feature light shows and screen projections along with the live music.…entire summary
Grace Slick - vocals, organ
Marty Balin - vocals, percussion
Paul Kantner - vocals, guitar
Jorma Kaukonen - lead guitar
Jack Casady - bass
Spencer Dryden - drums
In these early days promoting events at the Fillmore Auditorium, Bill Graham often took the unique approach of having the featured act perform a first set to open the night. The support acts would then play during the break, followed by a second set by the headliner. In addition, many of these Fillmore Auditorium shows were billed as dance events rather than concerts, with no assigned seating on the floor, and were also some of the earliest productions to feature light shows and screen projections along with the live music. Attendees were encouraged to dance and interact with each other, making these events quite different than a traditional concert experience.
These Jefferson Airplane sets are fascinating for a number of reasons. Grace Slick had replaced Signe Anderson as the female voice of the band just a few weeks prior to this show, and these recordings give a clear picture of that transition as it was taking place. This concert also falls right in the middle of the initial studio sessions for the band's breakthrough second album, Surrealistic Pillow, which they were recording at RCA's studio A in Los Angeles the week before and the week after these performances. That album, more than any other, would soon gain Jefferson Airplane (along with the San Francisco cultural scene in general) its first, significant form of national attention.
Following a humorous introduction by Bill Graham, the first set kicks off with the roar of a jet taking off, but this time they launch into "She Has Funny Cars," one of their newer songs, to open the show. Much like the early show, the next four numbers all were featured on the band's debut LP, Jefferson Airplane Takes Off.
Jorma and Jack then take over for a version of "In The Morning," one of their earliest blues numbers featuring all the early trademarks of electric Hot Tuna, years before the fact. The early set ends with another lovely version of "My Best Friend." Although still somewhat primitive, the captivating Airplane vocal blend is clearly beginning to happen and the unique instrumental approach of Jorma, Jack and Spencer is becoming quite distinctive.
The Airplane then takes an extended break with a middle set by Demon Lover.
Read more about Jefferson Airplane in Crawdaddy!:
"Rediscovering Rock and Roll, A Journey: Chapter 13"
"The Golden Road: A Report on San Francisco"
"Good Riddance to the 40th Anniversary of the Summer of Love"
"Alexander 'Skip' Spence: Oar"
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