The Jabberwock, 2901 Telegraph Avenue (at Russell Street), Berkeley, CA
June 16, 1963 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Flamenco: David Jones, Fred Mojia, David Rubio) ? 1964 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Bukka White) ? 1964 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Ian and Sylvia) January 30, 1964 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Dick Oxtot Trio) February 1, 1964 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Dick Oxtot Trio) February 6, 1964 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Dick Oxtot Trio) February 8, 1964 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Dick Oxtot Trio) February 13, 1964 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Dick Oxtot Trio) February 15, 1964 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Dick Oxtot Trio) February 20, 1964 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Dick Oxtot Trio) February 22, 1964 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Dick Oxtot Trio. Bob Dylan was in the audience, before his concert at the Berkeley Community Theater)
? 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Frankie Lee Sims did one of his last public performances at the Jabberwock)
April 4, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Trevor Koehler's Quartet) April 11, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Trevor Koehler's Quartet) April 18, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Trevor Koehler's Quartet) April 23, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (The Freedom Singers) April 25, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Trevor Koehler's Quartet) April 29-May 1, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Son House) May 2, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Afternoon: The Four Dimension, Evening: Hoot) May 6-8, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Alice Stuart) May 9, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Afternoon: The Four Dimension, Evening: Hoot) May 13-15, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Charles O'Hegarty) May 16, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Afternoon: The Four Dimension, Evening: Hoot) May 20-22, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Jean Redpath) May 23, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Afternoon: The Four Dimension, Evening: Hoot) May 30, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Afternoon: The Four Dimension, Evening: Hoot) June 6, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Afternoon: The Four Dimension, Evening: Hoot) June 13, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Afternoon: The Four Dimension, Evening: Hoot) June 20, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Afternoon: The Four Dimension, Evening: Hoot) June 25-26, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Pine Valley Boys) June 27, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Afternoon: The Four Dimension, Evening: Hoot) July 4, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Afternoon: The Four Dimension, Evening: Hoot) July 11, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Afternoon: The Four Dimension, Evening: Hoot) July 14-15, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Robbie Basho) July 16, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Terry Garwaithe) July 18, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Afternoon: The Four Dimension, Evening: Hoot)
July 19, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (2 shows 7.30 & 10.00, Vietnam Community Benefit, with Paul Armstrong, Toni Brown, Reid Cooper, Carl Ducatz, Terry Garthuvaite, Clarence VanHook, Jon & Deidre Lundberg, Rick Schubb, Ken Spiker, Miriam Stafford, Steve Talbot, Ward S. Taylor)
July 25, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Afternoon: The Four Dimension, Evening: Hoot) August 1, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Afternoon: The Four Dimension, Evening: Hoot) August 8, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Afternoon: The Four Dimension, Evening: Hoot) August 15, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Afternoon: The Four Dimension, Evening: Hoot) August 22, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Afternoon: The Four Dimension, Evening: Hoot) August 29, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Afternoon: The Four Dimension, Evening: Hoot) September 5, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Afternoon: The Four Dimension, Evening: Hoot) September 6, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (CLOSED) September 12, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Afternoon: The Four Dimension, Evening: Hoot) September 13, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (CLOSED) September 15-16, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Paul Armstrong) September 17-18, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (The Wry Catchers) September 19, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Afternoon: The Four Dimension, Evening: Hoot) September 20, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (CLOSED) September 21, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Alan Higgins) September 22-23, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Chris Selsor) September 24-25, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (David and Tina Meltzer) September 26, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Afternoon: The Four Dimension, Evening: Hoot) September 27-28, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Alan Higgins) September 29-30, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Larry Hanks) October 1-2, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (The Times Square Two) October 3, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Afternoon: The Four Dimension, Evening: Hoot) October 4, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (CLOSED) October 5, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Dave Cohen) October 6, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (The Singers' Circle with Barry Olivier) October 7, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Robbie Basho) October 8-9, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (The Step Sisters) October 10, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Afternoon: The Four Dimension, Evening: Hoot) October 11, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Benefit for DMB Publications - Rag Baby and Et Tu. Joe McDonald, Peter Krug, Paul Gilbert, Betty Reid, Carl Shrager, (MC) Bill Steele) October 12, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Dave Cohen) October 13, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (The Singers' Circle with Barry Olivier plus a guest appearance by Ale Ekstrom playing "Deep Water" on his concertina) October 14, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Robbie Basho) October 15-16, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Peter Krug) October 17, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Afternoon: The Four Dimension, Evening: Hoot) October 18, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (CLOSED) October 22-23, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (The Wry Catchers, Ale Ekstrom) October 24, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Afternoon: The Four Dimension, Evening: Hoot) October 25, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (CLOSED) October 26, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Cy Koch) October 27, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Singers Circle with Barry Olivier) October 28, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Robbie Basho) October 29-30, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Joe McDonald, ED Denson, Pat Sullivan, (poet) Pete Winslow) October 31, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Afternoon: The Four Dimension, Evening: Hoot with Paul Armstrong) November 1, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (CLOSED) November 2, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Cy Koch) November 3, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (The Singers Circle with Barry Olivier) November 4, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Robbie Basho) November 5-6, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Larry Hanks, Chris Selsor, (poet) Pete Winslow) November 7, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Hoot with Paul Armstrong) November 8, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (CLOSED) November 10, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (The Singers Circle with Barry Olivier) November 11, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Robbie Basho) November 14, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Hoot with Paul Armstrong) November 15, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (CLOSED) November 17, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (The Singers Circle with Barry Olivier) November 18, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Robbie Basho) November 19-20, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Don Crawford) November 21, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Hoot with Paul Armstrong) November 22-23, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Larry Hanks, Chris Selsor) November 24, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (The Singers Circle with Barry Olivier) November 25, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Robbie Basho) November 26-27, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (John Fahey) November 28, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Hoot with Paul Armstrong) November 29, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (CLOSED) November 30, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Larry Hanks, Chris Selsor) December 1, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (The Singers' Circle with Barry Olivier) December 2, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Robbie Basho) December 3-4, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Ken Spiker) December 5, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Joe McDonald & others) December 6, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (CLOSED) December 7, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Larry Hanks, Chris Selsor) December 8, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (The Singers' Circle with Barry Olivier) December 9, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Robbie Basho) December 10-11, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Mike Cooney) December 12, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Hoot) December 13, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (CLOSED) December 14, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Larry Hanks, Chris Selsor) December 15, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (The Singers' Circle with Barry Olivier) December 16, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Robbie Basho) December 17-18, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (The Enigmas, Blind Ebbets Field) December 19, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Hoot) December 20-27, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Closed for Christmas Vacation) December 28, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Larry Hanks, Chris Selsor) December 29, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (The Singers' Circle with Barry Olivier) December 30, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Robbie Basho) December 31, 1965 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (ED Denson & others)
1966
January 1, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (ED Denson & others) January 2, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Hoot with Happenings) January 3, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (CLOSED) January 4, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Joe McDonald) January 5, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (The Singers' Circle with Barry Olivier) January 6, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Robbie Basho) January 7, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (John Fahey) January 8, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA ("Krazy Krassner Kaukus". John Fahey, Country Joe and the Fish (as the McDonald/Melton duo augmented by others to create the Instant Action Jug Band), Paul Krassner) January 9, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Folk Central Benefit. ED Denson (MC), "Crazy" Melton, Hanks McGrew, Robbie Basho, "Preacher" Paul Armstrong, Joe McDonald and others) January 10, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (VDC Benefit. Joe McDonald with Kelly Sistus, Moe Hirsch and other poets, actors and musicians) January 11, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Joe McDonald) January 12, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (The Singers' Circle with Barry Olivier) January 13, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Robbie Basho) January 14-15, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Rosalie Sorrels) January 16, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Hoot with Happenings) January 17, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (VDC Benefit. Joe McDonald with poets, actors and musician) January 18, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Sweets Mill Mountain Boys, Joe McDonald) January 19, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (The Singers' Circle with Barry Olivier) January 20, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Robbie Basho) January 21-22, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (David Lindley) January 23, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Hoot with Happenings) January 24, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (VDC Benefit. Joe McDonald with poets, actors and musician) January 25, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Joe McDonald) January 26, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (The Singers' Circle with Barry Olivier) January 27, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Robbie Basho, Delta Blues and Creole Dances) January 28-29, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (David and Tina Meltzer) January 30, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Hoot with Happenings)
January 31, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (VDC Benefit. "Congress of Wonders" by Open Theater, "Conversations from Jail" by Steve Weissman, Robbie Basho, Mike Rossman and Jerry Abrams, Joe McDonald) February 1, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Possibly the Loading Zone) February 2, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (The Singers' Circle with Barry Olivier) February 3, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Robbie Basho) February 4-5, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Lee Underwood, The Congress of Wonders (reading the Works of John Lennon and Allen Ginsberg) Esoteric Urban Blues) February 6, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Hoot) February 7, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (VDC Benefit. Escalators, Poetry readings by Mathew Zion, Thanasis Maskaleris, David Cole) February 8, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Country Joe and The Fish) February 9, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Barry Olivier and the Singers Circle) February 10, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Robbie Basho) February 11-12, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Dan Crary) February 13, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Hoot) February 14, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (VDC Benefit. Country Joe and the Fish) February 15, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Country Joe and the Fish. This may well have been just Joe McDonald and Barry Melton appearing as an acoustic duo.) February 16, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Barry Olivier and the Folk) February 17, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Robbie Basho) February 18-19, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Sweets Mill Mountain Boys) Sunday 20 February 1966 Hoot: Frank Powell, Sandy Rothman, Jerry Foster, Phil Greenberg, Ken Spiker and (probably) Barry Melton A Campbell Coe photo has Rothman and Foster playing as a duo. The photo is dated February 20, 1966. There is also a photo of Frank Powell (an African-American playing solo guitar) that appears to be taken the same night. Monday 21 February 1966 Matthew Zion, Thanasis Maskaleris and Loewin Sohn (all poetry readings), "Conversations from Jail" by Steve Weissman, Dan Paik, John Shine [VDC Benefit] February 22, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Country Joe and the Fish) Wednesday 23 February 1966 The Singers' Circle with Barry Olivier Bill Ehlert and Bill Tolman busted for possession of pot. They we arraigned and bail was reduced from $3300 to $1100. Their lawyer wqas Peter Franck. Thursday 24 February 1966 Robbie Basho, Reverend Gary Davis According to Phil Greenberg, the Reverend played an informal set at The Jabberwock at about 1:00 am the night before the Little Theater show. Friday 25 February 1966 Wry Catchers, Ale Ekstrum, Country Joe and the Fish, Paul Armstrong, Dan Paik. Unscheduled, Rev Gary Davis plays (drunk) at the Jabberwock Benefit to raise the $1100 bail for Bill Ehlert and Bill Tolman who were busted for possession of pot on February 23 and were being held at Santa Rita County Prison. Unscheduled, Reverend Gary Davis plays (drunk on Seagram's 7 with peppermint candy) at the Jabberwock. The Reverend Gary Davis had played earlier in the evening at the Little Theater, Berkeley (Florence Schwimly Little Theatre) in a show presented by "Brillig" - a front group for the Jabberwock. Whilst visiting Berkeley, the Reverend stayed with members of Country Joe and the Fish in Mrs Sherrill's adjacent apartment building on Russell Street. Barry Melton recalls the visit of the good Reverend. "In the early days of Country Joe and the Fish, me and most of other guys in the band lived next door to "The Jabberwock," a folk music nightclub in Berkeley. The club was owned by a big, friendly guy named Bill "Jolly Blue" Ehlert. The Jabberwock was only a postage-stamp sized place, so when Jolly Blue got an offer to do a Reverend Gary Davis show, he decided to promote it in the Berkeley Community Theatre. We were all in awe of "Rev" and it was decided that while he was in Berkeley, he would stay in our house. I remember he stayed there several days, as we sat about the kitchen playing music hour by hour. I think he'd played the "Ash Grove" down in L.A. and had dead time between playing there and playing in Berkeley--this was in late 1966 or early 1967.
Saturday 26 February 1966 Wry Catchers, Ale Ekstrum, Country Joe and the Fish, Paul Armstrong, Dan Paik Benefit, replacing the scheduled Hoot, to raise the $1100 bail for Bill Ehlert and Bill Tolman who were busted for possession of pot on February 23 and were being held at Santa Rita County Prison. Sunday 27 February 1966 Country Joe and the Fish, Paul Armstrong, Dan Paik and Others Benefit to raise the $1100 bail for Bill Ehlert and Bill Tolman who were busted for possession of pot on February 23 and were being held at Santa Rita County Prison. February 28, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (VDC Benefit. Poetry Readings, Folk Music) March 1-2, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Dan Paik) Thursday 03 March 1966 The Congress of Wonders reading from the works of Shakespeare, Lord Buckley, John Lennon, Allen Ginsberg Friday 04 March 1966 Country Joe and the Fish, Robbie Basho The poster says “A Magnificent Double Bill.” Country Joe and The Fish are listed as “Rag Baby Recording Artists” and Basho as “hot new Takoma recording artist". Future Country Joe and The Fish manager ED Denson was the principal of both labels. Saturday 05 March 1966 Country Joe and the Fish, Robbie Basho, Larry Hanks Sunday 06 March 1966 Hoot with Larry Hanks and Jerusalem Slim, Paul Armstrong Paul Armstrong would record with Country Joe and The Fish in their initial electric incarnation that appeared on their self-released 1966 EP. Armstrong lived, with other members of Country Joe and the Fish, in Mrs Sherrill's appartment house behind the Jabberwock. Monday 07 March 1966 Closed Tuesday 08 March 1966 Párra Ó Síocháin Wednesday 09 March 1966 Párra Ó Síocháin Thursday 10 March 1966 Congress of Wonders reading from the great poets of the ages Congress of Wonders were a comedy/satire trio from Berkeley, initially from the UC Berkeley drama department and later part of Berkeley’s Open Theater on College Avenue, a prime spot for what were called “Happenings” (now ‘Performance Art’). The group performed at the Avalon and other rock venues. Ultimately a duo, Karl Truckload (Howard Kerr) and Winslow Thrill (Richard Rollins) created two Congress of Wonders albums on Fantasy, Revolting and Sophomoric. Earl Pillow (actually Wesley Hind) was the original third member. Reg E Williams has some photos of the Congress of Wonders at his web site. March 11-12, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (John Fahey) Sunday 13 March 1966 Hoot, Lee Underwood March 14, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (CLOSED) Tuesday 15 March 1966 Blind Ebbets Field (Barry Melton) Wednesday 16 March 1966 Ron Chinn - flamenco Thursday 17 March 1966 Ron Chinn - flamenco Friday 18 March 1966 Skip James Saturday 19 March 1966 Skip James, Pete Van Hook Sunday 20 March 1966 Hoot with Paul Armstrong March 21, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (CLOSED) Tuesday 22 March 1966 Blind Ebbets Field (Barry Melton) March 23-24, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Robbie Basho) March 25-26, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Jean Redpath Sunday 27 March 1966 Hoot with John Fahey Benefit for Jabberwock Legal Defense Fund Monday 28 March 1966 John Fahey Benefit for Jabberwock Legal Defense Fund March 29-30, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (John Shine March 31, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (William Halperin, James Gibson Poetry (Haleperin) and Jazz (Gibson) accompanyment. April 1-2, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Sweets Mill Mountain Boys "The Triumphant Return of the Sweets Mill Mountain Boys" from Fresno, CA. April 3, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Hoot with Jerusalem Slim MC "Jerusalem Slim" is almost certainly a Nom Du Folk for Larry Hanks. April 5, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Larry Hanks sings "Woody Guthrie Songs and Ballads" April 6, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Larry Hanks sings "Woody Guthrie Songs and Ballads" April 7, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (CLOSED) April 8, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (David and Tina Meltzer, Dan Paik, Greg Lasser David Meltzer was primarily a Beat Poet, but he also played folk music. He would end leading the group Serpent Power, who released a rock album in 1967 on Vanguard. He subsequently dropped his music career and focused on writing, and he has since published many works. Dan Paik was a sometime member of The Instant Action Jug Band, andplayed "folk-blues" as a solo artist. Greg Lasser was a pedal steel guitar and banjo player who latterly worked on the maintenance and repair of the instruments. This show advertised "with the magnificent banjo of Greg Lasser (played by himself)". April 9, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (David and Tina Meltzer, Dan Paik, Greg Lasser A quote from Rag Baby accompanied the advertising for David and Tina: "some of the most original music I have ever heard". April 10, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Hoot with Larry Hanks April 11, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (CLOSED) April 12, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Phil Greenberg, Phil Marsh A calendar for April and May 1966 survives, and it is headed “Folk Music Lives”. The dates on the calendar exclude weekends. The header suggests that folk is already being encroached by rock (the Fillmore has been open for two months, and the Avalon has just opened), but the absence of Friday and Saturday dates is curious. It may be that weekend shows were advertised separately - and may not all have been folk shows - but it may also be that there were no performers on Friday and Saturday nights. Phil Marsh was also a former member of The Instant Action Jug Band., and Phil Greenberg was also part of the same social crowd. Greenberg, at least, was a regular on “Hoot Night.” For their duo shows, Greenberg and Marsh would each do a solo set, and then do a set together. Greenberg still has a tape of two cuts from this solo performance, and the voices of Barry Melton, Bruce Barthol and ED Denson are plainly audible in the audience, demonstrating the friendly insularity of the scene. This was also the first paid extravaganza by Phil and Phil at the 'Wock - with them each receiving $5. No records exist of what the money was spent on. Phil Greenberg would go on to play in England with Bruce Barthol as members of Formerly Fat Harry, who cut an album for Harvest and cut a one sided demo with Wizz Jones. The demo eventually found a release via Nigel Cross's Shagrat label and can now be downloaded. As a side issue, Nigel also arranged for Hux to release an interesting selection of Formerly Fat Harry material from the group's own archive (Goodbye For Good) and released the marvelous Mariachi Riff Live on his own Shagrat label with extensive liner notes from the quiver of Colin Hill. April 13-14, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Chris Selsor) April 15-16, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (John Fahey) April 17, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Afternoon: Joe Tugwell and the Gospel Tonics; April 17, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Sunday Night Hoot with "Long Lean" Larry Hanks as MC) April 18, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (CLOSED) April 19, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Phil Greenberg, Phil Marsh [advertised as "Blues and Nonsense"] During one of the April 1966 Greenberg and Marsh shows, the Jolly Blue Giant made his singing debut on the Old Sow Song.
April 20-21, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Ken Spiker) April 22-23, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Lee Underwood) April 24, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Sunday Night Hoot with Larry Hanks) April 25, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (CLOSED) April 26-27, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Lightnin’ Hopkins, Dan Paik) April 28, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (ED Denson, Phil Greenberg & Phil Marsh) April 29-30, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Los Flamencos Del Valle, Saul (Solomon Feltdhouse) Sunday 01 May 1966 [3pm] The Unidentified Flying Object (Notes From The Underground); [9pm] Sunday Night Hoot with Larry Hanks There is a somewhat contentious position that the Notes From The Underground were advertised as, although never called, the Unidentified Flying Object. There is raft of evidence to substantiate this and a slightly smaller raft (a canoe of evidence if you will) suggesting a different unspecific solution. If this were not enough, I also now claim that the Notes From The Underground were also advertised as “Oedipus and the Mothers” for the three-day Jabberwock Rent Party in mid May. The poster advertising the rent party has a number of nom de folks - Filippe Villaverde, Blind Ebbets Field, Berkeley Fuzz and the Hedd Busters, Saul etc. and I am in no doubt that Oedipus and the Mothers is another. Having contacted a member of the similarly named garage band from Texas I can confirm they had no involvement. Considering also that date wise this is spot on for the Sunday afternoon shows by the Notes From The Underground (UFOs) I have concluded that Oedipus and the Mothers, the Unidentified Flying Object and the Notes are one of the same. Monday 02 May 1966 Benefit for Bob Scheer Bob Scheer was a one time City Lights book store employee and an editor at the left-leaning magazine Ramparts. Benefits were held for him in his quest to stand for Congress on an anti-war and anti-poverty stance - to be fair, still valid reasons to stand today. Scheer later became a journalist for Playboy and the Los Angeles Times. May 3-4, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Robbie Basho) May 5, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (ED Denson, Phil Greenberg & Phil Marsh) May 6-7, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (James Wilkins) Sunday 08 May 1966 [3pm] The Unidentified Flying Object (Notes From The Underground); [9pm] Sunday Night Hoot with Larry Hanks Monday 09 May 1966 Gamut Theater's "Scenes From Pfiffer's Ironic", Ken Spiker (folk), The Aztecs (rock) and Lee Skipper Jazz Quintet Peace Night and Benefit for Bob Scheer Tuesday 10 May 1966 Congress of Wonders [readings from Lennon and Lord Buckley] "Total Humor" with readings from Lennon and Lord Buckley May 11-12, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Parra O’Siochain - singer and lutist) Friday 13 May 1966 Babe Stovall - Mississippi blues Jewell "Babe" Stovall was born on October 4, 1907 in Mississippi. He played acoustic Mississippi blues and has been cited as a musical influence by a number of musicians, not least Jerry Jeff Walker who reportedly travelled with and learned from Stovall. He died September 21, 1974. Jerry Jeff Walker was to appear at the 'Wock with his band Circus Maximus and Stovall was to be penned in to history as Walker's "Mr Bojangles".. Saturday 14 May 1966 Babe Stovall - Mississippi blues The poster describes the show as "breakdown and blues" and quotes the Broadside of Boston: "an odd mixture of bluesman and songster …plays with an infectious rhthym … It is my unqualified wish that you go see and hear him". Sunday 15 May 1966 [3pm] The Unidentified Flying Object (Notes From The Underground); [9pm] Sunday Night Hoot with Larry Hanks Monday 16 May 1966 Folk Benefit for Bob Scheer Tuesday 17 May 1966 Congress of Wonders, Country Joe and the Fish, plus assorted others - see the notes for Thursday 19th [Pay the Rent Benefit] On this day Bill Ehlert passed a lie detector test and charges of possession of marijuana were dropped the following day. The charges arose from a "bust" on February 23 - Bill never got back his tin of oregano. Wednesday 18 May 1966 Country Joe and the Fish, David Cohen, plus assorted others - see the notes for Thursday 19th [Pay the Rent Benefit] Country Joe and Barry Melton had seen The Butterfield Blues Band in March at the Fillmore (along with the rest of hip San Francisco) and were determined to form an electric band. They had put together a group of musicians they knew from the Instant Action Jug Band. Joe and Barry sang and played guitars (Barry played the leads), Bruce Barthol and John Paul Armstrong (hitherto a Hoot host) alternated on guitar and bass and John Francis Gunning played drums and percussion. Melton knew that his friend, New Yorker David Cohen, played piano (although Cohen was mainly a guitarist), so in typical 60’s style Cohen was invited to join the group as organist. David (Bennett) Cohen was also booked to play a solo "blues, rag and rock" show, even though he was in Country Joe and The Fish. Thursday 19 May 1966 Berkeley Fuzz and the Hedd Busters (Country Joe and the Fish), David Cohen, plus assorted others [Pay the Rent Benefit] Country Joe and The Fish headline under a different name, a nom de folk if you will. And this is one of a number that appear on the poster advertising the non-stop May 17 to 19 “Rent Party” lists a number of folk who were, shall we say, expected to turn up and play. I doubt we will ever definitively figure out who actually played and when. Following on from my contentious position over the Notes From The Underground being advertised as, although never called, the Unidentified Flying Objects for their Sunday afternoon shows, I will start with them. Likely contenders for appearing at some point during this three day window are Oedipus & The Mothers (undoubtedly, in my mind at least, the Note From the Underground), Berkeley Fuzz & the Hedd Busters (Country Joe and the Fish), The Open Theater, “Dynamite Annie” Johnson, The Congress of Wonders, Lloyd Williams & Mike Skoda (I have yet to figure this one out – if Miles Skoda is not a nom de folk it should be), Moe Hirsch, Elba Faust (Ellen Faust Brandywine and later Shekhinah Mountainwater), Ken Spiker, John Adams, Dan Paik, Saul (Solomon Feldthouse), Blind Ebbetts Field (Barry Melton), Perry lederman, Frank Powell, Robbie Basho, Larry Hanks, David Cohen, Phil Marsh and Filippe Villacerde (Phil Greenberg). Friday 20 May 1966 Solomon Feldthouse, Rosalie Sorrels Solomon Feldthouse was the multi-instrumentalist who was a principal founder of the fabulously eclectic Los Angeles group Kaleidoscope. Rosalie Sorrels was billed as a “Utah Ballad Singer.” Saturday 21 May 1966 Dan Crary, Rosalie Sorrels Crary is described on the poster as a "Country Guitar Picker". Sunday 22 May 1966 [3pm] The Unidentified Flying Object (Notes From The Underground); [9pm] SSunday Night Hoot with Larry Hanks ("Prehistoric Garbage Music") Billed as “Prehistoric Garbage Music.” Monday 23 May 1966 Peace Night and Folk Benefit for Bob Scheer: Malvina Reynolds, Grant Houston, Ron Smith Quartet, Putting Forth Peace Night and Folk Benefit for Bob Scheer. May 24-25, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Clarence Van Hook) May 26, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Folk Night) May 27, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (John Fahey) Saturday 28 May 1966 Benefit for Scheer Art Auction (afternoon); John Fahey (evening) A Benefit for Scheer Art Auction took place during the afternoon. Sunday 29 May 1966 [3pm] The Unidentified Flying Object (Notes From The Underground); [9pm] Sunday Night Hoot with Larry Hanks May 30, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Closed) May 31, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Solomon Feldthouse) Wednesday 01 June 1966 Dan Paik Thursday 02 June 1966 Country Joe and the Fish One member of Country Joe and the Fish was attacked by a drunken marine at the Jabberwock (reports ED Denson in the Berkeley Barb). Friday 03 June 1966 Perry Lederman This is the night that twenty year old aspiring musician and photographer Jef Jaisun first walks in to the Jabberwock. It was 1:45 am and Perry Lederman is playing a guest set which consists of a half-hour raga like piece on electric guitar. Lederman, though little known now, was widely regarded by local musicians at the time. He was a solo guitarist somewhat in the John Fahey mode, but more influenced by Indian music. His only known recording was on an Arhoolie sampler. He was also a seeker-out of vintage 3/4-size Martin guitars, which he continued to favour throughout his life. Lederman died at the age of 52 in 1995. On June 3, 1966, twenty year old aspiring musician and photographer Jef Jaisun walked in to The Jabberwock for the first time. Jaisun will become immortal in the Bay Area for producing the much-played and fondly remembered record “Friendly Neighborhood Narco Agent”. This record, independently released as a 33 RPM EP by Jaisun in 1969, was later picked up Dr Demento, and the song reached an audience outside the Bay Area. Jef recalls "The entire package was patterned after Country Joe's Rag Baby EPs, right down to using Sierra Sound as the recording studio. I figured if it worked for him, well... not to mention that people in the Bay Area, and Berkeley in particular, had become accustomed to that type of EP packaging, thanks mostly to Joe. Several other folkies released similar EPs about the same time". Saturday 04 June 1966 Perry Lederman Sunday 05 June 1966 Sunday Night Hoot Monday 06 June 1966 Closed Tuesday 07 June 1966 Solomon Feldthouse Wednesday 08 June 1966 Dan Paik Thursday 09 June 1966 Country Joe and the Fish Friday 10 June 1966 Kid Future (Stefan Grossman) Kid Future was the alter ego of Stefan Grossman that he had used to record a number of cuts for Joe Bussard's Frederick, Maryland based Fonotone Records. Stefan Grossman grew up in New York City, where he was fortunate enough to get guitar lessons from Reverend Gary Davis and other recently rediscovered bluesmen. As a result, Grossman became a master of different blues guitar styles at an early age. He had been in the ad hoc Even Dozen Jug Band (featuring David Grisman, John Sebastian and numerous other aspiring young folkies), who had released an album in 1964. Grossman moved to California around 1966. At one point, right around the time of this show, there was an effort (according to Richie Unterburger, and confirmed elsewhere) by Elektra’s Paul Rothchild to put together a folk rock group (like The Mamas and Papas) with Grossman, Taj Mahal, guitarist Steve Mann and a recently returned folk singer from Texas named Janis Joplin. They actually had a rehearsal in Berkeley, sometime in June (Janis’s first show with Big Brother was at the Avalon June 10, 1966, but she had been in the Bay Area for about 10 days). However, Janis would not abandon Big Brother and the deal was scuttled. Grossman moved to England around 1967, and worked with many well-known British musicians, releasing a number of albums. He returned to the United States in 1980, and he is particularly well-known for his instructional guitar videos. Grossman played on Pat Kilroy's Light of Day album released in 1966. Saturday 11 June 1966 Paul Arnoldi, Kid Future (Stefan Grossman) Paul Arnoldi, originally from the Wyoming prairies, initially came to the fore as a Cambridge folksinger and one time member of the The Charles River Valley Boys. Paul moved to Berkeley in fall 1962 (to get a graduate degree in architecture), and oscillated between Cambridge and Berkeley for the next several years, before stints in New York and Los Angeles. Paul was a regular on the Bay Area music scene in the mid 1960s, appearing at many of the Berkeley venues and across the Bay in San Francisco at venues as diverse as the Straight Theater and the Cedar Alley Coffee House performing his "prairie-influenced-east coast-urban-folk style of traditional and original material". Paul continues to record and perform to this day.
The poster advertising the Kid Future show (pack up your troubles in your old kit bag) lists Stefan Grossman as also appearing. Sunday 12 June 1966 Sunday Night Hoot Monday 13 June 1966 Ramblin’ Jack Elliott Ramblin Jack Elliott’s biography reads like bad fiction. Born Eliot Adnopoz in Brooklyn in 1931, he ran away to join the rodeo at age 14. He eventually returned to Brooklyn to finish high school . In the early 1950s he met Woody Guthrie, and rambled around with him, becoming a folksinger in the process. In the mid-1950s he moved to England and played a significant role in the Skiffle boom. In the later 50s, he returned to America, and met Bob Dylan in 1961. Dylan took the power of Guthrie’s songs and the indirectness of Elliott’s indescribable Brooklyn Cowboy persona and infused it with his own brilliant songwriting, and the Bob Dylan we know now was born. The rest of Elliott’s life and achievements is equally interesting, but too lengthy to detail here. A remarkable performer, Elliott generally talks more than he sings, in a strange hypnotic way that does not translate well on the printed page, or even on record. In person, he is strangely gripping, leaving the listener surprised at how time has passed so quickly and how difficult it is to recount the story that was told. Tuesday 14 June 1966 Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Solomon Feldthouse Wednesday 15 June 1966 Dan Paik Thursday 16 June 1966 Country Joe and the Fish Friday 17 June 1966 John Adams, Los Flamencos De La Valle Saturday 18 June 1966 John Adams, Los Flamencos De La Valle Sunday 19 June 1966 Sunday Night Hoot Monday 20 June 1966 John Fahey Tuesday 21 June 1966 Solomon Feldthouse Wednesday 22 June 1966 Dan Paik Thursday 23 June 1966 Country Joe and the Fish
June 24-25, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Kathy and Carol) Sunday 26 June 1966 Hoot with John Adams Monday 27 June 1966 Closed Tuesday 28 June 1966 Solomon Feldthouse Wednesday 29 June 1966 Dan Paik Thursday 30 June 1966 Closed The Jabberwock was closed, probably due to the 9th Annual Berkeley Folk Festival being in full swing. At the Bear's Lair Country Joe & The Fish appeared as part of the cabaret. It is entirely possible that the Jabberwock was opened much later for regulars with Country Joe and the Fish putting in an impromptu appearance. Friday 01 July 1966 Country Joe and the Fish In June 1966 "Rag Baby" EP #2 is released, featuring Country Joe and The Fish performing "Section 43", "Love" and "Bass Strings", recorded June 6, 1966 at Sierra Sound in Berkeley. Soon afterwards, Paul Armstrong leaves the group in order to fulfil his Conscientious Objector obligations (he drives a hospital truck). Bruce Barthol moves permanently to bass. Saturday 02 July 1966 Stefan Grossman Sunday 03 July 1966 Hoot with John Adams Monday 04 July 1966 Closed
July 5-7, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Ramblin’ Jack Elliott) July 8-9, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Kid Future) July 10, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Hoot with John Adams) July 11, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Closed) July 12-14, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Ramblin’ Jack Elliott) July 15-16, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Mark Spoelstra) July 17, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Hoot with Larry Hanks) July 18, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Closed) July 19, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Pine Valley Boys, Solomon Feldthouse) July 20, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Dan Paik) July 21, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Country Joe and the Fish) July 22-23, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Robert Pete Williams) July 24, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Hoot with Larry Hanks) July 25, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Closed) Tuesday 26 July 1966 Pine Valley Boys The Pine Valley Boys were one of the earliest bluegrass bands from Berkeley (although The Redwood Canyon Ramblers were definitely the first, in 1959). The group was formed in mid-1963 by Butch Waller (mandolin) and Herb Pedersen (banjo), both recent graduates of St. Mary’s High in Berkeley. They moved to Los Angeles in late 1963, and spent nine months trying to “make it”, even going on a tour of colleges in the South called Hootenanny 1963. In Los Angeles they met violinist Richard Greene, who played with the group periodically. By mid-1964, the group returned to Berkeley. David Nelson, then attending Oakland California College of Arts and Crafts, joined the group (replacing Rich Conley on guitar), as well as Geoff Levin (replacing Dale Hollis on bass). Richard Greene would sometimes fly up to play with the group. However, by early 1966 the group had disintegrated. Pedersen had gone on to play with local bluegrass stalwarts Vern and Ray, (Vern Williams and Ray Park) and Nelson was forming the New Delhi River Band in the Palo Alto area. The date of this performance suggests that this was a one-off performance by some combination of the group, all of whose members (current and former) were still based in the Bay Area. Wednesday 27 July 1966 Solomon Feldthouse Thursday 28 July 1966 Country Joe and the Fish On July 29 (Friday), Country Joe and The Fish also played a benefit in San Francisco (the Reaktion Harvest at Geary Street Temple with Jazz Mice Septet, Perry Lederman, Cyrus Koch and Jamar Colt Jazz Combo). Two performances in one night was not uncommon in the days when bands had considerably less equipment.
July 28-30, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Country Joe and the Fish)
July 31, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Hoot with Larry Hanks)
August 1, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Closed)
August 2, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Pine Valley Boys)
August 3-4, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (The New Age)
August 5-6, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Steve Mann, Susan Derby)
August 7, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Hoot with Larry Hanks)
August 9-11, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Spider John Koerner)
August 12-13, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Carmen Christina)
August 19-20, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Perry Lederman)
August 21, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Hoot)
August 22, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Romuto performs poetry of love and revolution by Cummings, Yevtushenko, Ferlinghetti, Pervert, Dylan Thomas)
Tuesday 23 August 1966 The New Age The New Age were a Berkeley folk trio featuring Pat Kilroy on guitar, flautist Susan Graubard and Jeffrey Stewart on congas, who had replaced tabla player Bob Amacker. This was the line-up that also played at the Human Be-In (Country Joe appearing on stage with them) on January 14, 1967 and were described in an advertisement in the Oracle as playing "way out Indian-type stuff". Pat Kilroy had released a very obscure album on Elektra solo album, Light of Day, on Elektra in 1966, although the album was in reality by The New Age (with Amacker rather than Stewart). Light of Day (Elektra Records EKS 7311, released late 1966), although obscure at the time and never released on CD, has obtained the status of a genuine cult recording. It anticipated “New Age Music” by some decades, and is a hard-to-describe mélange of folk, blues, Indian and “psychedelic” acoustic music. Kilroy died on Christmas Day 1967, insuring his status as a cult figure, but he is well-remembered by his peers and well regarded by those who have heard his album. The album was finally re-released on CD in 2007, and writer David Biasotti wrote the definitive article on Kilroy and The New Age for Ugly Things Magazine (issue 25).
Wednesday 24 August 1966 The New Age Thursday 25 August 1966 The New Age Friday 26 August 1966 Mark Spoelstra This was advertised as Mark's "Last West Coast apprearance before touring Britain". He did indeed end up in the UK around the New Year. Saturday 27 August 1966 Mark Spoelstra Sunday 28 August 1966 Mark Spoelstra, Country Joe and The Fish Monday 29 August 1966 Country Joe and The Fish, Dan Paik, Don Garrett, Blue House Basement Peace Activist Defense Fund Benefit. "The Blue House" was a large Victorian rooming house on 1915 Oak Street, across from the Panhandle. The Blue House Basement (not surprisingly) formed in the basement of the house. Lead singer Warren Phillips later fronted Mount Rushmore before joining fellow Blue House Basement member Stan Muther in Phoenix, with Jabberwock regular Jef Jaisun.
August 30-September 3, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Country Joe and The Fish)
Monday 05 September 1966 Sharon Lee, SF Mime Troupe doing scenes from "A Minstral Show" [Alexander Defense Committee (ADC) Benefit] The San Francisco Mime Troupe, founded in 1959, began putting on (spoken) political theater performances in public parks in San Francisco in 1962. They had since metamorphosed into a touring company with a significant voice in the political underground. Among the many alumni of the Mime Troupe were featured players Emmett Grogan, Peter Coyote and Luis Valdez, and of course the very first Bill Graham-produced rock concert was the benefit for the Mime Troupe held on November 6, 1965, as Graham was the Mime Troupe’s business manager at the time. The Mime Troupe is still going strong and, since 1976, the Troupe’s musical director has been former Instant Action Jug Band (and Country Joe and The Fish) member Bruce Barthol.
The 9PM show was put on in support of the Alexander Defense Committee as part of the South Africa: The Anatomy of Apartheid awareness activities that were on-going at the time. In addition to Jabberwock shows, South African freedom fighter Franz John Tennyson "Fransie" Lee spoke at Le Conte School on September 6 and the Buchanan Street Y in San Francisco on September 7. No doubt he would have been at the Jabberwock on September 5. Some interesting names crop up in the list of co-sponsors provided on the poster, including Mario Savio, Robert Scheer, Ralph J Gleason and one Assemblyman Willie Brown.
Tuesday 06 September 1966 Robbie Basho, Jon Adams The poster states about Jon Adams: "Known from Fresno to Sacramento, this superlative psong psinger at last plays Berkeley". Wednesday 07 September 1966 Robbie Basho, Jon Adams The poster notes that "Berkeley's favorite sun returns from the decadent east (coast)". Thursday 08 September 1966 Robbie Basho, Jon Adams Friday 09 September 1966 The Wrycatchers, The Line (from LA and featuring Solomon Feldthouse) The Line were from Los Angeles and featured Solomon Feldthouse. Saturday 10 September 1966 The Wrycatchers, The Line (from LA and featuring Solomon Feldthouse) Sunday 11 September 1966 Mike Lamb & Will Scarlett Lamb and Scarlett had debuted at 1090 Page Street on September 1 with Lamb on guitar and Scarlett on harp. Monday 12 September 1966 Benefit for The Berkeley Barb
September 13-16, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Quicksilver Messenger Service)
September 17-18, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (The New Age) Monday 19 September 1966 Lomuto [Poetry Reading] Tuesday 20 September 1966 Blackburn and Snow Guitarist Jeff Blackburn and singer Sherry Snow had been folksingers around 1964 in a scene that centred upon San Jose State College. That scene also included Paul Kantner, Jorma Kaukonen, David Frieberg (the Quicksilver bassist) and a number of others. By the time of their first appearance at the Jabberwock in September 1966, Blackburn and Snow were signed to the Kingston Trio’s management (Frank Werber and Trident Productions) and recording an album, albeit only two singles were released at the time. They played as a folk-rock duo, usually with a pick-up band of local friends. Gary "Chicken" Hirsch, soon to replace John Francis Gunning in Country Joe and The Fish, was probably the drummer at the time of the Jabberwock shows. David Bennett Cohen had been the lead guitarist in an earlier line up. Blackburn & Snow spent three years playing the Bay Area ballrooms and clubs including the Fillmore, the Avalon and the Ark, as well as a number of shows in the parks. Many years later, Blackburn ended up working in an occasional bar band in Santa Cruz with Neil Young, which is how he came to co-write Young’s song "My My Hey Hey".
A few months after Blackburn & Snow disbanded in 1967, Dan Hicks, founder and lead singer of Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks, advertised for two women singers to join his band. Sherry and her friend, Christina, auditioned. They began singing with Dan and soon recorded the first Hot Licks album, Original Recordings, in 1968. Since then, Sherry, now called Halimah, has lived for a long time in the UK and has traveled extensively. For the past fourteen years Halimah has been the programmer/host of the weekly World Music program "Ethnic Excursions" on KHSU-FM in Arcata, Ca. as Halimah the Dreamah. Wednesday 21 September 1966 Blackburn and Snow Thursday 22 September 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Blackburn and Snow) Friday 23 September 1966 Kid Future, Steve Mann Sunday 25 September 1966 Hoot Monday 26 September 1966 John Teyford [Poetry Reading] Wednesday 28 September 1966 SF Mime Troupe Thursday 29 September 1966 SF Mime Troupe Friday 30 September 1966 SF Mime Troupe Saturday 01 October 1966 SF Mime Troupe Sunday 02 October 1966 SF Mime Troupe (afternoon); Sunday Hoot Night, Country Joe and The Fish ED Denson's column (The Folk Scene) in the Berkeley Barb of September 30, 1966 (Issue 59) is dedicated to explaining the financial plight of Country Joe & the Fish, the difficulty of playing the Matrix with two underage members (Bruce and Barry), etc.. If ED agrees, I will transcribe it and include it here. Monday 03 October 1966 Country Joe and The Fish, Robbie Basho, The Juke Box [Benefit for the Berkeley Barb] Benefit for the Berkeley Barb and Benefit for the USI featuring CJ&F and "Other Deep Denizens" - including, according to ED Denson, Robbie Basho. Wednesday 05 October 1966 Lightnin’ Hopkins Thursday 06 October 1966 Lightnin’ Hopkins In late 1966 Jesse Cahn, son of Cabale founder Rolf Cahn and folksinger Barbara Dane, returned from playing drums for the Chambers Brothers on the East Coast to manage the Jabberwock for Bill Ehlert when he was called on to go over to The City (San Francisco) and manage the Matrix. Jesse recalls “I also played drums with Lightnin' Hopkins at the Jabberwock while making sandwiches back in the kitchen ... it was a trip ... whip off my apron and run up on stage to play with po' Lightnin' and then back to the kitchen and try not to cut a finger off in the frantic transition...”. Jesse continues “Country Joe and the Fish would rehearse in the afternoon while I swept up... Great times...”.
October 7-8, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (The New Age) October 9, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Hoot) October 10-16, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Country Joe and The Fish. 2 shows on the 16th 2.00 & 4.00) October 16, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Hoot) October 18-20, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Circus Maximus, Nepenthe) October 21-22, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Blackburn & Snow) October 23, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Hoot) October 24, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Country Joe and The Fish) October 25-27, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Quicksilver Messenger Service) October 28-29, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Robbie Basho, Dan Paik) October 30-31, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Country Joe and The Fish. 2 shows on the 30th 2.00 & 4.0) October 30, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Hoot: Freewheelin' McClure Montana) November 1-3, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Country Joe and The Fish) November 4-6, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Sweets Mill Mountain Blues) November 6-10, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Country Joe and The Fish, San Andreas Fault) November 11, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (San Andreas Fault) November 13-14, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Country Joe and The Fish) November 15-17, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Nick Gravenites) November 18-19, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Pat Kilroy and the New Age)
Sunday 20 November 20, 1966 Country Joe and The Fish [Afternoon Workshop Series], Pat Kilroy and the New Age [Eveneing Show] conflict for November 15-21. The dates herein are based on those pulled from the Scenedrome section of the Berkeley Barb Monday 21 November 21, 1966 Country Joe and The Fish [Evening Repertory Concert Series]
November 22-24, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Missippippi Fred McDowell)
November 25-26, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (John Fahey)
Sunday 27 November 1966 Country Joe and The Fish [Afternoon Workshop Series], John Fahey [Evening Show] By December, Country Joe and The Fish have signed with Vanguard Records, who needs them to get serious about recording. A friend of ED Denson’s arranged a show “for the mind and body” at the Hot Springs down the coast at Big Sur on December 7, 1966. The band was to play for $1 donations that would fund a week away from the Bay Area where the band could generally relax a little and put in some practice. Shows were also put on at Stockton and, on December 3, at the Barn in Scott's Valley. Subsequently, Country Joe and The Fish get a "real" rehearsal space at the Sausalito Heliport. The Heliport rents space to the Dead, Quicksilver and many other groups, as the helicopters drown out any noise from the rock bands.
It was this line up, with Chicken Hirsh, that was to go on and record Electric Music for the Mind and Body in January and February of 1967 for Vanguard, a record so good that Ralph J Gleason of the SF Chronicle remarked it should only be played on religious occasions.
Monday 28 November 1966 Country Joe and The Fish [Evening Repertory Concert Series] This is the last Country Joe and the Fish show at the Jabberwock. Country Joe and The Fish are now on their way to becoming international legends, and while they will play Berkeley many times in the future, they do not play the Jabberwock again. Shortly after this show, John Francis Gunning is fired and Chicken Hirsch (who had played the Jabberwock with Blackburn and Snow in October 1966) takes over on drums, finger cymbals and assorted "background sounds". Chicken was recommended by David Cohen, who had also had a brief sojourn in the company of Blackburn and Snow. John Francis Gunning later went on to play with Eddy Brown and his Brown Bag.
November 29-December 1, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Mance Lipscomb)
December 2-4, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (John Hammond)
December 5, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Hoot with Larry Hanks)
December 6-8, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Robbie Basho, Dan Paik, Cleanliness & Godliness Skiffle Band)
December 9-11, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Kathy and Carol)
December 12, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Hoot with Larry Hanks)
December 13-15, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Ellen Faust Brandywine)
December 16-18, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Pat Kilroy and The New Age)
December 19, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Hoot)
December 20-22, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Don Garrett)
December 23-25, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (The Smokey Grass Boys, Don Garrett)
December 26, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Hoot)
December 27-29, 1966 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Robbie Basho)
December 30, 1966-January 1, 1967 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (John Fahey)
1967
Monday 02 January 1967 Hoot Tuesday 03 January 1967 Robbie Basho Wednesday 04 January 1967 Robbie Basho Thursday 05 January 1967 Robbie Basho Friday 06 January 1967 Smokey Grass Boys Saturday 07 January 1967 Smokey Grass Boys Sunday 08 January 1967 Smokey Grass Boys Monday 09 January 1967 Hoot Tuesday 10 January 1967 Larry Hanks Wednesday 11 January 1967 Steve Mann Thursday 12 January 1967 Ellen Faust Brandywine Friday 13 January 1967 Sandy and Jeanne Darlington Saturday 14 January 1967 Sandy and Jeanne Darlington Sunday 15 January 1967 Sandy and Jeanne Darlington Monday 16 January 1967 Hoot Tuesday 17 January 1967 Dan Paik Wednesday 18 January 1967 Steve Mann Thursday 19 January 1967 Smokey Grass Boys Friday 20 January 1967 Rosalie Sorrels Saturday 21 January 1967 Rosalie Sorrels Sunday 22 January 1967 Rosalie Sorrels January 23, 1967 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Benefit to pay the Berkeley Free Press bill. Smokey Grass Boys, Larry Hanks, New Age, Phil Marsh, Cleanliness and Godliness Skiffle Band)
January 24, 1967 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Cleanliness and Godliness Skiffle Band) January 25, 1967 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Steve Mann) January 26, 1967 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Smokey Grass Boys) Friday 27 January 1967 Folk/Benefit Marathon [including Blind Ebbets Field, SF Mime Troup, Robbie Basho, Dan Paik, Dynamite Annie Johnson, Sandy Rothman, Barry Olivier, The New Age, Ken Spiker, Clarence Van Hook, The Smokey Grass Boys, Ellen Brandywine, Robert Baker, Aileen Adams, Doug Palmer, Rosalie Sorrels, Luis Garcia, Phil Marsh, Thanasis Maskaleris, Larry Hanks, Steve Mann, Gail Dusenbery, Will Scarlett, Cleanliness & Godliness Skiffle Band, John Paul & Sarah, Michael McClure, Montana and Freewheelin', The Boa Constrictor and Visual Stimulation by Head Lights] John Paul was born in Los Angeles in 1938 but was a relative latecomer to playing rather than listening to music when the 20 year old was given a four string banjo by a night watchman at his college in Bakersfield giving Paul and a tenor uke playing friend to play local bars for change and drinks. Moving to Berkeley in 1961, Paul was a regular on KPFA’s Midnight Special with the likes of Larry Hanks and many of the other Berkeley coffeeshop regulars and went on to work at Jon and Dierdre Ludberg's guitar repair store. A regular of Rolf Cahn’s Cabale Creamery from when it opened in 1962 through to its transition to become the Questing Beast, Paul had by the mid Sixties taken up the accordion – a 1902 model found close to his Laganitas home. And it was this accordion that John Paul played (with Sara) at the Jabberwock’s Folk/Benefit Marathon in January of 1967. Notably, at the 35th Annual Berkeley Old Time Fiddler’s Convention in Provo Park, Jean-Paul was disqualified for dropping Chinese yen in the judges' bribe box. The judges were music store owner Jon Lundberg, Campbell Coe who took so many wonderful photographs of the Jabberwock and John Campbell. Saturday 28 January 1967 Folk/Benefit Marathon [including Blind Ebbets Field, SF Mime Troup, Blind Ebbets Field, Sandy Rothman, Dan Paik, Dynamite Annie Johnson, Malvina Reynolds, Robbie Basho, Barry Olivier, Michael Lorimer, The New Age, Ken Spiker, Clarence Van Hook, The Smokey Grass Boys, Ellen Brandywine, Aileen Adams, Doug Palmer, Rosalie Sorrels, Luis Garcia, Phil Marsh, Thanasis Maskaleris, Larry Hanks, Steve Mann, Jean and Hilary Fowler, Will Scarlett, Cleanliness & Godliness Skiffle Band, John Paul & Sarah, Michael McClure, Montana and Freewheelin', The Boa Constrictor and Visual Stimulation by Head Lights] This show featuring Blind Ebbets Field is the last identified show at the Jabberwock featuring any of the members of Country Joe and the Fish. It is also appears to be vthe last identified use of of the nom du folk "Blind Ebbets Field". Sunday 29 January 1967 Sunday Afternoon: Notes From The Undergound, Jerry Abrham's Head Lights plus Folk/Benefit Marathon continues [including SF Mime Troup, Blind Ebbets Field, Dan Paik, Robbie Basho, Dynamite Annie Johnson, Barry Olivier, The New Age, Ken Spiker, Clarence Van Hook, The Smokey Grass Boys, Ellen Brandywine, Aileen Adams, Doug Palmer, Rosalie Sorrels, Luis Garcia, Notes From The Undergound, Matthew Zion, Phil Marsh, Thanasis Maskaleris, Larry Hanks, Steve Mann, Will Scarlett, Sandy Rothman, Cleanliness & Godliness Skiffle Band, John Paul & Sarah, Michael McClure, Montana and Freewheelin', The Boa Constrictor and Visual Stimulation by Head Lights] This is the last known performance by any member of Country Joe and the Fish (Blind Ebbets Field) at the Jabberwock. The band were also playing Maple Hall, San Pablo on the Saturday and Berkeley's own Pauley Ballroom on the Sunday. Tuesday 31 January 1967 Steve Mann??? Possibly Steve Mann (or Feb 14, 67) Wednesday 01 February 1967 Steve Mann??? Possibly Steve Mann (or Feb 15, 67) Thursday 02 February 1967 Steve Mann??? Possibly Steve Mann (or Feb 16, 67) Friday 03 February 1967 The New Age The flyer says "Elektra Recording Artists" and "Eastern Blues…Music of The Pantheon". By 1967, the Fillmore and Avalon are booming, and the rock groups who play there are not necessarily identifying themselves as “Folk-Rock” groups. Thus the Jabberwock’s booking swings back more towards solo and acoustic performers, as rock bands focus on greener pastures in San Francisco. Saturday 04 February 1967 The New Age Sunday 05 February 1967 The New Age Monday 06 February 1967 Leonore Kandel, Jan Tangen, Stephen Schwartz, Lisu, Others Jazz and Poetry Benefit for Socialist Candidates for City Office Tuesday 07 February 1967 Cleanliness and Godliness Skiffle Band The Cleanliness & Godliness Skiffle Band had a role similar to the Instant Action Jug Band in 1965 and Country Joe and The Fish in 1966, acting as the house band. Wednesday 08 February 1967 Steve Mann Mann, an old pal of Jorma Kaukonen’s, had given Jorma the nickname “Blind Thomas Jefferson Airplane.” This joke was the basis of Jorma’s suggestion for the band’s name. Mann was also reputedly the subject of the Hoyt Axton song “Snowblind Friend.” Thursday 09 February 1967 Smokey Grass Boys Friday 10 February 1967 Mark Spoelstra Saturday 11 February 1967 Mark Spoelstra Sunday 12 February 1967 Mark Spoelstra Monday 13 February 1967 Hoot Friday 17 February 1967 Spider John Koerner Saturday 18 February 1967 Spider John Koerner Sunday 19 February 1967 Spider John Koerner Monday 20 February 1967 Hoot Tuesday 21 February 1967 Cleanliness and Godliness Skiffle Band Wednesday 22 February 1967 Sandy and Jeannie Darlington Thursday 23 February 1967 Rosalie Sorrels Friday 24 February 1967 John Fahey Saturday 25 February 1967 John Fahey Sunday 26 February 1967 Daniel and Thomas Monday 27 February 1967 Hoot and Auditions February 28-March 1, 1967 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Robbie Basho) March 2, 1967 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Rosalie Sorrels) March 3-5, 1967 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Paul Arnoldi) Monday 06 March 1967 Hoot and Auditions with Larry Hanks Tuesday 07 March 1967 Cleanliness and Godliness Skiffle Band Wednesday 08 March 1967 Paul Arnoldi Thursday 09 March 1967 Steve Mann Friday 10 March 1967 New Age Saturday 11 March 1967 New Age Sunday 12 March 1967 New Age Monday 13 March 1967 Hoot and Auditions with Larry Hanks Tuesday 14 March 1967 Cleanliness and Godliness Skiffle Band Wednesday 15 March 1967 Paul Arnoldi Thursday 16 March 1967 Rosalie Sorrels Friday 17 March 1967 Taj Möhöl (sic) Saturday 18 March 1967 Taj Möhöl (sic) Sunday 19 March 1967 LSD - Holy or Not (a debate) Monday 20 March 1967 Hoot and Auditions Tuesday 21 March 1967 Cleanliness and Godliness Skiffle Band Wednesday 22 March 1967 Paul Arnoldi Thursday 23 March 1967 Steve Mann Friday 24 March 1967 Sandy & Jeannie Saturday 25 March 1967 Sandy & Jeannie
March 27, 1967 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Hoot and Auditions) March 28, 1967 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Cleanliness & Godliness Skiffle Band) March 29, 1967 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Paul Arnoldi) March 30, 1967 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Rosalie Sorrels) March 31-April 1, 1967 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (The Jazz Dome Scandal)
April 3, 1967 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Hoot and Auditions) April 4, 1967 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Cleanliness & Godliness Skiffle Band) April 5, 1967 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Daniel y Tomas) April 6, 1967 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (K.C. Douglas, Clarence Van Hook) April 7-8, 1967 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Steve Mann, Robert Baker) April 9, 1967 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (New Voices in Berkeley Poetry) April 10, 1967 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Hoot and Auditions) April 11, 1967 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Paul Arnoldi) April 12, 1967 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Cleanliness & Godliness Skiffle Band) April 13, 1967 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (The Jazz Dome Scandal) April 14-16, 1967 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (John Fahey) April 17, 1967 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Hoot and Auditions) April 18, 1967 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (K.C. Douglas, Clarence Van Hook) April 19, 1967 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Cleanliness & Godliness Skiffle Band) April 20-22, 1967 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (The New Age) April 23, 1967 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (New Voices in Berkeley Poetry II) April 24, 1967 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Hoot and Auditions) April 25, 1967 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Paul Arnoldi) April 26, 1967 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Daniel y Tomas) April 27, 1967 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (The Jazz Dome Scandal) Friday 28 April 1967 Cleanliness & Godliness Skiffle Band The Cleanliness and Godliness Skiffle Band performance on April 30, as identified in the April Calendar, was superseded by New Lost City Ramblers according to an advertisement in the April 28, 1967 issue of the Berkeley Barb. Before the show on April 29, the Cleanliness and Godliness Skiffle Band also played a few numbers at the Hippie Fair and Bazaar - a Benefit for Country Joe and the Fish held at the UCB Hearst Gym. According to the Barb the benefit was arranged for Country Joe and the Fish as they had lost two weeks work due to "alcoholic club owners who have cancelled their engagements" - I love this stuff. Saturday 29 April 1967 Cleanliness & Godliness Skiffle Band Sunday 30 April 1967 New Lost City Ramblers This flyer conflicts with the April calendar and the weekly calendar which list the Cleanliness & Godliness Skiffle Band. as playing on April 30 Since the April calendar had to have been published in March, it seems plausible that the NLCR gig was added later, and simply replaced the house band. Alternately, New Lost City Ramblers may have been playing in the evening, and Cleanliness and Godliness may have played in the afternoon. Monday 01 May 1967 Monday Hoot Night and Auditions Tuesday 02 May 1967 Patrick Sky Wednesday 03 May 1967 Patrick Sky Thursday 04 May 1967 Patrick Sky Friday 05 May 1967 Patrick Sky Saturday 06 May 1967 Patrick Sky Sunday 07 May 1967 Lew Welch, Jeff Shepphard, Charles Upton, James Koller [New Voices in Berkeley Poetry III] Monday 08 May 1967 Monday Hoot Night and Auditions Tuesday 09 May 1967 Doc Watson Wednesday 10 May 1967 Doc Watson Thursday 11 May 1967 Doc Watson Friday 12 May 1967 Michael Lorimer, The Chamber Theater Classical guitar (Lorimer) and One Act plays by Brecht, Strindberg, Ferlingetti and Seth Freeman. Saturday 13 May 1967 Michael Lorimer, The Chamber Theater Sunday 14 May 1967 Michael Lorimer, The Chamber Theater Monday 15 May 1967 Monday Hoot Night Tuesday 16 May 1967 The Chamber Theater Company performed four one act plays: The Jewish Wife (Brecht); The Stranger (Strindberg); 3000 Red Army Ants (Ferlingetti); Forbidden pastures (Seth Freeman). The Chamber Theater Company performed four one act plays:The Jewish Wife (Brecht); The Stranger (Strindberg); 3000 Red Army Ants (Ferlingetti); Forbidden pastures (Seth Freeman). Wednesday 17 May 1967 Cleanliness & Godliness Skiffle Band Thursday 18 May 1967 Jazz Dome Scandal Friday 19 May 1967 Robbie Basho Saturday 20 May 1967 Robbie Basho Sunday 21 May 1967 John Fahey, New Voices in Bay Area Poetry IV Monday 22 May 1967 Monday Hoot Night and Auditions Friday 26 May 1967 Sandy & Jeannie, Congress of Wonders Saturday 27 May 1967 Sandy & Jeannie, Congress of Wonders May 28, 1967 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (John Fahey) May 29, 1967 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Monday Hoot Night and Auditions) May 31-June 1, 1967 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Cleanliness and Godliness Skiffle Band) June 2-3, 1967 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (John Fahey) June 4, 1967 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Paul Arnoldi) June 5-7, 1967 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Jean Redpath) June 8-9, 1967 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Mark Spoelstra's Jade Muse) Saturday 10 June 1967 Paul Arnoldi, Mark Spoelstra's Jade Muse Sunday 11 June 1967 Hoot The Hoot is on Sunday night, probably because Ramblin' Jack is playing Monday. Monday 12 June 1967 Ramblin' Jack Elliott Tuesday 13 June 1967 Ramblin' Jack Elliott Wednesday 14 June 1967 The New Age, Ramblin' Jack Elliott Thursday 15 June 1967 The New Age Friday 16 June 1967 The New Age Saturday 17 June 1967 The New Age June 18, 1967 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Paul Arnoldi) June 19, 1967 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Hoot) June 20-21, 1967 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (David and Tina Meltzer) June 22-24, 1967 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Cleanliness and Godliness Skiffle Band) June 25-27, 1967 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Charles Valley River Boys) June 28-29, 1967 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Taj Mahal) Friday 30 June 1967 Al Kooper, Taj Mahal Al Kooper, besides being the writer of "This Diamond Ring", the organist on Bob Dylan's "Like A Rolling Stone" and the keyboard player for The Blues Projects (from whom he had departed a few months earlier) had a secret past life as a folkie, playing a club in Forest Hills, NY under the name Al Casey. The story of Kooper's show at The Jabberwock is described in Kooper's wonderful book Backstage Passes. Kooper, in the midst of a divorce from both his wife and The Blues Project, had ended up in Los Angeles acting as the production manager for the Monterey International Pop Festival. Kooper played a brief set at Monterey Pop, and played a brief set at the following week's Big Sur Folk Festival with his backing group (Jim Fielder and Sandy Konikoff). At loose ends, he takes a gig at The Jabberwock because he was friendly with the Jabberwock manager Sally Henderson's sister Jill (Kooper had written the Blues Project standard "Flute Thing" in Jill Henderson's apartment in Cambridge, MA). In his book, Kooper says he met his next wife (Joan) at The Jabberwock, although that must have been the previous year. Kooper, a stickler for details, identifies Taj Mahal as the act opening his show. He describes how Taj, having just left the Rising Sons, smoked the audience with his National Steel guitar, and it was all Kooper could do to match Taj's show. All in all, according to Kooper, "it was probably one hell of a show, historically speaking, for $3.50". Saturday 01 July 1967 Al Kooper, Taj Mahal July 2-3, 1967 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (John Fahey) July 4-6, 1967 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Charles River Valley Boys) July 7-8, 1967 Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA (Doc Watson, Rick Shubb, Hank Bradley. The Jabberwock officially closed on July 8, 1967. Although the Jabberwock had survived financial difficulties since the start and a number of brushes with the authorities, it was the Berkeley Health and Building Departments that finally drove the Jabberwock out of business. The building was re-classified “due to increased occupant load” - the result of which was the need for remodelling that simply was not financially viable)
Jef Jaisun wrote an obituary for The Jabberwock in the Berkeley Barb (Volume 5, Number 1 (Issue 99) dated July 7-13, 1967). While some Folk bookings were picked up by the newly opened New Orleans House (1505 San Pablo Avenue, in West Berkeley), the true successor to the ‘Wock on the Berkeley Folk scene was The Freight and Salvage. That club opened in June 1968 (at its original location of 1827 San Pablo), and although it has moved a couple of times, it remains open today. The site of The Jabberwock is currently a parking lot. Sunday 09 July 1967 A Wake for the 'Wock The Berkeley Barb reports (Volume 5, Number 2 (Issue 100) dated July 14-20, 1967):
A Wake for the 'Wock
The Jabberwock, in finest tradition, went down swinging last weekend. After full houses jammed the now extinct coffeehouse both Friday and Saturday nights to hear Doc Watson, old time "wocknies" gather for a good old traditional wake on Sunday.
Characteristic of the change in modern music, much of the night was devoted to electric blues sounds. And as musicians played, others rolled back the tables and danced, sang, cried a little, and drank a lot.
The Jolly Blue Giant was on hand to give the "Wock" a royal send-off, while 75 freebies completely obliterated any and all crumbs of food that remained in the kitchen.
The evening would not have been complete without a visit from The Man, and sure enough, at 1:30 am two of Berkeley's finest attempted to literally pull the padlocked front door from its hinges. When informed that it was a private party they became very paranoid and fell back on the fire code.
"You'll have to either unlock this door or clear the place in five minutes." Ah, sweet memories.
A scribbling on the outside blackboard mourned, "The Jabberwock hath been slain."
In the immortal words of the Carter Family, "All the good times are past and gone." RIP.
Saturday 05 August 1967 Leconte School Auditorium: Don Garrett, Malvina Reynolds, Cleanliness and Godliness Skiffle Band, Paul Arnoldi This show is advertised as "Friends of the Jabberwock present in Berkeley: A Benefit Concert to pay off the creditors and save the Jolly Blue Giant from Debtor's prison. The Leconte Elementary School is still located at 2241 Russell Street, about a block and a half (for the American readers), 200 metres (for the metricated readers) or 218.72259 yards (for English readers) east of the Jabberwock. Saturday 04 November 1967 Leconte School Auditorium: Doc Watson The handbill describes this as "The Jabberwock Presents in Berkeley - Doc Watson - His only East Bay Appearance". Aside from the "Brillig" presented Reverend Gary Davis show at the Little Theatre that took place whilst the 'Wock was still open, this is one of the few Jabberwock presented shows that I have so far found that took place at a different venue. Subsequently, Bill Ehlert continued to promote shows around the Bay Area under both his own name and as the Jolly Blue Giant. He also entered in to group management, notably with the Joy of Cooking.
00 June 1965 Jerry Foster, Ray Scott, Lloyd Williams, Sandy Rothman, Jody Stecher Exact date uncertain. Performance was photographed by the late Campbell Coe, who owned a musical instrument store in Berkeley and was an important figure in the local folk scene. After he passed away, Sandy Rothman found some photos Coe had taken of and at The Jabberwock, and Berkeley artist Tom Weller posted them on Bill ‘Jolly’ Ehlert’s Yahoo Jabberwock Group. A color photo from June 1965 shows Sandy Rothman on banjo, Ray Scott on mandolin and Lloyd Williams on bass, along with another musician. This group may have played as The Friendly Strangers. Earlier in the 60s, Rothman had been in various bluegrass groups with Jerry Garcia and David Nelson. Rothman had mostly played guitar in those groups, but like many bluegrass musicians he was proficient on a variety of instruments. Rothman went on to become a successful bluegrass musician, with all the financial rewards associated with that profession. In the late 1980s, Rothman, Nelson and Garcia had a reunion of sorts in the Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band.
November ?, 1965 New Brothers) September ?, 1966 Jean Redpath)