Jun 26, 1971 (53 years ago) Fillmore East New York, New York, United States
Uploaded by Zimtrim
Uploaded by Rock's In My Head
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END OF AN ERA: The Fillmore East was closing it’s doors for good on Sunday, June 27, audience by invitation only. I felt I needed to be there on Saturday, June 26 for the late show. A few weeks prior to this date, I was speaking with a young lady who worked the box office. Somehow, we two had become friendly over the last few months. She was about 25 or so, nice woman, pretty, and soft spoken with a hard edge if you can imagine that. She got me a ticket for Saturday, one in the middle section of the front balcony. Cool.
JUNE 25: ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND, J. GEILS BAND, and ALBERT KING at Fillmore East, the show to end all shows. Jim and I took off early in the afternoon as I would attempt to score a ticket for him. Plan B was to sell mine if Plan A was not successful. I wasn’t on Second Avenue more than 15 minutes before I had an Orchestra seat for my buddy. We went for dinner then took our place on the line forming for the late show while listening intently to the ABB first show, through the walls. In the hall at midnight, we saw the most incredible set by Albert King, followed by The J. Geils Band. Then, The ALLMAN BROTHERS took the stage, introduced so eloquently by Bill Graham, and the band played what is rumored to be their finest set ever. The sun was up as we headed toward the subway, meeting up with some of our high school buddies who also attended the show. We arrived home at 8AM, picked up by Jim’s brother Rich who took us to the diner for breakfast.
FILLMORE EAST: This little venue at 205 Second Avenue off of Sixth Street in the Lower East Side of Manhattan was my home away from home from my first night there in 1969 until it’s closing weekend June of 1971. During that period I saw almost every type of music imaginable. Live music was a real education for me and here at Fillmore East it was at the Ph.D level of instruction. Jazz, folk, rock, experimental, comedic,whatever, the eclectic bill of artists usually performed with a light show in the background. The seating of about 2700 was theatre style, no ballroom here. Programs were distributed at the door and you were escorted to your reserved seating by real ushers wearing their official garb of Fillmore East yellow and green football jerseys. Snacks, no alcohol, were available on the second floor, and all seats were a gem as the sight lines were amazing and the sound system the best in the land (at that time). Most nights two shows were offered(separate admissions), one at 8 PM and the second scheduled for 11:30PM, Friday and Saturday evenings. The proprietor Bill Graham ran this place as if it was on Broadway. Bands were expected to be ready at show time AND conform to their given time slots. Mr. Graham would introduce the bands (when he was in town) or one of the Fillmore managers. Intros were usually pretty classic for the “head” billed act. Intermissions were entertaining also, as cartoons, or short films would be shown. A crowd favorite was THE SUNSHINE MAKERS, a black and white cartoon from 1935. Obvious a fan favorite because of the way it displayed: Sunshine as a liquid when it hit its victim, well that grouch turned happy ala Orange barrel sunshine of the LSD variety.The crowd roared and remained seated very time it was played. Prior to Jefferson Airplane shows there would be shorts whose theme revolved around airplanes as in King Kong.
June 25: THE FILLMORE EAST closes with the longest and best set (to date) given by the ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND,with J. Geils Band and Albert King
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