So, these showed up on ebay a few months back.
Poster advertising a “Freak Fair” from July 4-7, 1974 at Shorebird Park on the Berkeley Marina. The red-and-white line drawn poster features illustrations of a native American, a hot air balloon “Enterprise”, a geodesic dome, and mintrally-inspired freaks dancing. Listed attractions include jugglers, belly dancers, theatre, fireworks, clowns, body painting, minstals [sic], mime & magic, natural energy displays, craft booths, natural foods, an alternative lifestyle forum, native American village, geodesic dome. General public $2.50 donation.
The “Great American Music Band with Richard Greene & Jerry Garcia” is advertised for Sunday, July 7, but the second line, with Greene and Garcia’s name, is blotted out in red, while the band name is not.
Why do I care? As of 12/10/2012, this is the latest known mention of any connection between Garcia and GAMB/GASB. There were certainly shows around June 12-14, 1974, and then that’s it. The next known GAMB listing I have –after Garcia’s “departure”, insofar as he was ever a “member” of the “band” at all during its infancy– comes on November 7, 1974, with a gig at the Keystone, Berkeley. This is the first dedicated “Dawg Music” band which would briefly include both Grisman and Richard Greene before morphing into the first David Grisman Quintet (DGQ).
So, I find both the late date and the crossing out of the Richard Greene and Jerry Garcia feature to be illuminating. What we might have here, in short, is a rather precise window –between the printing of the poster and whenever someone took the time to cross out those names– within which Garcia’s involvement in the GAMB/GASB went from “in” to “out”. Empirical evidence of a pivot point, in short. Neat.
I also wonder if GAMB did, in fact, play, as Grisman and others. But the evidence is ambiguous, since the band name is not crossed out, just the featured players.
Oh yeah, and there’s a relatively early Good Old Boys gig on the bill, same day as GAMB.
Anyway, pictures and such.
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