March 1974

I am working around an important (to me!) post about the birth of the Great American Music/String Band, and want to lay some foundation. So let me start by mapping the known-to-me Jerry Garcia engagements from March, 1974, and just making a few notes.

1. Saturday, March 2, 1974: JGMS @ Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA (JB)
2. Monday, March 4, 1974: Compliments work at Heider’s (JB)
3. Wednesday, March 6, 1974: Compliments work at Heider’s (JB)
4. Friday, March 8, 1974, 11 AM: Compliments session at Columbia Studios w Vassar, Grsiman, Sandy Rothman (JB)
5. Friday, March 8, 1974: Rehearsal at Grisman’s house, Stinson Beach, CA. David Grisman, Richard Greene, Jerry Garcia, Eric Thompson, Bill Wolfe, maybe others (JB | 7-minute recording info) 
6. Saturday, March 9, 1974: JGMS @ Keystone, Berkeley (JB | sbd recording info)
7. Birth of GASB here
8. Thursday, March 14, 1974: JGMS @ Keystone, Berkeley (JB)
9. Friday, March 22, 1974: JGMS @ Chateau Liberté, Los Gatos, CA (JB)
10. Saturday, March 23, 1974: GD at Cow Palace (JB)
11. Sunday, March 24, 1974: Compliments work at Columbia (JB)
12. Monday, March 25, 1974: GD Mars Hotel work at Columbia (JB)
13. Tuesday, March 26, 1974: GD Mars Hotel work at Columbia (JB)
14. Tuesday, March 26, 1974: Compliments work at Columbia (JB)
15. Wednesday, March 27, 1974: Compliments work at Columbia (JB)
16. Thursday, March 28, 1974: Compliments work at Columbia (JB)
17. Friday, March 29, 1974: Compliments work at Columbia (JB)
18. Saturday, March 30, 1974: GD Mars Hotel sessions at CBS Studios, 829 Folsom Street, SF, CA (JB);
19. Saturday, March 30, 1974: JGMS @ Keystone Stockton (JB)

So, why do I list this stuff here?

First, TJS used to list a 3/1/74 JGMS gig at GAMH, but I am now about 99.9% sure it was a phantom.

Third, re: Vassar he played with Skunk Cabbage 3/1 at the GAMH. I had noted in my post on the Skunk Cabbage set at the GSCBF that Vassar played around with them. Here are a few other dates I have managed to pick up for Skunk Cabbage, with and w/o Mr. Clements:

1. Sunday, 11/18/73: The Cashews, Skunk Cabbage; New Orleans House, Berkeley, CA; (note Rowan Brothers billed there on 11/20, FWIW)
2. Monday, 11/26/73: Juice, Jango, Skunk Cabbage, and others; Lion’s Share, San Anselmo, CA.
3. Tuesday, December 11, 1973: Byron Berline, Country Gazzette, Vassar Clements, Skunk Cabbage; Great American Music Hall, SF, CA.
4. Friday, March 1, 1974: see above.
5. Sunday, March 3, 1974: Skunk Cabbage with Vassar Clements and Western Union; Keystone, Berkeley, CA.
6. Saturday, March 9, 1974: Richard Greene, David Grisman, Vassar Clements and Skunk Cabbage; Great American Music Hall, SF, CA; two shows.
7. Sunday, March 10, 1974: Richard Greene, David Grisman, Vassar Clements and Skunk Cabbage, Great American Music Hall, SF, CA (NB 6 p.m. to midnight)

Fourth, finally, and by way of preview, ladies and gentlemen, I believe the above March 9th listing was the birth of the Great American Music/String Band, with Jerry Garcia joining in on the 10th. I’ll post soon, hopefully tonight, on why I think the GAM/SB was born on this night. update: done