Act #2 Sweetwater Band Friday, August 15, 1969... 7:30 p.m.

Sweetwater Band Woodstock Setlist Live

My Take:

Sweetwater's Music Style, which I describe as a "More Weird" form of "Psychedelic Folk Rock," seemed to resonate with the Crowd by capturing the essence of the 60s Counterculture Movement. Their sounds are likened to that of Jefferson Airplane, featuring a blend of Rock and Folk elements, but with a more Psychedelic Twist.

The Band's performance, led by female vocalist Nancy Nevins, stood out due to its unique instrumentation, including Flute and Cello, which was uncommon at the time. Nancy's voice was a simple, easy listening unique voice... she reminds me of a temperate Grace Slick.

Their instrumentation was distinctive, comprising an Electric Keyboard, Flute, Cello, and Percussion, but notably lacking a traditional Guitar Player. This Eclectic mix contributed to their Sound, which resonated with the Festival's Counterculture Ethos. But, it took a while to get the Sounds right as there was no Sound Check before they started and the Techs were adjusting as they went on.

They captivated the Audience with Songs like "Motherless Child" and a Rockin' "Let the Sunshine In." Despite the initial technical challenges, "Motherless Child," showcased Nevins' powerful Vocals and the Band's dynamic Range. The Band found their Rhythm and engaged the Crowd in a Sing-along, culminating in a Standing Ovation. The performance was well-received and showcased their potential as a rising act in the Music Scene.

Sweetwater's Style and Performance were well-suited to the festival's Eclectic and open-minded Audience... there was much more movement than Richie. The noise of the Crowd did not inhibit some in the back from hearing the Lyrics. The Audience clapped to their Songs politely, mildly and the Noise Factor was mostly a 4 to 7.

My Fav Song from Sweetwater's Performance is "What's Wrong"... which features a blend of Folk and Rock Elements. It showcased the Band's unique Sound and resonated well with the Crowd.

Sweetwater's Musical Bio

Sweetwater, the Los Angeles-based band, was formed in 1967... the original lineup included Nancy Nevins (vocals), Albert Moore (flute, vocals), August Burns (cello), Alex Del Zoppo (keyboards, vocals), and Fred Herrera (bass, vocals). Their unique Sounds, sometimes a little much too Psycho for me, combined elements of Rock, Folk, and Jazz, featuring few a Guitars Riffs blended with a mix of Flute, Cello, and Percussion.

For some reason, although they played all of the main Festivals, they never really had a hit Song...

Sweetwater's self-titled debut album was released in 1968, and they would gain fame with their performance at Woodstock, where they played songs like "Motherless Child." However, their trajectory was disrupted when lead vocalist Nancy Nevins suffered severe injuries in a car accident in 1969, which led to the band's disbandment. They reunited in the 1990s and have since performed at various events, including Woodstock II. Sweetwater's story was chronicled in a VH1 film titled Sweetwater, A True Rock Story released in 1999.