Welcome to Woodstock 1969 - 55 Years ago... August 16
It was 55 years ago today that I was hanging out with my best Friend, Butch, the Bass Player in my Rock Band (Bevo), backstage at an Event that would change my Life forever... in my wildest dreams, this could never happen to a Farm Boy from Wisconsin.
The purpose of this Series of Articles is to give my Friends a first-hand view of how this all came about from someone who was there... and to detail the Impact the Event had on the history of Classic Rock. After I cover the actual 4-day Event, I will give the details of the whole Shebang that started in Boston in January when I attended the Led Zeppelin Concert at the Boston Tea Party ... where I got wind of something interesting... that 2 ambitious Founders of "Woodstock Ventures" wanted to hold an Event in Woodstock, New York. Its purpose was to raise funds to build a Recording Studio to support the Artist Colony there.
In this initial Series, I will cover all 32 Acts with just the basics of what happened and provide Vids of their performance... I will only choose 1 Song to review at the time (with full details in a later issue). This will all be a part of my Book "The Sounds of Music".. the History of how the Musical Sounds generated by Humans evolved over time from the first Drumming by Cave Men, through to what we call Modern Music.
Note: I want to give a Big "Thumbs UP!" to Michael Lang of Woodstock Ventures whose excellent Book "The Road to Woodstock" takes the reader through his amazing Journey... his Perseverance and Magical Vision brought together an unprecedented gathering of Musicians and Fans on Max Yasgur's Dairy Farm in Bethel, New York on August 15th for 4 Awesome Fukin' Days.
We will cover the 2nd Day of the "3 (4) Days of PEACE, LOVE & MUSIC"
Rock On ♪♪♪
On Day 2, rain fell intermittently, which could have dampened spirits; however, the atmosphere remained largely positive and communal among Attendees. Many embraced the rain, viewing it as part of the experience, which fostered a sense of Unity and Resilience. The challenges posed by the muddy conditions did not deter the Crowd from enjoying the Great Performances...
Day 2: Saturday, August 16, 1969
As the Band took the Stage, they aimed to energize the Crowd, which was still waking up after a long night of Music and Rain. Throughout their set, Quill made efforts to involve the audience by throwing maracas and other instruments into the crowd, inviting participation in their final song, "Waiting for You." Despite these attempts, the band felt somewhat frustrated by the lack of engagement compared to their performances in smaller venues.
2:20 P.M. - Country Joe McDonald
His performance initially received a lukewarm response from the Crowd. When he first took the stage to fill time while Santana was setting up, they were largely indifferent to his Acoustic set of 9 Songs. McDonald himself was disheartened by the poor reaction. However, the mood dramatically shifted when he returned for an encore and led the Crowd in the famous "FISH Cheer" followed by his anti-war anthem "I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die Rag." This performance finally electrified them.
3:10 P.M. - John Sebastion
John Sebastian's performance (while completely Stoned), was unscheduled but mildly received by the Crowd. Sebastian, formerly of The Lovin' Spoonful, took to the Stage to fill in time while Keif Barley was setting up. His impromptu set resonated with the audience. Sebastian's laid-back, Folksy Style provided a more gentle contrast to some of the heavier acts of the day. The crowd particularly appreciated his performance of "Younger Generation," which he dedicated to a newborn Baby capturing the Spirit of the Event.
4:00 P.M. - The Keef Hartley Band
As the first British Band making their U.S. debut at Woodstock, they faced challenges in engaging the Crowd... despite their skilled Set and unique blend of Blues-Rock with Horns, the Crowd was mildly impressed.
5:15 P.M. - Santana
Santana's performance at Woodstock was a defining moment that electrified the crowd and launched the Band to stardom. Their unique Fusion of Electric Rock and Latin Percussion captivated the Crowd with their powerful and energetic Set quickly won over the massive crowd. The performance of "Soul Sacrifice" is considered Legendary, featuring Carlos Santana's distinctive guitar work and Michael Shrieve's iconic Drum Solo. The Crowd was mesmerized by the Band's Rhythmic intensity and Musical virtuosity, responding with enthusiastic Cheers and Dancing. Santana's set was one of the highlights of the entire Festival. (I rate them #1).
6:30 P.M. - The Incredible String Band
Their Performance was less than enthusiastic and the Crowd's response was described as "minimal," with the audience falling into a "respectful hush" rather than showing excitement. Despite the Band's unique blend of Psychedelic folk, colorful Attire, and Poetic Elements, their performance failed to captivate the Crowd. Overall, while ISB's Set was relaxed and enjoyable, it did not resonate in the way that some of the more energetic Rock performances did. (Anyone following Santana...)
8:00 P.M. - Canned Heat
Their Set was extremely well-received by the crowd and helped revitalize the festival's energy... heavyweight Blues-Rock was exactly what the audience needed to lift their spirits. The highlight of their set was the epic 30-minute improvisation known as "Woodstock Boogie," which featured extended Solos from each Band Member... that whipped the Crowd into "an absolute frenzy," earning one of the loudest and most sustained Ovations of the entire Festival. Their encore of "On The Road Again" further electrified the crowd, leaving the audience fully fired up as night fell on Woodstock. (I rate them #2)
9:00 P.M. - Mountain
Leslie West played a solid performance though he screwed up the lyrics on "Southbound Train". "Blood of the Sun" was their standard opener and it was followed by the Blues standard "Stormy Monday" (at least someone at Woodstock got to play it!).
"Theme for an Imaginary Western" was written by Pete Brown and Jack Bruce - lyricist and bassist of Cream - and turned out to be a successful song for Mountain. But no Mountain set would be complete without West's guitar solo which followed right after "Dreams of Milk and Honey".
Soon after Woodstock, Mountain's Drummer Norman Smart (formerly of Barry & the Remains) was replaced by Corky Laing who worked as a Roadie for the Band. He turned out to be superior to his predecessor.
10:30 P.M. - Grateful Dead
Their Set was plagued by technical difficulties and timing issues, which definitely affected the Crowd's reception. Their set was significantly delayed, finishing near midnight, due to Electrical problems with the Sound System that were complicated because of the Rain. The band's insistence on fixing the stage's electrical ground and their heavy equipment damaging the festival's "turntable" stage contributed to the delay. Once they began playing, there were long breaks between songs, disrupting the flow of their performance.
The Grateful Dead's style, known for extended improvisations and lengthy compositions, may not have been ideal for the late-night timeslot and the tired audience... the overall Crowd response seems to have been mixed.
Sunday, August 16 12:30 A.M. Credence Clearwater Revival (CCR)
The audience's response was overwhelmingly Positive and was accepted as much as Santana... with everybody in the Crowd getting up to Rock to their songs. The Tight performance and String of hit Songs resonated strongly providing a structured Sound. However, I noticed that some had already dozed off... those who were clearly awake appreciated CCR's set, solidifying their status as one of the top acts at Woodstock '69 (I rate them #3)
2:30 A.M. Janis Joplin
Janis delivered an 11-song set that included new material, Covers, and some Big Brother favorites... as I expected, her powerful Vocals and energetic Stage presence captivated the Crowd. The crowd's reaction was generally positive, with much dancing and cheering. I believe what I saw doing, always Bottle in hand, and whatever else she consumed... impacted her performance. But, no matter... Janis is a unique Artist who can belt out Sounds that the majority of Humans cannot possibly make.
I had seen her at a Gig in August 68 in St. Louis and I saw a completely different Person that night... this was a little less than a year before she passed, so I guess this was the start of it. Anyway, I will never forget the Magic she made with her Sounds. Rock On ♪♪♪ R.I.P.
PS... I got to ride in the Chopper with her holding the Bottle in Hand... a really nice Person when not stoned!
3:30 A.M. Sly and the Family Stone
The Band delivered a High-energy, Funk-infused Set that revitalized the tired Crowd... I saw No One dozing, to be sure. Their unique blend of Psychedelic Soul, Funk, and Rock, combined with their dynamic Stage presence, had an Explosive Effect on me and the Crowd.
The Crowd went wild shouting "Higher: to Sly's
As a large Group, you could feel them "Feeding Off" each other and the Collective Harmony was awesome... I am sure some in the Hinterlands had a hard time hearing the whole Set over the Noise.
All-in-All, they are in the Top 5 Performances... my #5.
5:00 A.M. The Who
Their performance was noted for its Artistic inspiration, powerful Guitar Solos, impressive Drum Riffs, and strong Vocals. The crowd was particularly impressed by the sheer volume and intensity of the Band's Sounds...
One thing that I noticed was Pete Townshend's Guit was out of Tune... probably due to the humidity being 100%? But, the Noise level of the Crowd was so high that I am sure no one out there noticed anyway. Well anyway, he tossed it into the Crowd at the end of their Set for the 40th, or so, times at other Concerts... it took the Noise level to a 10!
I like The Who and saw them at Filmore East in April 68. There he pretended he was going to smash it but handed to a Guy in the Crowd... why do people like smashing a Guitar???
The Who performed most of the Songs from “Tommy” with some modifications due to time constraints. During the Set, Abbie Hoffman took the stage and protested the imprisonment of MC5 member and White Panther leader John Sinclair on charges of Marijuana possession. Hoffman was met with a few unfriendly words from Townshend as well as a Guitar to the head.
I never saw them again Live and will listen to certain Tracks... but they are down on my Personal Band Ranking...
8:00 A.M. Jefferson Airplane
Grace Slick's powerful Vocals and the Band's intricate Instrumentals left a lasting impression on me and the Crowd... she introduced their Set by saying, "Alright, friends, you have seen the heavy groups. Now you will see Morning Maniac Music. Believe me, yeah, it's a new dawn."... the Roar was awesome.
Grace introduced Nicky Hopkins when he came on stage to play with the Band as their Pianist... in "Volunteers," his Boogie-woogie Piano Style was Hot and better than the Track.
All I can say is that if I showed up to play at a Concert at 8 P.M. and finally got on at 8 A.M... well, I really do not think I could do it... regardless, I enjoyed it along with the Crowd.
This if finally the end of Day 2 and I can see many in the Crowd bedding down... what a Day, indeed.
If you are genuinely interested in my perspective on the Event, please hit the "Like" button to let me know. I will then send you the link to the post. This is not a requirement; it is solely for Friends of William W. Nelson who are truly curious about:
How I got to Woodstock
What I experienced while I was there
My personal feelings about the Festival and its significance in the evolution of Rock Music
Below is a list of key paradigm shifts that occurred before Woodstock, which contributed to the evolution of Rock 'n' Roll and the numerous Spin-offs influenced by certain Musicians and Bands Sounds:
Ike Turner's "Rocket 88" (1951) is often considered one of the first rock songs.
Chuck Berry and his Contemporaries who are recognized as the modern "Fathers of Rock Music" in the early '50s.
Elvis Presley – His Blues Rock Sounds captivated a massive following and established him as a Cultural Icon.
The "British Invasion" – Sparked by The Beatles' appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show in February 1964, attracting 73 million viewers for the first performance... and only 70 million for the next.
The evolution of the Electric Guitar – Innovations in Guitar technology allowed Musicians to explore new Sounds and Styles.
Woodstock '69 – The Festival marked a significant increase in new Artists aiming for success, with a notable shift in Music Styles from Pop to a Fusion of Blues and jazz beginning in about 1963. By 1969, numerous Bands were at the forefront, and by 1970, the list of Rock Bands and their Spin-offs reached 100.
The impact of Woodstock '69 on this growth is debatable, but I strongly believe it ignited a powerful movement in Rock Music, which we will discuss further in my "Inner Circle" soon.
To that end, if you want to get involved with Members of our Community who want to learn about the intricacies of how things evolved and "Have a Say" about it... then start by joining me and make Comments on My Take, especially if some of you were there... Rock On ♪♪♪
