Did anyone here get to see Jefferson Airplane in the sixties?

[Taverner]

Always thought they would have been an amazing live band in their prime - any truth to this musing?

[graywarrior]

1. I was tripping when I saw them, but from what I remember

they rocked.

[paineinthearse]

2. Assumption College, 1969

Small college gym. They had just released VOLUNTEERS. All original members, plus Nikky Hopkins on keyboards and Papa John Creech on fiddle. It was incredible.

[DancingBear]

6. I had a friend who used to call him Papa John Screech

(guess he didn't like him)


:) :)

[Sporadicus]

3. I Saw Them In '72

I would have preferred to see them a few years earlier, but I had to take what I could get. Their performance when I saw them was outstanding anyway, IMO.

[DancingBear]

4. Yes I did - no they weren't

I saw them in New Haven, CT in (I believe) 1968 - with Chuck Berry as the opening act, and at Woodstock.

The Airplane and The Byrds were two acts that while fabulous on vinyl were known to be less than scintillating on stage, although the Airplane certainly had its moments (like Woodstock).

The night I saw them in CT, Slick was bored, and Kantner and Balin were hopelessly out of tune. Only Kaukonen and Casady played with any spirit at all.

[autorank]

5. Oh yeah! They rocked the house.

Get this,

I saw them on a double bill with the Grateful Dead at Winterland, San Francisco in 1969 (or thereabouts).

Forget the "Starship" and whatever came later, the Jefferson Airplane was a shit kicking, rock n' roll band...and Grace Slick was something to behold...er, hear.

They were tight, rokkin, musically skilled, and exciting to hear and see.

It was a "very special" night. And the Dead, well, OMf'ingG were they good.

Few concerts could compare to this and this was not that uncommon in San Francisco.

[disgruntled_goat]

No, but I literally bumped into Jack Cassidy

in a Boulder Co music store in the 90's.
i didnt realize who it was till later. nearly crashed my car.

my $0.02

[HeeBGBz]

7. I saw Jefferson Starship on the Dragonfly tour

I was trippin and the show was awesome. Grace could still sing her ass off.

[Floogeldy]

8. I saw 'em in the late sixties

At the Civic Center in OKC. It was awesome and they worked the crowd like pros, particularly commenting on the great "aroma" that had filled the hall once they started playing.

We kept screaming for a third encore and the house lights came on. The curtian closed. Eventually, a real nerdy looking guy in a suit and tie came out on stage with a mic and pleaded for us to stop and go home because The Airplane had to leave and catch a flight to their next show. We only screamed and stomped louder in response. He just stood there shaking his head for several minutes, and asking, "Please?"

Suddenly, over the sound system, a voice boomed out, "THAT'S BULLSHIT MAN. WE DON'T HAVE TO GO ANYWHERE!" The curtain opened and they were back on stage. We went crazy! The little nerd in the suit waived us off and stormed off stage. We had our own, private revolution!

Sometimes, though, I wonder if that little scene wasn't staged.

Nevertheless, it thrills me to this day.

[mitchum]

13. I suspect that it was staged...

remember these were the "revolutionaries" who did ads for jeans in 1967.
I do like "Somebody To Love", though

[Taverner]

14. Yeah what is up with that?

Not only did they do Levis ads, but they also proudly put that on their 2400 Fulton Street album.

You'd think they'd try to hide that.

Great band, nonetheless....

[blackcat77]

9. It was some time in the 70s when I saw them

Papa John was with them and they SUCKED -- and that's painful for me to say because I loved them then and still love them today. But they were clearly just going through the motions that night and I left before the concert even ended.

[miss_kitty]

10. I think so.

but I don't really remember. :P

[mike_c]

11. I saw Jefferson Starship in the 70's sometime....

I don't remember the date, even approximately. I was tripping, and they did the entire Blows Against the Empire highjack the starship in one go. It was awesome. Papa John was with them, and he was all over the stage. He must have been like 70 years old (I'm guessing), and he rocked hard.

on edit: just saw blackcat's reply, but when I saw them they were great.

[warrens]

12. yes, and they were

I saw them at Franklin Pierce College in NH. Dunno if it still exists, it seemed pretty sketchy then. They truly rocked. If you get Bless Its Pointed Little Head, you will get an idea of how they were live.