Spring Fest with Joe Walsh, Country Joe McDonald, Hot Tuna, and Spirit: 4/25-26/1987

This was a pretty cool concert. The show was sponsored by WSHE, which was one of the rock stations in South Florida at the time. They had a great slogan: “SHE’s only rock and roll.” Anyway, the price was a whopping $10 for the two-day pass. Each day featured two acts.

Saturday was Joe Walsh and Country Joe. Honestly, I was more interested in seeing Country Joe, since he was a Woodstock veteran and I had never seen him before (Joe Walsh I had seen prior). Country Joe was very cool. He played by himself on an acoustic and sang songs that were as rebellious as when he was performing with the Fish back in the 60’s. Not surprising, “I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-To-Die Rag” was the song that got the crowd most riled up. Joe Walsh was forgettable. Honestly, I could not tell you anything about his performance. I’m sure he was drunk and mediocre, which was pretty typical of his performances back then.

The Sunday show was the highlight for me. Spirit opened the show, and I LOVE Spirit. They were amazing. Even though the only two original members were Randy California and Ed Cassidy, they sounded great and played almost all of their hits (the only one I could think of that they didn’t play was “Mechanical World,” but hey, you can’t have everything). Closing the Sunday afternoon show was Hot Tuna. This was acoustic Tuna with just Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady. I have to say, I have always loved Hot Tuna. Their music evokes wonderful memories from my childhood. Anyway, I don’t remember specifics about their performance, but I remember leaving completely happy.

Spirit: 3/31/1981

Spirit was one of those bands that the first time I heard them, I was floored. I had a friend named Paul and he was excited one day because he had just bought the Best of Spirit. We listened to it and the next day I went to the record store and bought a copy of the album. It basically lived on my turntable for weeks afterwards.

The Agora Ballroom was a club in Hallandale, Florida, which is just north of Miami. The club later became the infamous Button South, but when I went to see Spirit there, it was still the Agora.

Although the band only featured two of the original members, Randy California and Ed Cassidy, they were amazing. Randy’s guitar work and vocals were stellar and the band ripped through almost everything I wanted to hear. The only song that they didn’t play which I would have loved to see them perform was “Mechanical World,” a very dark, apocalyptic anti-war song.

Spirit was one of those bands that never became as popular as they should have. I like to say that they are the best band you’ve never heard of, although you’ve probably heard their songs, like “I Got A Line On You,” “Nature’s Way,” and “Fresh Garbage.” Also, it has been asserted that Jimmy Page stole the main musical theme for “Stairway to Heaven” from Spirit’s “Taurus.” (There is a lawsuit against Page seeking to give credit to Randy California for the song.)

If you’re not familiar with Spirit’s music, I strongly encourage you to check them out. “Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus” is one of my all-time favorite albums. They were so ahead of their time and their music sounds as fresh and exciting today as it did when I first heard them back in the late 70’s.

You have the world at your fingertips
No one can make it better than you
You have the world at your fingertips
But see what you’ve done to the rain and the sun
So many changes have all just begun, to reap
I know you’re asleep
Wake up

(“Prelude” from Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus)