8-5-73 Oakland Coliseum Stadium
Leon Russell
Loggins & Messina
Elvin Bishop
Mary McCreary
This was the very first of Bill Graham's "Day On The Green" shows, which
were supposed to be sort of 1-day rock festivals.
I don't remember the show real well. What I remember most is before the
show, going to Union City to pick up my ex-girlfriend (we had bought tix
together, but in the time between getting the tickets and going to the
show,
she had dumped me for some suit who drove a Pantera). I get to her
apartment, and she says she isn't going. Great. I think she did repay me
for
the ticket at least. I went by myself, and found some friends who were
attending.
Mary McCreary was some woman that Leon Russell had just married, and they
made a record together, had a single that was a moderate hit. Really the
beginning of the end for Leon. She was okay, but I'm sure only got on the
bill because of her new husband.
Elvin Bishop by this time had dumped his great old band with Jo Baker and
(the other) Steve Miller, and had Mickey Thomas as singer. He was later
the
singer for Jefferson Star****p. Thomas had a poppish voice, and they were
selling way more records, but they had lost their edge. Like Leon Russell,
the beginning of the end.
Loggins & Messina were getting really big by this time, and they were
good.
They had Kenny Loggins for the ladies, and a jammin' kickass band for
those
of us who dug that. Definitely stole this show, with ease.
Leon Russell was such a disappointment. I had seen him a mere two years
previous, and he had destroyed the room, he was so great. But on this day,
he was doing basically the same show, but it was obvious he wasn't into it
anymore.
Still, a good show all in all. And I'm damn glad the old girlfriend didn't
go. We woulda just fought.
The Pantera guy didn't last long, and I ended up moving in with the
girlfriend two months later. For two more years of misery!
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