Concert notes - Jimi Hendrix, Oct 1968, Winterland.

This was the second big concert for Hendrix at Winterland that year. The first was the infamous "Eyeball" show with Mayall (Mick Taylor on guitar) and Albert King. That show was right on the heels of "Are You Experienced" so the crowd wanted to hear "Purple Haze" and "Foxey Lady" which he performed each twice that night. Anyway, back to October.

The supporting acts were not strong. Dino Valenti, not too long out of jail, played solo, acoustic. Not a real stimulating time (his re-joined Quicksilver later, as that group went through changes). Buddy Miles Express was much anticipated, because for those who had seen him with the Electric Flag, just could not get enough of him. His band was set up a lot like the flag, but with two big differences -- Miles was the show on vocals (which is not a bad thing!), as Gravenites held frontline duties in the Flag. The second obvious difference was no Bloomfield. Jim McCarty was the man in the Express, and frankly, he was just barely passable.

I was at the last night of the gig and Hendrix was in a weird mood. And so was his equipment. He couldn't shut his mouth that night, to the point where people starting yelling "come on Jimi, play." I know Jimi was outgoing, but whatever he ate that night fired up the old verbal nerve endings. But, in between the raps about how beautiful everyone was, he did play some great stuff and he was starting to branch out, with more jamming and more interesting covers.

Oh, the equipment issue. He was getting some wicked unwanted feedback from the wall of Marshalls that he just could not get under control. At the end, he introduced his last song and said something like, "I promise you San Francisco, that I will be back, and with better equipment." (if and when the Vaultsters release a tape or DVD of the show, we see how my memory holds up). I cannot recall the finale song, but at the end, he turned and beat the crap out of an amp with his Stratocaster and this was not