Music. Alcohol. Oysters. Books.

This acoustic music festival took place at the Berkeley Community Theater in Berkeley, CA, on April 25, 1981. Organized as a benefit for the Seva Foundation by Wavy Gravy — who also served as the event's host — it was entirely recorded by Owsley "Bear" Stanley, who would relocate from California to Australia the following year.

The concert opened with a solo performance by Country Joe McDonald. His energetic set featured the brilliant, sci-fi-infused folk song Picks and Lasers, about a guy mining ore on Mars. He also delivered Slide Trombone Blues, showcasing his skills on the trombone, and, of course, the legendary Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-to-Die Rag, complete with a raucous "fuck cheer" aimed at Ronald Reagan — a rousing way to kick off the day.

Next up was folk singer Rosalie Sorrels, accompanied by guitarist Mitch Greenhill. Her performance was engaging, though the cabaret-style vocals may not have been to everyone's taste. Among other songs, she performed You've Got to Go to Sleep Alone by Jimmie Dale Gilmore and I Remember Loving You by Utah Phillips, both of which resonated well.

This concluded the first disc of the three-CD edition. The second disc opens with Kate Wolf, supported by Nina Gerber on guitar and mandolin, and Ford James on bass. Their performance was truly exceptional — great songs, a commanding voice, and masterful instrumental work. Kate delivered a stunning rendition of The Youngbloods' classic Let's Get Together, with Wavy Gravy joining in.

The recording then shifts to a largely forgettable 20-minute percussion set by Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann, followed by the arrival of Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir — essentially a stripped-down Grateful Dead lineup, sans Phil Lesh and Brent Mydland. John Kahn of the Jerry Garcia Band stepped in on upright bass. Their set featured several traditional numbers, a beautifully understated Friend of the Devil, Marty Robbins' El Paso, which shone in the acoustic setting, and a rare rendition of Oh Boy! — a stellar performance overall.

The festival closed with Odetta. Although her set was recorded, negotiations with her estate prevented its inclusion in this release — a real shame, as it was considered one of the standout moments of the event. To ensure she wasn't overlooked, the organizers included a full article in the booklet about the performance.

Overall, it was a good day with a number of memorable acts.

День третий и последний. В зрительном зале Wavy Gravy, вызывает на сцену Йорму и Джека. В первом сете снова хорошо прошлись по блюзам! И Грэйви явно понравилось, он одобрительно кряхтел и весьма восторженно отреагировал на строчку with his shiny pants he looks like a clown из Barbeque King. Поразила необыкновенной мощью Good Shepherd! Все девять песен первого отделения игрались и в оба предыдущих дня, правда, в другой последовательности. Во втором сете наконец-то досталась San Francisco Bay Blues, а также кауконеновская тема Too Many Years. Очень здорово получилась джелли-ролл-мортоновская Winin' Boy Blues, мощно прозвучала Keep Your Lamp Trimmed and Burning. Отлично! Хотелось, конечно, большего песенного разнообразия, но уж что есть. Было приятно снова увидеть Йорму с Джеком!

Мой 16-й концерт Hot Tuna.

Set 1 (8:07 PM — 9:09 PM): Great Divide: Revisited, Hesitation Blues, Barbeque King, Second Chances, Sleep Song, Good Shepherd, Death Don't Have No Mercy, How Long Blues, Ice Age

Set 2 (9:28 PM — 10:39 PM): Been So Long, Where Have My Old Friends Gone, Come Back Baby, San Francisco Bay Blues, Too Many Years, Letter to the North Star, Sea Child, Trial by Fire, Winin' Boy Blues, Song From the Stainless Cymbal, I See the Light, True Religion, Keep Your Lamp Trimmed and Burning, Genesis
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Открывает чтением поэзии Wavy Gravy, сдал он по виду, еле ходит, но вещает по-прежнему хорошо. После небольшого перерыва на сцене GLR, за барабанами у них сегодня Tony Leone из CRB, все остальные на месте. Открывают старой доброй Six Days on the Road, отлично! Мощный кантри-рок с убедительным вокалом Криса, Грег с Барри жарят на гитарах, Пит творит чудеса на басу, много импровизации. Очень хорошо зашла лефти-фризелловская Cigarettes and Coffee Blues и хойт-экстоновская Never Been to Spain. А дальше досталась аж нил-янговская Comes a Time, впервые GLR её сыграли! На Guacamole набежала какая-то куча народа, Сирз взялся за аккордеон. Шикарный первый сет! И второе отделение удалось, прозвучали песни Грэма Парсонса, Мёрла Хаггарда, Таунса Ван Зандта, но на фоне предыдущего всё ощущалось скорее просто хорошо и спокойно. Бис пришлось пропустить, почти пол-первого ночи, пора на последний поезд.

Set 1 (9:41 PM — 10:46 PM): Six Days on the Road, Honky Tonk Song, Cigarettes and Coffee Blues, Kansas City Southern, Never Been to Spain, Comes a Time, Guacamole, Waymore's Blues, Big Mouth Blues

Set 2 (11:20 PM — 12:18 AM): Hello L.A. Bye Bye Birmingham, The Bottle Let Me Down, Still Feeling Blue, Standin', 24 Hours at a Time, Well Come Back Home, Roll in My Sweet Baby's Arms, Blue Suede Shoes

Encore: Johnny B. Goode
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