Search - Blue Cheer :: Vincebus Eruptum

I was there in 1968

Galttom | Galt, CA United States | 10/05/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was hanging around San Francisco's Haight/Ashbury streets in 1968 and dropped-in (literally) to the Avalon Ballroom. It held most of the local music venues until the Filmore, with larger capacity, eclipsed it. I never heard of Blue Cheer before that day and at first they sounded like a decent band. They were back up to a another name band I can't remember now. Blue Cheer at first reminded me of another band the "13th Floor Elevator Operators." There were so many bands and when playing live they all had a garage band sound and/or open-air park sound (many played in Golden Gate Park). Even the "Airplane", "Big Brother", "Country Joe", the "Dead" had a rawer sound live which faded with each of their albums as studio polish was applied. "Blue Cheer" maintains much of that raw sound. What I heard after they finished the song I walked into knocked me out. I was already a fan of Eddie Cochran in high school listening to his "Summertime Blues" and when this, until now, unknown group launched into "Summertime Blues" it was riveting. This was not just another bay area band this was hard loud rock which grabbed your attention. I don't remember a slow song. Cream and Hendrix all inserted slow songs and the psychedelic appetites of the day required regular fixes of something exotic like sitars, dulcimers or harpsicords with dreamy lyrics. "Blue Cheer" never let up or let you go. They were hard driving like early "Metallica." Yes I am 61 years old boys and girls and listen to hard rock on my MP3 player especially working out. Many have tried to claim collections of 60's top 40 hits take you back to the day but not always for me. If you want the experience it's here: Blue Cheer."