Category: Montclair

The bands were not obscure, but rather the sort of groups that headlined local clubs or played third on the bill at the Fillmore West.

In the early 1970s, the Montclair Recreation Center held bi-weekly rock concerts. The shows were co-sponsored by the Center and the Montclair Junior Women’s Club.

Admission was a $1.00 to $1.50

Not sure why the concerts stopped, but they did in the middle of 1972.

I found the advertisements in the “Wednesday “Teen Age” and the “What’s doing…where…” sections of the Oakland Tribune.

The Concerts lasted until the fall of 1972.

Sample section from the Oakland Tribune

I commend the leaders of the recreation center for doing this. I can imagine a lot of people in Montclair did not like the idea.

I was alive and living in Montclair during this timeframe. But, I have no memory of them. I know I would have enjoyed going to them.

Speaking of memories, their lots of locals who remember more prominent named bands playing there. I don’t doubt them just can’t locate any info on them.

The Concerts

This is not all of them, but most of them. A couple concerts were held at Montera Jr High.

• September 06, 1968 – Two Teen Rock Groups
• June 13, 1970 – Artichoke Jones – Summer Festival
• June 26, 1970 – Fox Glove & Leviticus – Montera Jr High
• July ??, 1970 – Backwater Rising – Montera Jr High
• August 15, 1970 – Loveship *
• August 22, 1970 – Cookin Mama and Rags *
• August 30, 1970 – Loveship * back again
• September 5, 1970 – Crystal Garden *
• September 19, 1970 – The Tyde *
• October 3, 1970 – Frontier Constabulary
• October 10, 1970 – The Fog *
• October 24, 1970 – AB Skhy *
• October 31,1970 – Loading Zone featuring Linda Tillery *
• November 7, 1970 – Loading Zone featuring Linda Tillery *
• November 14, 1970 – Loveship *
• November 21, 1970 – Beggar’s Opera *
• November 28, 1970 – Joy of Cooking
• December 5, 1970 – Little John featuring John Hart*
• New Year’s Eve – Little John featuring John Hart*
• January ??, 1971 – Barry Melton and the Fish
• January 9, 1971 – Loading Zone
• January 23, 1971 – Commander Cody *
• January 23, 1971 – Boz Scaggs
• January 30, 1971 – Joy of Cooking *
• February 6, 1971 – The Tyde *
• February 11, 1971 – Loading Zone featuring Linda Tillery – Skyline High
• February 13, 1971 – Little John featuring John Hart *
• February 20, 1971 – John Hooker Group *
• February 27, 1971 – Cat Mother *
• March 13, 1971 – Full Moon (formerly The Womb)
• March 20, 1971 – Loading Zone featuring Linda Tillery
• March 27, 1971 – Pipe *
• April 17, 1971 – Little John featuring John Hart *
• April 24, 1971 – Western Addition with John Celona
• May 1, 1971 – Ice Band *
• May 8, 1971 – Barry Melton and The Fish *
• May 15, 1971 – Cat Mother*
• May 22, 1971 – Loading Zone with Linda Tillery *
• May 29, 1971 – Gold *
• June 05, 1971 – John Lee Hooker
• June 12, 1971 – Malo – with Jorge Santana brother of Carlos*
• June 23, 1971 – Liquid Heart
• June 26, 1971 – Fox Glove & Leviticus – Montera Jr High
• July 3, 1971 – Sopwith Camel
• July 10, 1971 – Clover *
• July 17, 1971 – Little John featuring John Hart “Montclair Favorite.“
• July 24, 1971 – Gold
• September ??, 1971 – Crystal Garden *
• September 19, 1971 – Loading Zone
• October 2, 1971 – Barry Melton and The Fish
• October 16, 1971 – Full Moon *
• October 23, 1971 – Jabo Stokes
• November 6, 1971 – Cat Mother
• November 13, 1971 – Grootna
• November 20, 1971 – Loading Zone – featuring Linda Tillery
• December 03, 1971 – Malo – with Jorge Santana brother of Carlos*
• January 19, 1972 – Gold
• February 19, 1972 – Little Sister, Gunn, and Thunderclap
• March 04, 1972 – Little John featuring John Hart
• April 08, 1972 – Loading Zone –
• September 30, 1972 – Anglo Saxon – with John Hart formerly of Little John
• November ?? 1972 – Gold

*Green Death did the light show

From the Forgotten Montclair Group – Their light shows were mostly two shallow glass bowls, placed on an overhead projector. The bottom bowl held oil and food coloring, and the top bowl fitted inside it, allowing them to squish the colors around in kaleidoscopic patterns. They set up their equipment and chairs on a table in the back of the room where the band played. Despite the low-tech process, their light shows were very fresh and added a lot to the atmosphere of the rock concerts.

The End