Wanted All Over the World – George Thorogood and The Destroyers – Washington 1981

This is one of a series of posts expanding on my 50 States in 50 Dates blog by documenting the global touring adventures of George Thorogood and the Delaware Destroyers and the earlier years of their career.

Quick Links:

• March 2, 1981 – Husky Union Building. Seattle, Washington.
• March 12, 1981 – Cordiner Hall. Walla Walla, Washington.
• March 16, 1981 – Cowles Auditorium. Spokane, Washington.
• October 26, 1981 – Washington State University Performing Arts Coliseum. Pullman, Washington.

Husky Union Building.

Date:  March 2, 1981.

The Destroyers played two shows at the Husky Union Building on this date.

Venue:  Husky Union Building (aka The HUB).  University of Washington. 4001 E. Stevens Way NE. Seattle, WA. 98195. USA.

Find it on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/BFke7ziZSmdtJxpr9

Venue Exterior: 

1952:

2019:

Venue Interior:

1970:

Source: University of Washington Libraries Special Collections.

Opening Act:  Nu Vitations (aka Nu-Vitations; aka New Vitations).

Poster / Flyer / Handbill:

Press & Promotion:  

Source: Seattle Times. Feb. 19, 1981. Pg. D11.

Source:  Seattle Times. Feb. 27, 1981. Pg. 6.

Ticket Price:  $7.50 students; $8.50 general public.

Ticket Stub: I am still looking for a ticket stub for this concert. Please send me a note if you have a photo or scan you can share.  

Attendance:  Unknown. The HUB Ballroom currently has capacity for 1,428 people. In the 1970s, some HUB Ballroom events drew crowds of 4,000 people.

Source:  University of Washington Libraries Special Collections.

Set List: Unknown.

Was the Concert Recorded?  Yes. This concert was filmed. A copy of the footage is held in the Wilson Special Collections Library at the University of North Carolina.

Concert Photos: I have am still looking for any photos of the Destroyers’ 1981 concert at the Husky Union Building. Please send me a note if you have any to share.

Concert Reaction: I have not (yet) found a contemporary print review of this concert, circa March 1981.

Other Notes: None.

Fate of the Venue: As of this writing, the Husky Union Building continues to function as a center for student life at the University of Washington.  

Cordiner Hall.

Date:  March 12, 1981.

Venue:  Cordiner Hall. Whitman College. 46 S. Park St. Walla Walla, WA. 99362.  USA.

Find it on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/zzmQ3y3WMYWjyuky9

Venue Exterior: 

1968:

2019:

Venue Interior:

1968:

Opening Act:  Unknown.

Poster / Flyer / Handbill: I have not yet come across a poster, flyer or handbill to advertise this concert. Please send me a note if you have a photo or scan to share.

Press & Promotion:  

Source: Whitman College Pioneer. Feb. 19, 1981. Pg. 6.

Source: Whitman College Pioneer. Feb. 26, 1981. Pg. 3.

Source: Whitman College Pioneer. Feb. 26, 1981. Pg. 3.

Source: Whitman College Pioneer. Feb. 26, 1981. Pg. 3.

Source:  Whitman College Pioneer. March 5, 1981. Pg. 8.

Source: Whitman College Pioneer. March 6, 1981. Pg. 10.

Ticket Price:  $6.00 students; $7.00 in advance; $8.00 at the door.

Ticket Stub: I am still looking for a ticket stub for this concert. Please send me a note if you have a photo or scan you can share.  

Attendance:  Unknown. Cordiner Hall currently has capacity for 1,384 people.

Source:  Whitman College.

Set List: Unknown.

Was the Concert Recorded?  Unknown.

Concert Photos:

Source: Whitman College Waiilatpu Yearbook. 1980-1981. Pg. 54.

Concert Reaction: I have not (yet) found a contemporary print review of this concert, circa March 1981.

Other Notes: None.

Fate of the Venue: As of this writing, the Cordiner Hall continues to host concerts and other live events.  

Cowles Auditorium.

Date:  March 16, 1981.

Venue:  Cowles Auditorium.  Whitworth College. W. Hawthorne Rd. Spokane, WA. 99218.  USA.

Find it on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/n6CfJXeJctPojZZJA

Venue Exterior: 

1960s:

2015:

Venue Interior:

1956:

Source: Whitworth College Natsihi Yearbook. 1956. Pg. 133.

Opening Act:  Robert Cray Band.

Poster / Flyer / Handbill: I have not yet come across a poster, flyer or handbill to advertise this concert. Please send me a note if you have a photo or scan to share.

Press & Promotion:  

Source: Whitworthian. March 16, 1981. Pg. 8.

Ticket Price:  $5.00 advance (students); $7.50 at the door (students); $6.00 advance (general public); $8.00 at the door (general public).

Ticket Stub: I am still looking for a ticket stub for this concert. Please send me a note if you have a photo or scan you can share.  

Attendance:  Unknown. Cowles Auditorium currently has capacity for 1,100 people.

Source:  Whitworth University.

Set List:

• One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer.
• Reelin’ and Rockin’.

Source: Spokesman Review. March 17, 1981. Pg. 15.

Was the Concert Recorded?  Unknown.

Concert Photos: I have am still looking for any photos of the Destroyers’ 1981 concert at Cowles Auditorium in Spokane. Please send me a note if you have any to share.

Concert Reaction:

Don Adair of the Spokesman Review filed a positive report about the Destroyers’ concert at Cowles Auditorium in Spokane on March 16, 1981:

“A whole lot of people forgot how to be cool last night.  “HERE TONIGHT,” the banner read, “THE AMAZING FIVE-MAN TRIO.”  Never mind that Thorogood and the Destroyers are now four – with the welcome addition of a sax to the line-up – the legend said it all as Whitworth’s Cowles Memorial Auditorium rocked with an absolute vengeance. 

Spokane’s characteristic reserve was imperiled from the beginning.  The Robert Cray Band, opening the show, took charge early with their tight, controlled Chicago-styled blues set. The Cray Band was greeted with the fervor of home-town favorites.  The classy Eugene-based band has become a fixture at Washboard Willie’s in the past couple of years and the Spokane audience claimed them as its own.  The band ran through a fine selection of exceptional material…

But as good as Cray was last night, the crowd was ready for Thorogood and after a single, well-deserved encore the stage was set for some rock steady, honest-as-the-day-is-long rock and roll.

“Rock and roll is what we play, sir,” Thorogood told one front row zealot early on. And he delivered.  Thorogood specializes in raw, energetic rock, a half-breed rock that served as the transition from city and Delta blues to rock and roll thirty years ago…  Thorogood attacks the stage.  He assaults the audience.  He bruises and batters.  He walks with a swagger and spews verbal venom.  He’s a rock and roller killer.  Though he plays no original material – “I’m not good enough” – he transcends the archivists because he plays his music like a lover, not like a student.

Thorogood duck walked into our hearts and played his way into our finest rock and roll memories. He’s welcome back any old time.”

Source: Spokesman Review. March 17, 1981. Pg. 15.

Other Notes: None.

Fate of the Venue: Whitworth College was renamed Whitworth University in 2007. As of this writing, the Cowles Auditorium continues to host concerts and other public events.  

Wanted All Over the World – George Thorogood and The Destroyers – Minnesota 1984

This is one of a series of posts expanding on my 50 States in 50 Dates blog by documenting the global touring adventures of George Thorogood and the Delaware Destroyers and the earlier years of their career.

Quick Links:

• July 8, 1984 – Trout Air Amphitheatre. Forest Lake, Minnesota.

Trout Air Amphitheatre.

Date:  July 8, 1984.

Venue: Trout Air Amphitheatre. Interstate Highway 35 near the I-97 exit. Forest Lake, MN. USA.

Find it on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/DD1TJp4Z49qyxQ9L9

Venue Exterior: 

1980s:

Source: Running Aces Casino, Hotel & Racetrack.

July 8, 1984:

Source: Minneapolis Star and Tribune. July 9, 1984. Pg. 1B.

2019:

Opening Acts:  The Nighthawks, Robert Cray Band and the Stray Cats.

Source: Virginia Turbett / Getty Images.

Poster / Flyer / Handbill: I have not yet seen a poster, flyer or handbill for the Destroyers’ July 8, 1984 concert at Trout Air. 

Press & Promotion: 

Source: Twin Cities Reader. July 4, 1984. Pg. 21.

Source: Twin Cities Reader. July 4, 1984. Pg. 32.

Source: Twin Cities Reader. July 6, 1984. Pg. 60.

Source: Minneapolis Star and Tribune. July 6, 1984. Pg. 8C.

Ticket Price:  $13.50.

Ticket Stub:

Attendance:  4,500.

Source: Minneapolis Star and Tribune. July 28, 1984. Pg. 20S.

Set List: Unknown.

Was the Concert Recorded?  Unknown.

Concert Photos:

Above: The Stray Cats perform at Trout Air on July 8, 1984. Source: Jim Steinfeldt / Getty Images.

Source: Jim Steinfeldt / Getty Images.

Source: Jim Steinfeldt / Getty Images.

Concert Reaction:

As the result of incidents at other (non-Destroyers) concerts at Trout Air involving misbehaving crowds, public intoxication and urination, parking, traffic, trespassing and excessive noise, reporting on the Destroyers’ July 1984 concert focused on the audience, not the music. In the end, there were no major incidents at this event. A “sound expert” was employed to measure decibel levels around the concert. Organizers hired a team of 60 security officers to watch over the crowd. The overall number of attendees was down because approval for the concert was issued relatively late, undermining confidence that the show would actually go ahead as planned and limiting the ability to fully promote the show.

Source: Minneapolis Star and Tribune. July 9, 1984. Pg. 1B.

Other Notes: None.

Fate of the Venue: Trout Air closed in 1998. A casino and racetrack opened on the site in 2008.

Source: Star Tribune. March 1, 2020. Pg. B3.

50 Dates in 50 Posts – Tour Stop # 3 – Paramount Theater, Portland, Oregon

50/50 Tour Stop:  # 3 (Concert # 3)

Date:  October 25, 1981

Venue:  Paramount Theater (aka The Portland Paramount).  1037 SW Broadway.  Portland, Oregon.  97205.

Find it on Google Maps:  https://goo.gl/maps/ZtxGxMbVcKU2

Venue Exterior: 

Unknown Date: 

Est. 1980s: 

2011:

Venue Interior:

1983:

Opening Act:  Robert Cray Band.

Poster / Flyer / Handbill:  I have not come across a poster, flyer or handbill for the Portland Paramount show to date.  Please get in touch if you have a scan that you can share.

Press & Promotion:

Above:  Portland Paramount 50-50 concert ad.  Oregonian. October 4, 1981. Pg. 20.

Above:  Events listing that includes the Destroyers’ Portland 50-50 show.  G.I. Joe’s was a retail chain that operated in Oregon, Washington and Idaho.  Oregonian. October 4, 1981. Pg. 19.

Source: Oregon Daily Emerald. Oct. 14, 1981. Pg. 2B.

Source: Oregonian. Oct. 23, 1981. Pg. F1.

Ticket Price:  $8.50

Ticket Stub:  I have not seen a ticket stub from this show to date.  Please contact me if you have a ticket stub from this concert for sale.

Attendance:  Unknown.  The promotor noted a venue capacity of 2,960 for this concert.

Source:  Bill Blough / Facebook.

Set List: 

• I’ll Change My Style.
• Cocaine Blues.
• Move It On Over.
• One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer.
• Who Do You Love?
• It Wasn’t Me.

Was the Concert Recorded?  Yes, an audience recording of this concert exists.

Concert Photos:  I have not come across any photos from the Destroyers’ Portland Paramount 50-50 concert.  Please get in touch if you know of any.

Concert Reaction: 

Reviewer Dan DePrez of the Oregon Journal had this to say about the Destroyers’ concert in Portland on October 25th, 1981:

“George Thorogood and the Destroyers played to a wild and full Paramount crowd Sunday night in the third stop of their “50/50” tour of America. The band hopes to play 50 shows in 50 consecutive nights in 50 consecutive states (fortunately, there aren’t any more than 50 – these guys would somehow squeeze in more if they could).

The man’s beer-hall stage experience prepared him well for this tour; his moves and stage presence have always been so much larger than life that he has yet to get lost on a stage. Thorogood and band (bass, drums and sax) ran through a two-plus-hour set that brought influences of Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Hound Dog Taylor and Hank Williams together into a
raw and dangerous mix.”

Source: Oregon Journal. Oct. 26, 1981. Pg. 10.

Oregonian staff writer John Wendeborn summed up the Portland 50-50 show thusly:

Rock of a different feel was the awesome rhythmic tornado known as George Thorogood and the Destroyers, who played the Paramount last week.  On the third date of a 50-night (consecutively) tour, this band blew everyone out of the seats with raw, muscular rock ‘n’ roll and rockabilly.

Other Notes:  The CD tray inlay for the album George Thorogood & the Destroyers Anthology (Capitol Records, 2000) shows a sepia tone montage of backstage passes from the 50 50 tour, including one from the Portland show (top-middle).

Fate of the Venue:  The Paramount Theater lives on as a venue for live music and performances.  The Paramount was renovated in the mid-1980s and re-opened as the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall.

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