Tag Archives: Sandy's North Shore

Wanted All Over The World

Wanted All Over the World – George Thorogood and The Destroyers – Massachusetts 1974 – Part 1

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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:

Boston Center of the Arts.

Date:  February 23, 1974.

Venue: Boston Center of the Arts. 539 Tremont St. Boston, MA. 02116. USA.

Find it on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/nCzsywTKUVKfLpkB6

Venue Exterior: 

February 27, 1974:

Source: Getty Images / Charles B. Carey.

2020:

Venue Interior:

1976:

Source: Boston Society of Architects. “Architecture”. 1976. Pg. 106.

Opening Act: George Thorogood and the Destroyers, Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers, and Moe Tucker from the Velvet Underground were billed to perform at “The Winter Ball” (aka “Boston’s Jam’n Jelly Boogie”; aka “The Winter Boogie”) on February 23, 1974.

In the end, Moe Tucker was in attendance, but did not perform.

Source: http://imstickingwithyou.blogspot.com/2011/04/from-another-view-liner-notes.html

Above: Jonathan Richman performs in London in September 1977. Source: Getty Images / Ian Dickson.

Above: Moe Tucker performs in the Netherlands in 1974. Source: Getty Images / Gijsbert Hanekroot.

Poster / Flyer / Handbill: 

I have never seen an original poster, flyer, or handbill for this concert. There are, however, reproduction mini posters / handbills from this show that were included in copies of the 45rpm record “I’m Sticking with You” by Moe Tucker b/w “Of Yesterday” by Count Viglione’s Love and Flame featuring Lady Carolyn, as issued by Varulven Records in 1980. These slightly more modern reprints are occasionally listed for sale as originals, so buyer beware.

Above: Front and back cover of the picture sleeve for the 45rpm record “I’m Sticking with You” by Moe Tucker b/w “Of Yesterday” by Count Viglione’s Love and Flame featuring Lady Carolyn, as issued by Varulven Records in 1980.

Press & Promotion: 

Source: Boston Phoenix. Feb. 19, 1974. Pg. 7.

Source: Boston Phoenix. Feb. 19, 1974. Pg. 16.

Source: Boston Phoenix. Feb. 19, 1974. Pg. 16.

Ticket Price:  $5; $4 with a copy of the newspaper ad for the show.

Ticket Stub: I am still looking for a ticket stub from this concert.

Attendance: Unknown. The Boston Center of the Arts’ Cyclorama currently has capacity for approximately 1,000 people (standing).

Set List: Unknown.

Was this Concert Recorded?  Possibly. Music writer Joe Viglione reports watching this concert from the back of the room, “perched with a tape recorder in hand”.

Source: http://imstickingwithyou.blogspot.com/2011/04/from-another-view-liner-notes.html

Concert Photos: I have not yet seen any photos from this concert. Please send me a note if you know of any.

Concert Reaction: I am still looking for a contemporary printed review of this concert, circa February 1974.

Other Notes: None.

Fate of the Venue: As of this writing, the Boston Center of the Arts continues to serve as a venue, residence, and exhibition space for the creative arts.

The Rathskellar (?)

Date:  February 29-30, 1974.

Venue: The Rathskellar* (aka The Rat; aka The Lyons Den). Boston College. Lyons Hall. Chestnut Hill, MA. 02467. USA.

* This is a ‘best guess’ about the venue for these shows. Jeff Simon’s official list of Destroyers’ concerts indicates the band played Boston College on February 29th and 30th, 1974. There are no concert ads or listings in Boston College’s student newspaper from that time specifically naming George Thorogood or the Destroyers. There are, however, two concert listings for a “Guest Band” performing at the Boston College Rathskellar on those dates. Making the huge leap of faith that this “Guest Band” is the Delaware Destroyers, the Rathskellar was located in the student cafeteria in the basement of Lyons Hall on the Boston College campus.

Find it on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/aFTSWFZ9dABDaQH58

Venue Exterior: 

1951:

2017:

Venue Interior:

September 1975:

Source: Boston College. “The Heights” student newspaper. Sept. 3, 1975. Pg. 15.

Source: Boston College. “The Heights” student newspaper. Sept. 3, 1975. Pg. 15.

Opening Act: Unknown.

Poster / Flyer / Handbill: I am still looking for any posters, flyers or handbills used to promote these concerts.

Press & Promotion: 

Source: Boston College. “The Heights” student newspaper. March 25, 1974. Pg. 2.

Source: Boston College. “The Heights” student newspaper. March 25, 1974. Pg. 2.

Ticket Price:  In 1974, the BC Rathskellar charged $1 per semester for a student membership and $1 per guest admission.

Source: Boston College. “The Heights” student newspaper. May 8, 1973. Pg. 3.

Ticket Stub: I am still looking for a ticket stub from either of these concerts.

Attendance: Unknown. The Boston College Rathskellar had capacity for 600 people in 1973.

Source: Boston College. “The Heights” student newspaper. May 8, 1973. Pg. 3.

Set List: Unknown.

Were these Concerts Recorded?  Unknown.

Concert Photos: I have not yet seen any photos from these concerts. Please send me a note if you know of any.

Concert Reaction: I am still looking for a contemporary printed review of these concerts, circa February 1974.

Other Notes: None.

Fate of the Venue:

This version of the Boston College Rathskellar closed in April 1979 when the State of Massachusetts raised the legal drinking age from 18 to 20 and the school rescinded the Rathskellar’s events license.

Source: Boston College. “The Heights” student newspaper. April 9, 1979. Pg. 1.

Kings.

Date:  April 11-13, 1974.

Venue: Kings (aka King’s). 30B Boylston St. Cambridge, MA. 02138. USA.

Note: George Thorogood performed solo for these shows.

Note: Boylston Street was renamed in September 1981. The modern address for Kings is 30 John F. Kennedy St. Cambridge, MA. 02138. USA.

Find it on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/3qDzuzpBFNzbAeZF7

Venue Exterior: 

1963:

Source: Dirty Old Boston.

2019:

Venue Interior:

1978:

Above: After it closed, King’s was replaced at the same location by a venue called Jonathan Swift’s. This photo shows the Estes Boys performing at Jonathan Swift’s in 1978. Source: Facebook.

Opening Act: Unknown.

Poster / Flyer / Handbill: I am still looking for any posters, flyers or handbills used to promote these concerts.

Press & Promotion: 

Source: Boston Phoenix. April 8, 1974. Pg. 14.

Source: Boston Phoenix. April 9, 1974. Pg. 25.

Ticket Price:  Unknown.

Ticket Stub: I am still looking for a ticket stub from these concerts.

Attendance: Unknown.

Set List: Unknown.

Were these Concerts Recorded?  Unknown.

Concert Photos: I have not yet seen any photos from these concerts. Please send me a note if you know of any.

Concert Reaction: I am still looking for a contemporary printed review of these concerts, circa April 1974.

Other Notes: None.

Fate of the Venue: Jonathan Swift’s was operating at 30B Boylston Street as of August 1975.

Source: Boston Globe. Aug. 28, 1975. Pg. 10.

Stone Phoenix Coffee House.

Date:  April 19-20, 1974 & April 26-27, 1974.

Venue: Stone Phoenix Coffee House (aka the Stone Phoenix). 1120 Boylston St. Boston, MA. 02215. USA.

The Stone Phoenix was in the sub-basement of 1120 Boylston St., one level beneath a pool hall called “Tony’s Pool Room”.

Note: According to Jeff Simon’s master list of Destroyers’ concerts, George Thorogood performed solo for the April 19 & 20, 1974 shows at the Stone Phoenix.

Find it on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/kFsQGVhPyRZezzYx7

Venue Exterior: 

1976:

Source: Sandra Brant. “Parcel 13”. MIT. Master of City Planning thesis. September 1976. Pg. 7.

2019:

Venue Interior: I am still looking for an interior photo of the Stone Phoenix, circa 1974. Please send me a note if you have a photo to share.

Opening Act: George Thorogood opened for Patrick Sky at the Stone Phoenix on April 19th and 20th, 1974.

Poster / Flyer / Handbill: I am still looking for any posters, flyers or handbills used to promote these concerts.

Press & Promotion: 

Source: Boston Phoenix. April 16, 1974. Pg. 27.

Ticket Price:  $3.

Ticket Stub: There were no tickets issued for these concerts. Admission was charged at the door.

Attendance: Unknown. Prior to becoming the Stone Phoenix, a venue called the Catacombs operated at 1120 Boylston Street. The Catacombs had capacity for 250 people.

Source: Boston Globe. Nov. 5, 1967. Pg. 20A.

Set List: Unknown.

Were these Concerts Recorded?  Unknown.

Concert Photos: I have not yet seen any photos from these concerts. Please send me a note if you know of any.

Concert Reaction: I am still looking for a contemporary printed review of these concerts, circa April 1974.

Other Notes: None.

Fate of the Venue: The Stone Phoenix operated at 1120 Boylston Street until December 1976.

Sandy’s North Shore.

Dates:  May 10-11, 1974.

Venue:  Sandy’s North Shore. 54 Cabot St. Beverly, MA. 01915. USA.

Find it on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/3cCQeiLMrynnc3ph6

Venue Exterior: 

1974:

I am still looking for an exterior photo of Sandy’s North Shore, circa 1974. Please send me a note if you have one to share.

2018:

Venue Interior:

1974:

Source: Boston Phoenix. Sept 17, 1974. Pg. 5.

Opening Act: George Thorogood and the Destroyers opened for Hound Dog Taylor and the Houserockers at Sandy’s on the North Shore on May 10th and 11th, 1974.

Poster / Flyer / Handbill: I am still looking for any posters, flyers or handbills used to promote these concerts.

Press & Promotion: 

Above: Concert listing for Hound Dog Taylor’s run of concerts at Sandy’s on the North Shore on May 10th and 11th, 1974. Note that the group “Sweet Pie” is listed as the openers. Source: Boston Phoenix. May 7, 1974. Pg. 24.

Source: Marblehead Messenger. May 9, 1974. Pg. 18B.

Ticket Price:  Unknown.

Ticket Stub: I have not yet seen a ticket stub from either of these shows.

Attendance: Unknown.

Set List: Unknown.

Were these Concerts Recorded?  Unknown.

Concert Photos: I have not yet seen any photos from these concerts. Please send me a note if you know of any.

Concert Reaction: I am still looking for a contemporary printed review of these concerts, circa May 1974.

Other Notes: None.

Fate of the Venue: Sandy’s North Shore was closed in late 1974 for a major renovation. The venue re-opened in April 1975 as Sandy’s Jazz Revival. The venue closed for good in 1986.

Wanted All Over The World

Wanted All Over the World – George Thorogood and The Destroyers – Before the Destroyers

3 Comments

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.

Although the Destroyers’ first official concert was at the University of Delaware’s Lane Hall dormitory on December 1, 1973, their musical journey began even before that important day. Given the general unreliability of online information and peoples’ long term memories, I am only including performance dates up to November 1973 that I can confirm from primary sources.

Quick Links:

Sweet 16 Birthday Party.

Date:  January 13, 1965.

Source: Facebook.

Venue: Private home. Brandywood, Delaware. USA.

Source: The News Journal. Feb. 2, 1963. Pg. 8.

Source: Brandywood Civic Association.

Find it on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/xdYZ5g8mkyHRNGHHA

Set List: “The band played all the current music of 1965”.

Source: Facebook.

Was the Concert Recorded?  Yes. There is a short snippet of silent film footage of this event on YouTube.

Concert Photos:

Source: https://youtu.be/-kiTJEFCyGc

Other Notes: In the description accompanying his YouTube video, Peter Christy provides helpful details about this event:

“George Thorogood was invited to perform at a party in my wife’s parents’ basement during her high school years in Wilmington, Delaware. George and my wife were classmates at Brandywine High School although he was a year behind [her]. They both were in Mr. Pro’s World History class where my wife became aware of George’s musical talents and she invited him to perform at her party. The party was during the winter of 1965… George performed with his original band. My father-in-law took this brief home movie of his daughter’s party, hardly realizing that the band would become famous. George and his band are playing in the basement corner and he can be seen with his tambourine.”

One online commenter suggests that Thorogood and company were performing under the name “Midnight Sun” at this time. That is consistent with info from a 1983 interview with George’s parents:

Source: University of Delaware Review. May 10, 1983. Pg. 10.

Arden Center YWCA.

Date:  September 11, 1971.

Venue:  Arden Center YWCA (Young Women’s Christian Association). 2210 Swiss Lane. Ardentown, DE. 19810. USA.

Find it on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/diJ5jEZjGVzkFZ3MA

Venue Exterior: 

1973:

Source: The Morning News. Jan. 27, 1973.g 10

2019:

Press & Promotion:

Source: Delaware Morning News. Sept. 11, 1971. Pg. 34.

Other Notes: None.

Fate of the Venue: The Arden Center YWCA was sold in 1986 and redeveloped into a retirement home.

Goldie’s Door Knob.

Date:  November 13, 1971.

Venue:  Goldie’s Door Knob. University of Delaware Student Center. Dover Room. 325 Academy St. Newark, DE. 19716. USA.

Source: University of Delaware Review. Nov. 12, 1971. Pg. 10.

Find it on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/nGG82rHkiT1CdaYF7

Venue Exterior: 

1963:

2019:

Venue Interior:

1968:

Source: University of Delaware Review. Oct. 1, 1968.

Press & Promotion:

Source: University of Delaware Review. Nov. 12, 1971. Pg. 10.

Ticket Price:  Free.

Other Notes: None.

Max’s Kansas City.

Dates:  April 11-16, 1973.

Note: I am not able to confirm if George Thorogood played all of these dates, some of these dates or just one of these dates. Please get in touch if you have more information.

Venue:  Max’s Kansas City. 213 Park Avenue S. New York, NY. 10003. USA.

Find it on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/16bgsMjLCAU3La527

Venue Exterior: 

1970s:

Source: Ray Stevenson. Shutterstock.

2018:

Venue Interior:

November 1977:

Above: Devo perform at Max’s Kansas City. Source: www.bobgruen.com/maxs-kansas-city/

Opening Act:  George Thorogood (solo) opened for Bonnie Raitt and Little Feat.

Above: Bonnie Raitt performs with Little Feat at the Roxy in Los Angeles, 1976. Source: Erica Echenberg/Getty Images.

Press & Promotion: 

Source: Village Voice. April 12, 1973.

Source: Village Voice. April 12, 1973. Pg. 58.

Concert Reaction:  

Dan Nooger of the Village Voice reviewed the April 11th date from this run of concerts at Max’s Kansas City. While George Thorogood is not mentioned in the review, the article provides a nice overview of what these shows were like.

“On Wednesday, Warner Bros. hosted a fried-chicken box dinner party for Little Feat at Max’s to celebrate their new album, “Dixie Chicken.” Despite the catering, Little Feat are anything but greasy. Recently expanded from four to six men, the group is built around former Mothers guitarist Lowell George, who produced the album as well as writing most of the songs.  They sometimes use blues and R&B structural devices, but the finished product is their own and it wails…  Their incredibly humorous “Fat Man in the Bathtub” and “Dixie Chicken”, a tale of loving and losing in the moist Southern night with a jaunty chorus by the boys at the bar, highlighted a set of songs from their three fine albums. 

Topping the bill was Bonnie Raitt, who despite a cold that had her coughing and half-whispering “You’re gonna see a first tonight; singer dies onstage at Max’s”, turned in a fine set about equally divided between blues and ballads.  Her treatment of Joni Mitchell’s lovely “Midway”, with its octave-jumping vocal line, was nothing short of awe-inspiring.  On Chris Smithers’ ballsy blues “Love Me Like a Man” she was helped out by the Feat’s Lowell George on bottleneck, conga player Sam Clayton, and Bill Payne, who played some fine barrelhouse piano, as well as her longtime bassman Freebo.”

Source: Village Voice. April 19, 1973. Pg. 67.

Other Notes:

In various interviews over the years, George Thorogood has pointed to his performance at Max’s Kansas City as an important early breakthrough in his music career. Inspired after seeing John Hammond, Jr. at the Gaslight in New York in 1970, Thorogood headed to northern California to break into the local scene as a solo acoustic act. After a time in the San Francisco Bay area, Thorogood introduced himself to Hammond who, in turn, introduced George to “a couple of managers”. Soon after, George landed a guest spot opening up for Bonnie Raitt and Little Feat at Max’s in April 1973. The connections from that New York gig led to George being hired by music promoter (and Bonnie Raitt’s manager) Dick Waterman to open a week of shows for Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee at a blues club called Joe’s Place in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Source: Crawdaddy. May 1978. Pg. 25; RecordOnline.com; YouTube.

Fate of the Venue: 

This version of Max’s Kansas City went bankrupt in July 1974 and closed in December 1974. The club re-opened and closed a few more times before finally shutting its doors for good in 1981.

Source: Billboard Magazine. August 17, 1974. Pg. 4.

Joe’s Place.

Dates:  May 1-6, 1973.

Venue:  Joe’s Place. 1281 Cambridge St. Cambridge, MA. 02139. USA.

Find it on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/8AmPfkY8umLY5kHk8

Venue Exterior: 

1974:

Source: Boston Phoenix. Sept. 17, 1974. Pg. 6.

2019:

Opening Act:  George Thorogood (solo) opened for Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee.

Above: Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee perform in Denmark, 1967. Source: Jan Persson/Getty Images.

Press & Promotion: 

Source: Boston Phoenix. May 1, 1973. Pg. 17.

Other Notes: None.

Fate of the Venue: This version of Joe’s Place was destroyed in a fire on April 1, 1974. Joe’s Place was operating out of the second floor of 11 Windsor Street in Cambridge, MA as of 1975.

Source: Boston Globe. April 3, 1974. Pg. 71 & Boston Phoenix. July 8, 1975. Pg. 2-12.

Sandy’s North Shore.

Dates:  July 27-28, 1973.

Venue:  Sandy’s North Shore. 54 Cabot St. Beverly, MA. 01915. USA.

Find it on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/3cCQeiLMrynnc3ph6

Venue Exterior: 

2018:

Venue Interior:

1974:

Source: Boston Phoenix. Sept 17, 1974. Pg. 5.

Opening Act:  George Thorogood (solo) opened for Hound Dog Taylor and the House Rockers.

Press & Promotion: 

Source: Boston Phoenix. July 24, 1973. Pg. 16.

Source: Boston Globe. July 26, 1973. Pg. 22.

Other Notes: None.

Fate of the Venue: Sandy’s North Shore was closed in late 1974 for a major renovation. The venue re-opened in April 1975 as Sandy’s Jazz Revival. The venue closed for good in 1986.

Bridgewater State College.

Date:  October 4, 1973.

Blind Jim Brewer and George Thorogood performed two shows on this date: An afternoon show from 1 to 3pm in the Student Union Foyer and an evening show from 7 to 11pm in another location.

Venue:  Bridgewater State College. 19 Park Ave. Bridgewater, MA. 02325. USA.

Find it on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/MzPw9g5r8cQeDGRg9

Venue Exterior: 

1970s:

2019:

Opening Act:  George Thorogood (solo) opened for Blind Jim Brewer.

Press & Promotion: 

Source: The Comment. Sept. 27, 1973. Pg. 6.

Source: The Comment. Oct. 4, 1973. Pg. 7.

Ticket Price:  Free (afternoon show); $0.50 (evening show).

Other Notes:

Above: Blind Jim Brewer and George Thorogood in Newton, MA. September 1973. Source: Facebook.