Summer of Love

[matthew medeiros]

Wanted to let you all know that Moby Grape is going to be playing at Golden Gate park in San Francisco this upcoming Sept. 2nd. This will be first time in over a decade all original Grape members will be together, should be good. My wife's son, Omar Spence ( Skip's son) will be playin guitar and singing with them, His voice sounds a lot like Skip. Anyway, Omar's first instrument is drums , and I might set up my Club Jordan set for him onstage if they get enough play time, right now they are only getting about 20 minutes. The concert is free admission so come on down, and I'll post for sure if I end up bringing a Cocktail set up there.

[Bruce (the K)]

Matthew,

That's very exciting news. There are lots of us "Grape-heads" out here that were awed by the combined talents of that band. My neighborhood band plays Moby Grape's 8:05.

I remember touring the Rockies in '67 as part of a high school garage band. Somehow, we got into this little country music radio station late in the evening and we talked the DJ into playing 8:05 off the first Grape album. I like to think that maybe it blew a few minds out in the hinterlands...

Bruce (the K)

[matthew medeiros]

I'm glad you have fond memories of the band. I was a fan from very early on, I went to see them when I was 12 or 13 or so, I think I bought the first album when I was 10 years old I grew up around San Jose and used to see Skip all around the downtown area. And then years later, strictly by chance I end up with Patty May Spence. The Grape recently won a lawsuit with M. K. and it freed up their first two album rights, their name & some other stuff, after 40 years, can you imagine. Mostly thanks to Omar Spence pushing forward. I hope that the band members are able to make something happen, after being apart for so long there doesn't seem to be a real sense of being a band. We are all hoping the Golden Gate park concert puts a fire back in them.

[robertm]

Believe it or not, I'm a GrapeHead! A friend pointed them out in high school, I got blown away by their record "Wow" and the guitar playing on it. Saw them live in LA in 77 or 78. Next time was at a hole in the wall tavern in North Seattle in '96 I think-my jaw dropped when the sign said "Moby Grape with guest Sam Andrew" (J. Joplin's guitar player). Jerry Miller and Don Stevenson, and Peter Lewis may have been there. Place was packed wall to wall, after the second song the whole audience was bobbing up and down in unison. The Grape were better than ever!

it's interesting to hear about your crossing paths and lives therewith, Matthew. Let us know how they do, and whether they have any of their old spark. A picture possibly?

[matthew medeiros]

Here are some pics hopefully of Moby Grape at San Francisco. Thankfully, We had VIP passes. It was a great day, the temp was close to 100 degrees, and sky clear as a bell. Never got to coordinate with Omar (spence) about cocktail drums. Parking was non-existant, and there had to be 40,000 people but everyone mellow (wonder why? what's that smell?) Lots of tie dye to be seen, wanted to get pics backstage, so many musicians, New Riders, Dan Hicks, Ray Manzarek, Lester Chambers, Taj Mahal, some starship folks, etc, etc, didn't know where to turn Top Pic, greatful dead flag, next pic Moby Grape onstage, 3rd pic, the crowd 40,000 + strong, 4th pic, the set list back stage, 5th pic, my wife Trish and Her son Omar Spence.
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[robertm]

Wonderful pictures. Thanks for posting them. Did it sound like there was any of the old spark left? I'm betting that it did.

[matthew medeiros]

You know, We had gotten an e-mail quite awhile back and the poster had asked questions about Skip Spence. I had promised the original poster a poster from the Skip Spence tribute show at the rio theater in Santa Cruz. Mark, if you're still out there, e-mail me your address, and I'll mail the poster to you. I had it signed by Skips sister, Skips son and Skips wife. I'm posting this here because that is where the guy saw my mention of Moby Grape at Summer of Love 2007