The Move Live @ The Fillmore West October 16, 1969
On October 16, 1969 after previous bookings and cancellations The Move finally opened a Four-night stand at the Legendary Fillmore West in San Francisco. Hardly a warm-up act for Little Richard and Joe Cocker. Their performance that night was unforgettable. This tribute and review is highlights taken from a cassette of that evening’s show originally recorded on a portable reel to reel recorder (batteries) with one microphone at 3 and ¾ speed. Hardly audible at times, distorting from their volume and 3 generations of tape hiss. Listening to this historic rock and roll document 30 years later it still sounds fresh and powerful today.
The resident house announcer (Jerry Pompelli) opening comments were “This is a group we have wanted to bring in for a long time but we just couldn’t get it together”. Finally from England The Move. Carl Wayne says hello to the audience and leads a three-part harmony arrangement to Going Back. (The Byrds) Without a single instrument their voices filled the auditorium until Roy Wood picks a electric 12 string. My friends and I stood frozen with our jaws-dropped. When I listen to this today It still gives me the chills what an opening number! Cherry Blossom Clinic Revisited was next. Imagine never hearing this version and seeing them play it live! This led to Open my Eyes (The Nazz) *WOW* arranged like it was their own song. Carl then comments about Fire Brigade being a teenybopper song and that maybe after they got drunk they would play it. I yelled out Night of Fear and Carl laughed back at me "Yea Right"! Don’t Make My Baby Blue made my ears ring from Rick‘s precision bass with the Roto-Strings. They were LOUD. Last song of the first set was Fields of People which Carl gave credit to Roy Wood (referring to him as the Freak in the Bedspread) and his adaptation for the Electric Banjo.
Joe Cocker played his 1st set. Then Little Richard rocked The Fillmore with one long set! My friend caught one of the silver boots he threw into the audience. Opening The Move’s 2nd Set was an explosive version of I Can Hear The Grass Grow (rocking blues version) not without, Guitar, Bass and Drum Solos lasting almost 12 minutes. Carl shares with the audience his experiences of the 3-day drive from New York. Last Thing On My Mind was played very tight. Then came Good Times a obscure R & R Song by The Easybeats of which I stole their arrangement and have played (never this good) in bands of my own over the years. Powerful Hello Suzie was the bomb that made us gleam within our daze. Under The Ice (Nazz again) closed the show out with more extended (Roy Wood meets Wes Montgomery) solos. (It was the 60s)
Overall they were well received, though the local Hippies at the Fillmore were sometimes easily agitated when British groups would blow other San Francisco acts of the stage. Tonight was not the case. The Move stood way ahead of the others as even the headliners that night were stiff competition. Joe Cocker closed the show somewhat anti-climactic? This show was months proceeding the release of Shazam. It was a shame they never returned to promote its release. I was privileged to smoke a cigarette and chat with Carl, Rick and Bev between the sets. They were very polite gentlemen and very nice to a very inquisitive teenage Move fan. Carl told me Roy was busy tuning up his guitars and would not leave the back stage area.
In the 30 Years that have passed their music has remained timeless which tributes Roy, Carl, Bev and Rick for their unique style of musicianship (vocally and instrumentally), songwriting and arrangements. Stage presence not lacking humor. Very confidant in what they played while enjoying themselves on stage. This show was a dream come true for fans that had never heard (or ever again) most of the songs played on this historic tour. The forthcoming release of an official Live CD from one of the shows on this tour will testament to the fact that there was no other band like The Move!
John Rock October 16, 1999
