Merriweather back in the day: Jimi Hendrix

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Hendrix - August 16, 1968

The one act everyone always mentions when they talk about Merriweather history - Jimi Hendrix. Many are surprised to learn that the venue that began hosting the National Symphony Orchestra also had the worlds greatest guitarist on stage less than a year after opening. Those premiere years where a crazy mix of acts: the Doors, Frank Sinatra with Chivas in hand, Janis Joplin. But no one act in the last 44 years is mentioned with as much awe as Hendrix. Jimi and the Experience toured with Soft Machine for this leg of his 1968 tour and was only two short years away from leaving behind a legacy of music.

That concert day began cloudy and as the concert went on it started to heavily rain and thunder. According to lucky attendees, the lawn crowd moved toward the covered pavilion and were evidently let in as Jimi coaxed them saying, “let them in” and “Rainy Day, dream Away” and when the thunder started he started playing back to it with some feedback.

They played a busy 45-minute set and at times, it appeared Jimi was fighting back the thunder with feedback from his Marshall stacks. He gave the show all had expected, including playing his guitar behind his back, with his teeth and leaving all blown away.

The Set List (48 m)

1. Are You Experienced

2. Rock Me Baby
3. Foxy Lady
4. Hey Joe
5. Fire
6. I Don't Live Today
7. Purple Haze
8. Wild Thing / Star Spangled Banner

This audio of "Hey Joe" is pretty good, considering it's age and multi-generation status. Still hard to believe that Hendrix stood on the same stage that exists today. This was the concert to be at:

"Hey Joe"

Get the original recording at iTunes - Jimi hendrix - Hey Joe

More stuff from the show...


Opening act - Soft Machine

One week later at the Virginia Beach Dome, August 21, 1968 - photos by Bill Stokley

Merriweather Memories

Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland has a rich history of diverse concerts dating back to it's opening in 1967. Some of the the most memorable shows were in the 70's & 80's, when the venue attracted major acts whose shows at the forty acre wooded venue provided many fans with experiences to remember for a lifetime. I was lucky enough to have worked there during many of these classic shows. By sharing the sights and sounds of some of those actual concerts decades ago, the memories of those times can be relived once again - Chuck.

Merriweather History

Merriweather opened in July 1967 as the second public building in Columbia, a planned city. It was designed by architect Frank Gehry, known for his design of the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain. It took eight months and $1 million to build the simple pavilion and grounds. With top-notch acoustics, the amphitheater was initially created to be the summer home of the National Symphony, and it was named for one of the group's key patrons, Marjorie Merriweather Post. In 2010 it was named the second best amphitheater in the country by Billboard magazine. The venue has struggled at times over the years and flirted with closing a decade ago, until new management and an appreciation by the local community for it's legacy has made it vibrant once again.