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Crowd Finds Freedom in Woodstock Concert

August 11, 2009 - LIVERMORE -- At another concert, Country Joe McDonald's introductory words would have been an insult. But here — amid the tie-dyed fifty-somethings and the beer garden crowd with their beach balls — the greeting by of the 1960s counter-culture leader fit.

"Welcome to wherever I am," said McDonald, kicking off Sunday's Heroes of Woodstock concert in Livermore. His first tune was "Entertainment Is My Business."

Business seemed good as the crowd unfolded blankets and chairs and began listening to the almost nonstop music. By noon, a small stage hosted a slate of local bands with covers of Grateful Dead and Johnny Cash tunes. At about 3 p.m., the L-A Harley Band launched the big stage with some rock 'n roll classics. By the time McDonald took the stage shortly after 4 p.m., organizers guessed that as many as 3,500 people had walked though the gate and into the open-air show.

"I'm just hoping the rain holds off," said a retired drummer from Lewiston who grabbed a front-row seat for the show. The man, who went by the single name of Cooper, said he'd gotten a front-row spot for the first Woodstock concert 40 years ago and would not be denied this time.

"I had to be here for them," he said, waving at the stage where Jefferson Starship, Big Brother and the Holding Company, Ten Years After and Canned Heat would perform.

All looked their years.

"I thought I'd be dead by now," bassist Leo Lyons said backstage before the show. The founding member of England's Ten Years After refused to say how old he is. However, he figured he was about 25 when he performed on the original Woodstock stage in 1969.

He lived the intervening years partly as a songwriter in Nashville. For the last seven, he has played in a reborn version of his classic band. The original guitarist, Alvin Lee, left the group. Another player, Joe Gooch, stepped in and has helped the band regain some success in Europe. Since the band reformed, they have released three albums and toured consistently.

"Forty years ago, we were huge in America," he said. But the old songs, until this tour, have been more of a curiosity added to their new work.

"We're not really a retro band," Lyons said. "I don't live in the past."

There are lessons to be learned from the still-legendary concert held in Bethel, N.Y., and described as three days of peace, love and music.

Canned Heat member Larry Taylor said it may be a feeling that was inherent in the music or the crowd of 500,000.

"It's just a freedom," he said.

The word came easy when Big Brother and the Holding Company took the stage, particularly when singer Sophia Ramos, a Janis Joplin sound-alike neared the chorus of "Me and Bobby McGee."

The crowd began the chorus without her help: "Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose."

People also sang with Country Joe as he played his trademark song: "I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-to-Die Rag" and chanted with his profane "Fish Cheer" that begins, "Gimme an 'F'!"

McDonald also made time for a tender moment, giving his microphone to New Hampshire native David Deschambault so he could propose to his girlfriend, Susan Brilliant of Florida.

"Will you live in peace, love and music with me?" he asked.

"I will," she answered.

By Dan Hartill, Staff Writer, Lewiston Sun Journal
Published: Aug 10, 2009 12:00 am


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