Some of the key shows played by the Strawberry Alarm Clock in the late 1960s:
July 1, 1967: With the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Country Joe and the Fish, and Captain Speed. Earl Warren Fairgrounds, Santa Barbara, Calif.
July 22, 1967: With the Yardbirds, Moby Grape, West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band and the Stone Ponys (Linda Ronstadt). Santa Monica Civic Auditorium.
Sept. 8, 1967: With the Who, Herman’s Hermits and the Sundowners. Anaheim Convention Center.
Sept. 29, 1967: With Spirit and Linda Ronstadt (Love canceled). Santa Monica Civic Auditorium.
Oct. 15, 1967: With Jefferson Airplane, Spirit, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Hour Glass, Sunshine Company, Hamilton Streetcar, New Breed. Sacramento Pop Festival at Hughes Stadium.
Nov. 17-26, 1968: With the Beach Boys, Buffalo Springfield and (some shows) the Soul Survivors. Beach Boys’ Fifth Thanksgiving Tour, various venues primarily in Northeast.
April 6-24, 1968: With the Beach Boys, Buffalo Springfield and Bobby Goldsboro (some shows). Various venues, primarily in the South and Texas.
April 1968: With the Animals, the Rascals, Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels, and John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers. Honolulu International Center.
July 22, 1968: With the Seeds. Melodyland Theater, Anaheim.
View list of recent concerts (2007-12) by the Strawberry Alarm Clock
Thinking of a Strawberry Alarm Clock concert you attended in the ’60s? Feel free to add to the list via the comments section below!
Tell me more about this band the Seeds.I’ve come across the name from time to time either in reading about sixties music or in the a-z cards in my favorite record shops.I read somewhere that they had the unfortunate distinction of having one of the worst selling albums of I think 1967.However,I’m sure there must be some good listening there because of the endorsements I’ve heard from SAC,including the inclusion of “Mr. Farmer” on their new cd.
The Seeds were good. They got play time for “I Had Too Much To Dream Last Night” and “Pushing Too Hard.”
Actually, Kevin, the Electric Prunes did “I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night).”
I wanted to connect with another person but lost it. My first concert, also, was Strawberry Alarm Clock the Turtles and the Shadows. Cal Expo in an area called Teen Fair. At the entrance was posted “No One Under 30 Allowed.”
Anyone ?
The Electric Prune did I Had Too Much To Dream Last Night. The Seeds, later known as Sky Saxon and The Seeds were best known for Pushin Too Hard, The Farmer and Pusherman.
Pusherman, AKA The Pusher, was Steppenwolf.
I was looking for the date of concert in Baton Rouge, LA with Strawberry Alarm Clock, Buffalo Springfield and the Turtles.
Sky Saxon was the front man and the band was actually true on stage to their recorded sound. He wore white neru shirt with white bell bottoms and was charismatic. Songs were Mr.Farmer (“Mr. Farmer won’t you water my crop”) Your Pushing too Hard ( “your pushing too hard, your pushing on me. Your pushing too hard on what you want me to be”) Trip Maker about a guy that manufactures acid. They got airplay at least in L.A. and were sort of on the level of Iron Butterfly. The awesome Santa Monica civic band was Spirit
I first saw SAC at the Hullaballoo Club in Hollywood on 9/23/67. They were playing with a few other bands called Shadow Legend, Power and Thorinshield. I became friends with Ed that night and saw them many times after that. Thanks to my trusty teenage journal, I have accounts of the various gigs from back then and fun times hanging out with the band. SAC was a cherished part of my teen years, and I played their albums until they wore out!!
Hi Christine….
Please feel free to add concert dates you have logged in your journal.
was the 9/23/67 show with Love?
Ed King also kept a journal….we should put it up on this site….it’s over 200 pages as I recall.
Thanks for the post!
Hi George,
No, Love isn’t mentioned in my journal for 9/23/67. However they are mentioned as not showing up for a Santa Monica Civic performance on 9/29. According to my journal, SAC played at the Cheetah that night and also on 9/30, so I went there instead (I snuck in because I was underage). Other dates mentioned in ’67 are:
10/6/67 – UCLA, playing with Merry Go Round
10/7/67 – Pasadena Civic
10/8/67 – Newport Beach
10/14/67 – Palm Springs
10/22/67 – Taped American Bandstand (I was there)
10/27/67 – Captain Merriwether’s Pickle Farm (!) with Daily Flash and Lyme & Cybele
10/31/67 – Pasadena Civic with Spirit and Clear Light
The reason I asked is because when SAC played at the Hullaballoo with Love our opening act was Public Bubble (previously Waterfyrd Traene, later to become Buffungton Rhodes) and Arthur Lee brought up PB’s flute player to jam with them on stage. That flute player was Steve Bartek!
Isn’t that something! No, I don’t believe I had the pleasure of seeing that show.
The Hullabaloo gig with Love and Public Pubble was on February 14, 1967. I can confirm that, although their name was on the poster, Love cancelled at last minute their appearance at the SMCA on September 29, 1967. I am the author of Love’s authorized biography
oops, I forgot, Love and SAC played together on the same bill at least another two times. One in 1967 somewhere in Merced, Calif., and one on August 23, 1969 at the Vancouver Pop Festival — with also on the bill Alice Cooper, Chicago and many others.
Pasadena Civic with Spirit and Clear Light… I was at that show my folks lived in la Canada ..so it was a quick drive for them to drop me off…I also saw you in Sherman oaks last summer ..still sounding great ..altho Id forgotten my lp for you guys to sign …a great show .
Thoroughly impressed with Christine’s concert attendence archiving. Many feel that much of the late sixities were such an overwhelming whirlwind of events and happenings, they may find it difficult to even pinpoint the YEAR of a particular occurence. Sounds like those of you who were there and truly part of the musical revolution have some really awe inspirings memories to cherish and share.
Hi Lizzie:
Honestly, the only reason I have those dates down is because I kept a journal, otherwise I wouldn’t have remembered them. I am beyond pleased that I did, though, especially since my memories can be shared and enjoyed by others all these years.
Peace!
My first memory of Strawberry Alarm Clock…..
Incense & pepermints was what i bought for my 1st girlfriend, on a first real date in ’69. Ten years old at the time. I remember wearing a white turtleneck, and wearing a peace sign. She was beautiful & wearing flowers in her hair. Borrowed a minibike from an older kid to ride her to the movies to see yellow submarine. I will never forget that first date. Incense & pepermints was one of her favorite tunes from that time.
Was that September 29,1967 LOVE cancellation of a spot on your bill when Arthur Lee called in a bomb threat just to have the night off?What was your first impression of the young Linda Rondstadt?
I don’t know why they cancelled. I thought young Linda R. was great, and loved her singing — still do. She was very cute, had her hair in pigtails, wore a crop top and cut-off jeans and performed barefoot, as I recall.
Saw the 11/21/67 show in White Plains, NY. Really great. Beach Boys, Alarm Clock and Buffalo Springfield
Anyone have any more of the ‘obscure’ dates the Strawberry Alarm Clock played? I know they played at my high school (Palos Verdes High School), probably late ’67 or early ’68 (definitely after the Who show in Anaheim which I also saw). Interesting to read the thread above, The Seeds, Love, and The Byrds also played at PVHS between 65 and 69 – pretty good place to be then. Buffalo Springfield played at nearby Rolling Hills High.
I do remember playing PVHS!
It was pretty cool…can’t seem to find the date…probably in their archives….thanks for posting Bruce!
I remember an outdoor concert in San Jose I believe with The Doors and Country Joe & The Fish as well as others…Any one else remember that show?
I also think strawberry alarm clock played at my high school, De La Salle in Concord California, between 67-70, unless of course my memory is completely off and it was another band. Can anybody confirm that?
Circa 1967, I saw SAC play at my high school Belleville High School Township West, Belleville, Illinois. Can anybody confirm this with a date?
March 7, 1968
Sean, You’re right! SAC played in the DLS gym complete with Petri dish and overhead projector, 60’s light show, technology of the day, Fall ‘68 or Winter ‘69? Best guess. Go Spartans (Ducky O’Toole ‘71)
Hi, I saw them in 1969 at a club near Vincennes Indiana. But the actual location was across the state line in Illinois. The club was called the World. Kind of a remote location.
Was there ever any place you were surprised to see SAC’s brand of psychedelia caught on?It’s hard to see it striking big in places like the deep South along the Bible belt or in Texas.
Back in the day ….67-68 SAC was on tour with The Beach Boys and Buffalo Springfield in the South….it was a BIG TIME tour….the only problem came when Martin Luther King was assassinated…we were forced to stay in the Hotel and some shows were cancelled.
Otherwise we did very well in the South.
Motown was odd as we were paired with Otis Redding.
In Boston we once played on a bill with The Paul Butterfield Blues Band and Wilson Pickett….and got some boo’s….I flipped the bird to the audience and got hell from our manager for doing it…oh well, I was a teenager!
Skynyrd opening for SAC came a couple of years later.
No surprise at all regarding your experience in Boston. I grew up there and was always a bit embarrassed by the vague, unfocused hostility that was often displayed by the audience towards bands. Part of the problem is that it’s a walking town, where people just walk into shows regardless of whether they know or care about the band.
Do you remember every playing in Pocatello, Idaho, at the High School Auditorium with The Animals in 1967? A friend swears that he attended that concert but I don’t remember that you guys ever played there.
Can’t remember the date they played in the ballroom at Eastern New Mexico University. There was no opening band.
They played at my high school in 68. Lynard Skynard opened for them. Ft. Myers, FL.
Saw the in late summer 68 at v
Vickers in anderson Ind, when I was home on leave, for a converted parking garage turne into a teenaqge night club the sound was Awsome, the Group and crowd finely tuned and it was a memory that bring back easier times.
I was at the sept 8, 1967 concert at the Anaheim Convention Center with my mother! I was 14, that’s why I was there with my mother. I remember the SAC coming in on rugged platforms. I must confess, I was there to see Herman’s Hermits, don’t remember the Sundowners, but have a piece of broken guitar from The Who.
I have not been able to remember which band opened for which other band, so I have assumed it was billed for the Hermits. I don’t recall The Who being the main event. Didn’t keep the playbill. I also remember seeing Davy Jones of the Monkees when my mom and I went around to the back of the stage. Didn’t get in, but was about 20 feet from Davy. Ah, memories.
Catherine – The order of appearance was: The Sundowners, The Strawberry Alarm Clock, The Who, and Herman’s Hermits. You are correct, The Who were not the headliners – however to some of us they closed the show (next to The Beatles they were my favorite band of the time). Besides performing a great set of their early material, they were still in their ‘destructive’ phase during the act closing “My Generation”. Not only did Pete Townshend sacrifice his guitar with incredible power, artistry, and athletic maneuvers; but John Entwistle joined in with a rare showing of emotion. The Ox smashed his heavy Fender bass into the stage several times destroying not only it, but his section of the platform they were playing on. The roadies had to rebuild the stage before Herman’s Hermits could go on. Even though we liked some of the early Hermit’s songs my friends and I had seen and heard what we came for and left the show after the first song – this isn’t meant to offend a fan but just my very fond memory of a great show early in my concert going days.
The Who also destroyed “OUR” VOX Super Beatle amps….we were quite proud of that!
The Monkees were sitting in the front row!
Catherine, those were a bunch of our high school best friends that carried us down the aisles from all sides of the convention center on what was meant to look like Persian rugs….we were throwing out incense and peppermints to the audience….very cheeky!
A very cool side note;
We were in the dressing room with the WHO and tuning our guitars…my best friend, Randy Zacuto from my previous and post SAC band, Waterfyrd Traene/Buffington Rhodes got to jam a bit with Townsend!
George –
How great to have your equipment be part of the Who’s carnage! Though I’m sure some mixed emotions as I can also imagine a feeling of loss over a great amp like a Super-Beatle (and having to buy a new one). And getting to hang in the dressing room with them and jam with Pete had to be pretty exciting. I’m sure you got to meet other great musicians but The Who’s first US tour would certainly be a highlight. Oh, I mentioned my comments above to a good friend who was at the show. He seemed to remember Pete and John smashing their guitars together as in battle – I didn’t, but do you remember that?
Now that you mention your entrance I vaguely remember it – good theatre. I also remember your black lights and the band’s fluorescent highlights – including a ribbon hanging from one of the guitar or bass heads. Good show!
At the PV High show I mentioned above, I setup and ran the (few) lights in the gym – I remember watching much of that show sitting on the basketball backboard.
Take care – Bruce
Oh, and very envious of your guitar memento, great piece of music history!
My brother Tommy and I attended a concert in the Houston Coliseum in the late 60’s and saw Steppenwolf and Strawberrry Alarm Clock. This was the first of many concerts we attended in the 70’s.
I was fortunate enough to get to see Strawberry Alarm Clock in concert at Hendersonville high school, Tenn. in 1968 along with my brother and two buddies. Johnny Cash lived in Hendersonville and was in the front row. Great show! I’ve seen a lot of big groups over the years but SAC was the most enjoyable and memorable! Cheers.
My brother, Tommy, and I saw SAC with Steppenwolf at the Sam Houston Coliseum in Houston, Texas around 1968. It was our first rock concert and the place wasn’t half full. I was 17 and my brother was 15. The Coliseum wasn’t made for music. It was a rodeo arena with no acoustics. This was the first of many concerts we attended in the ’70’s. The Houston Music Hall, which was next door, was made for music, but it didn’t hold as many people as the Coliseum.
Michael-
I was at that concert, July 5, 1969! It was the first concert I ever attended (I was 12) and I went with my older sister, who was only 15. My dad, for reasons unknown, bought front-row seats, left of the stage and dropped us off in front of the SHC. Hard to imagine now. Some local band came on first, then Strawberry Alarm Clock, then Steppenwolf, at least, that’s what I remember.
You’re right about the acoustics- almost as bad a The Astrodome…
Jim
Saw SAC perform during the late 60’s live on the beach in Playa del Rey, California. Some TV station was taping a show right on the sand at Gillis Beach. It was our local beach and they just showed up. No one knew they were coming.
SAC was at the McBride Field Campus in Iowa City in the late 60’s anyone have any information???
My research shows they played Lake MacBride near Coralville, IA for a love-in hosted by University of Iowa on May 10, 1970
Can anyone jog my memory? My first concert was at the Melodyland theater and SAC was top billing and I thought the Dead was opening? 1967 I believe
The Seeds opened the show
Linda Ronstadt and the Stone Ponies did not play at the July 22, 1967 Yardbirds Santa Monica Civic show.
I was there with 4 of my friends and shot photos.
Sorry to correct DaveB, but The Stone Ponies definitely played that show. Also on the bill was The West Coast Pop Art Experimental band. Love was originally scheduled but cancelled. Moby Grape I think played as well.
Sorry, George. None of us who attended recall seeing Linda and the Stone Ponies at that SM concert with the Yardbirds. (one of us is a huge Ronstadt fan and he would likely recall seeing her that evening.) Given the huge amount of shows you’ve performed at it is understandable that you’d get a few details incorrect. And Moby Grape definitely played there and I have photos.
I saw SAC with Thee Midnighters while I was a student at UCLA (1968 or 1969). The stage was
set up on the top level of a parking structure. Was anyone else in attendance?
I was….The Merry Go Round was also on that bill.
I saw the SAC in the late 60’s – can’t remember the date – at Blue Mountain College in Blue Mountain, MS. My sisters and I were almost the entire audience. (Blue Mountain was a Baptist college and have never understood why they had the concert and no one attended.) I think there was a band that played before them, but they were the headliners We went backstage and met them during a break and took home pictures, autographs, and broken drumsticks – from the drummer’s solo drumming on everything on the stage. Had to go home early because it was a school night.
i saw sac in, i assume, 1968 in jax fl – along with the beach boys & buffalo springfield. i attended the show w/neil young’s mother & brother (whom i had met in daytona beach). we went to the hotel where the bands were staying & along with the bands (sans the beach boys who were in a limo) rode on a school bus to the theater where the concert took place. we had a police escort. it was all very exciting for lil ole me. i was introduced to various members of the bands, including neil, of course. we had a front row seat. after the concert was over a young woman asked for my autograph. i was flattered but remember laughing & telling her that i was a nobody & respectfully declining to do so. ah – the good ole days.
Hi Bruno – LOVE was my favorite band in high school years. They actually played at Palos Verdes High School – I think it was 1966. I again saw them at Hullabaloo in Hollywood on a Valentines Day with the Seeds. Been trying to find the rest of that lineup. It was an all nighter. I drove 6 of my friends to the show. Crowds got so excited when it opened one of the front glass doors broke. Was that 1967? of 66….. love to hear from you and also where can I get your book?
Thanks! Joyce
Instantly loved SAC first time i heard them on the radio, saw them in seattle around 1969 at the Eagles Auditorium with Crome Syrcus if memory serves?
The Strawberry Alarm Clock played at Turlock, CA fair grounds with the Seeds and Eisage in 1967 or 1968. There were other bands that I can’t remember. A friend and I went on tickets we won on KFIV the Modesto radio station. During their performance the power failed and the singer sang,”And the power just ran went out.”Does anyone else remember it? If so what were the other bands?
I want to say that the Peanut Butter Conspiracy was there too. I remember Sky Saxton and the Seeds because I got to hang out with him before the concert. This being the 60’s I had partook of some kind of psychedelic so I may be mistaken.
60s pot acid cali they were there
I was at the Sept. 8, 1967 concert when I was in 7th grade. It was my first concert which I attended with my younger cousin Keri. We were there to see Herman’s Hermits who were headlining. First to play were the Sundowners, Strawberry Alarm Clock, The Who and then Herman’s Hermits. I remember one of the members of SAClock lighting flames on the back of his fireproof gloves while he beat out a rhythm on the bongos. I was familiar with the group because of their hit song and their appearance on Laugh-In. One of the members would ride on a tricycle while wearing a yellow rain coat and then fall over. It was quite funny at the time. I remember The Who breaking their guitars over their amps and I had no idea why they did that. Also a hippie type marched down the aisle with his thumbs down when the HHermits appeared on stage. He was escorted out by security.
G. Bunnell- I was playing in a band in Denver Colo called ‘Sky King’ circa 67-68-69 and we were scheduled to open for SAC in Rock Springs Wy. but our van broke down and couldn’t make the gig. Do you recall playing in RS Wy and a small tour through Denver and up through Wy???
Yes I do Victor. The one gig that stuck in my mind was Colorado Springs….College town….I even remember staying at the Ramada Inn!
Saw SAC at Fairleigh Dickinson University in 1968 with Royal Guardsmen (feb)
I remember seeing the band at the Bitter End in NYC. Does anyone recall what year that was?
SAC was my first concert. They opened for Glen Yarbrough at Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri.
I wish I could put a date to it but I don’t remember much about the ’60s.
George, do you remember the date and venue name from the show S.A.C. did in Cincinnati? I was there, I believe it was in 1968, was a small venue.
Hello Alan, I didn’t see them in Cincinnati but this may have been close to the time they played at a small club in Louisville, Kentucky called Port O’ Call. that was at a strange intersection of three roads. At first I thought it was 1967 but I remember the weather being warm. I ran into John Melleancamp at the show and there was a dance floor and we danced together. I met him because my dad knew him. I think my dad had shown him a photo of me he carried everwhere with him in his wallet. So I remember someone mentioning the band either having played or was going to play in Cincinnati. Wish I could recall more. I think there was a poster with their name on it and dates and cities, but it’s been so long and I only glanced at the poster.
I attended an outdoor concert in 1969 0r 1970 with Strawberry Alarm Clock and Buffalo Springfield, It was was held at the Kansas City Drag Strip. Does any one remember this concert? It was in Kansas City or Independence MO.
I really thought I could remember SAC playing at the Newport ’69 festival at Devonshire Downs? Did that really happen or was it a “grass” effect?
I remember SAC playing on the Santa Monica beach, for the music show, Groovy. Jam Nelson hosted this show. I’ve been trying to find video of this, for my friend who passed away and I were filmed dancing to the song “Incense and Peppermint.” Would love to find video of the series, especially that episode. It was in 1967, I believe. I’ve looked in all the sites I thought would have video, but no luck. Any ideas? Thank you
I remember seeing SAC perform in the late 60’s early 70’s at Avon Lake at an outdoor concert near Des Monies, IA. Crow also performed along with another band that I can’t remember. Anyone remember this show, or the other band that performed that day?
Feel grateful to have seen Strawberry Alarm Clock and The Turtles at the California State Fair. It was an outdoor concert – and I still have a memory of Mark Volman eating corn-on-the-cob after the show. Anyone else remember this concert or happen to know the year? I’m guessing somewhere between 1967 and 1969? Incense and Peppermints and Happy Together were highlights. First concert and fun memories – thanks for sharing everyone! Makes me smile. 🙂
I saw them open for Buffalo Springfield & Beach Boys. SAC stole the show. I was there mostly to see BS, but they were at the end of their road, Stills and Young openly bickering on stage, very uninterested. SAC did an extended jam on something like “the world’s on fire” that blew my 14-year old mind. It was in Greensboro NC and was on of about 300 people in the 15000 seat coliseum.
My wife and I saw the SAC at a dance at Eastern NM University in Portales New Mexico on March 30, 1968. They even have a picture of them on stage in the 1968 ENMU yearbook.
Can anyone provide confirmation of a date that the Strawberry Alarm Clock played in Shenandoah Iowa in maybe the Jan-March 1968 timeframe.? I know for a fact they played in Shenandoah but can’t recall the exact date or timeframe
I swear SAC played at the old High School in Darlington, WI. in the late 60’s. Or did I just dream it. Please let me know.
According to my very old calendar, SAC played a concert in Alma Michigan, probably at Alma College, on February 01, 1969. The college union board often booked a good band willing to squeeze in a small gig when they were close enough to do so.
My very first concert, I was around 11 or 12 yrs old so it had to be 1966 or 1967 – and it was at The Santa Monica Civic Auditorium (we lived across the street and my mom let me and my sister go to the concert by ourselves). The Seeds were headlining I believe. We were up by the stage and Sky Saxon kissed me on the cheek and all the girls nearby starting hitting me they were so mad (jealous) lol. Also remember Strawberry Alarm Clock performing, and Vanilla Fudge. And I want to say The Animals, but not positive.
I have done extensive searching for this concert and can find nothing on the internet ☹️ Did I just imagine it??
First saw the Strawberry Alarm clock before they became the “Strawberry Alarm Clock” at Deano’s Pizza Parlor in Santa Barbara on the Mesa when they were just starting their careers I was in high school. I remember Lee walked me home it was late and I lived about 3 blocks up the hill from Deano’s. He was very sweet and nice he even gave me a kiss good night.
I saw SAC in an outdoor concert. 67-68 probably. I had a great time. It seems like it was at the Stanislaus County Fairground in Turlock Ca.