Woodstock: New cut to play at the Film Festival

July 26, 2009

By the Time We Got to Woodstock...
New cut of a 40-year favorite to play the Film Festival

By Rick Coates 7/27/09
 
It has been 40 years since Woodstock took place. What was billed as an
“Aquarian Exposition” and “3 Days of Peace & Music,” became the event that
defined a generation. The Traverse City Film Festival is celebrating the
40th anniversary of Woodstock with two showings of the Oscar winning
documentary made in 1970 on Tuesday and Wednesday at the State Theater.
And, speaking of blasts from the past, festival organizers have arranged
for Wavy Gravy, Paul Kantner and Country Joe MacDonald to come in and
participate and give their reflections of Woodstock on Wednesday.
For Paul Kantner, guitarist and original member of Jefferson Airplane,
Woodstock was just another gig for the band.
“Actually, I was the first person to agree to perform at Woodstock,
Jefferson Airplane was the first band to sign on. A lot of bands were
taking a wait-see and we’re not sure what was going on. They were being
cautious,” said Kantner. “For me, I saw it as just another afternoon in
the park concert and those were always my favorite concerts anyways, so
when they called us I said yes right away without thinking about it.”
Urban folklore credits Kantner with coming up with the saying “If you
remember the Sixties, you didn’t live the Sixties.” Though Kantner doesn’t
remember if he was the first to coin that phrase for sure, he remembers
Woodstock as if it happened yesterday.
“I actually arrived two days early to check out everything,” said Kantner.
“I just wanted to take it all in and as it got closer you could sense that
it was going to be something special.”

AMAZING SIGHT
Organizers predicted and planned for about 150,000 and some estimates
suggest more than 500,000 people showed up.
“It was an amazing sight to look at,” said Kantner. “What was great was
that 500,000 people could gather for three days and be peaceful.”
Reflecting on the 40 years since the concert, Kantner feels Woodstock has
several messages and is not surprised that the event is still relevant
today.
“It really has transcended itself over the years,” said Kantner. “In some
ways I think it has more relevance today than it did at that very moment.
We were all living it as it was happening, not thinking about it. Now
after all these years we all can look back at it whether we were there and
think about. I think as time goes on, the meaning of Woodstock evolves.”
That living in the moment for Kantner meant going on stage nine hours
after they were scheduled.
“We were supposed to go on stage at 10 p.m. on Saturday night and we
followed The Who; they went on around 4 a.m. and we went on at 7 a.m.,”
said Kantner. “So you can imagine what kind of shape we were in by that
time. I am sure that is the only 7 a.m. show we have ever done.”
Kantner and the rest of the band that included Grace Slick, Marty Balin,
Jack Cassidy, Jorma Kaukonen and Spencer Dryden took off right after their
show because they had to do the Dick Cavett Show.

UP AGAINST THE WALL
“We had agreed to do this post-Woodstock appearance on Dick Cavett. At the
time for musicians his was the show to do,” said Kantner. “So the producer
forgot to go over our lyrics and I am pretty sure when Grace blurted out
‘up against the wall mother f*ckers’ it was the first time that was ever
on national television and the show aired live on the East Coast. But they
were able to edit it for the West Coast airing later in the evening.”
While Kantner had to miss several legendary performances on Sunday
including Jimi Hendrix closing out Woodstock, he was grateful for what he
did get to see and hear.
“For me what was cool was there were a lot of guys there that were not
known until they played Woodstock,” said Kantner. “I am pretty sure
Woodstock was the breakout concert for Santana. They were unbelievable,
not just Carlos but the whole band.”
Kantner is looking forward to coming to Traverse City for the Film
Festival. He and his current band, Jefferson Starship, are part of the
official 40th Anniversary Woodstock concert taking place in August in
upstate New York. He will not be performing when he comes in for the Film
Festival.

NO POLITICS...
“I am not really sure what I am doing, Michael (Moore) called and asked me
and I agreed. I am sure I will get an itinerary at some point,” said
Kantner. “I am a big fan of Michael’s so when a guy like that calls you
and asks you to do something you say sure. I know Country Joe is joining
me along with Wavy Gravy.”
As for politics, Kantner is not part of that scene, despite being an
advocate for marijuana and LSD use.
“No way, never been involved in politics it is the only thing in the world
that is scummier than the music business,” said Kantner. “I think I
performed at one political event years ago for a musician that was running
for city council in San Francisco.”
So is Kantner, who travels with Jefferson Starship (formed out of
Jefferson Airplane breaking up in the early ‘70s, with original members
including the likes of David Crosby and Jerry Garcia), still enjoying
touring and playing music?
“Oh yes, this has been great. I have not had a job in over 40 years so
this music thing has been a good thing,” said Kantner. “Life is good -- in
fact this fall they are having me over to Amsterdam to be a judge at the
Cannabis Cup. So who wouldn’t think this is a great life.”

WAVY GRAVY
Joining Kantner will be Wavy Gravy, originally known as Hugh Romney. Gravy
was a member of the Hog Farm Collective, a hippie commune that was placed
in charge of security at Woodstock. Wavy also served as the emcee at
Woodstock. He took on his clown persona as a way to avoid being arrested
at political rallies, and he would just smile and wave. Gravy was added to
his name at a concert when B.B. King came up to him and said “are you that
Wavy Gravy dude?”
Wavy Gravy runs Camp Winnarainbow on the grounds of the former Hog Farm
Collective property. The camp is for both kids and adults and is a circus
and performing arts camp. Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream launched a Wavy Gravy
flavor several years ago with the proceeds from the sale of that ice cream
to help underprivileged kids attend the camp.
 Country Joe MacDonald performed at Woodstock with his band, The Fish. The
psychedelic folk-protest rocker remains active in both his music and
political protests today. He will join Paul Kantner and Wavy Gravy after
the 9 p.m. showing of Woodstock on Wednesday night for an audience Q&A.
For additional details on all of the Traverse City Film Festival events
check out traversecityfilmfest.org. It should be noted that while several
films are sold out, often seats become available for movies right before
show time, simply head to the box office and they will let you know.

Check out Rick Coates’ in depth look at Woodstock in next week’s Express.
It will include interviews with the founder of Woodstock, musicians who
performed and Northern Michigan residents who attended. He will also take
a look at the various Northern Michigan celebrations honoring the 40th
Anniversary of Woodstock.