Rock Concerts – Montclair Park

Updated April 2024

In 1970 the Montclair Recreation Center held bi-weekly rock concerts. The shows were co-sponsored by the Center and the Montclair Junior Women’s Club.

The bands were not obscure, but rather the sort of groups that headlined local clubs or played third on the bill at the Fillmore West.

Admission was a $1.00 to $1.50

The concerts suddenly stopped in the middle of 1972. Not sure why.

I found the advertisements in the Oakland Tribune’s “Wednesday Teen Age” and “What’s doing…where…” sections.

The Concerts lasted until the fall of 1972.

Sample section from the Oakland Tribune

I commend the leaders of the recreation center for doing this. I can imagine a lot of people in Montclair did not like the idea (see below)

Community Response

Brutality Charges against Oakland Police

Lots of Memories of the Concerts

Speaking of memories, many people remember more prominently named bands playing there. I don’t doubt them; I just haven’t located any info on the concerts.

I was alive and living in Montclair during this timeframe. But I have no memory of the concerts. I know I would have enjoyed going to them.

Found Tower of Power!

The Concerts

This is not a complete list.

• September 06, 1968 – Two Teen Rock Groups
• June 13, 1970 – Artichoke Jones – Summer Festival
• June 26, 1970 – Fox Glove & Leviticus – Montera Jr High
• July 03, 1970 – Backwater Rising – Montera Jr High
• August 09, 1970- Sunny Street *
• August 15, 1970 – Loveship *
• August 22, 1970 – Cookin Mama and Rags *
• August 30, 1970 – Loveship * back again
• September 05, 1970 – Crystal Garden *
• September 19, 1970 – The Tyde *
• October 03, 1970 – Frontier Constabulary
• October 10, 1970 – The Fog *
• October 24, 1970 – AB Skhy *
• October 31, 1970 – Loading Zone featuring Linda Tillery *
• November 07, 1970 – Loading Zone featuring Linda Tillery *
• November 14, 1970 – Loveship *
• November 21, 1970 – Beggar’s Opera *
• November 28, 1970 – Joy of Cooking
• December 5, 1970 – Little John featuring John Hart*
• December 12, 1970 – Tower of Power
• New Year’s Eve – Little John featuring John Hart*
• January ??, 1971 – Barry Melton and the Fish
• January 09, 1971 – Loading Zone
• January 16. 1971 – Tower of Power *
• January 23, 1971 – Commander Cody *
• January 23, 1971 – Boz Scaggs
• January 30, 1971 – Joy of Cooking *
• February 06, 1971 – The Tyde *
• February 11, 1971 – Loading Zone featuring Linda Tillery – Skyline High
• February 13, 1971 – Little John featuring John Hart *
• February 20, 1971 – John Hooker Group *
• February 27, 1971 – Cat Mother *
• March 13, 1971 – Full Moon (formerly The Womb)
• March 20, 1971 – Loading Zone featuring Linda Tillery
• March 27, 1971 – Pipe *
• April 17, 1971 – Little John featuring John Hart *
• April 24, 1971 – Western Addition with John Celona
• May 01, 1971 – Ice Band or Stoneground *
• May 08, 1971 – Barry Melton and The Fish *
• May 15, 1971 – Cat Mother*
• May 22, 1971 – Loading Zone with Linda Tillery *
• May 29, 1971 – Gold *
• June 06, 1971 – John Lee Hooker
• June 12, 1971 – Malo – with Jorge Santana, brother of Carlos*
• June 23, 1971 – Liquid Heart
• June 26, 1971 – Fox Glove & Leviticus – Montera Jr High
• July 03, 1971 – Sopwith Camel
• July 10, 1971 – Clover *
• July 17, 1971 – Little John featuring John Hart “Montclair Favorite.“
• July 24, 1971 – Gold
• September ??, 1971 – Crystal Garden *
• September 19, 1971 – Loading Zone
• October 02, 1971 – Barry Melton and The Fish
• October 16, 1971 – Full Moon *
• October 23, 1971 – Jabo Stokes
• November 6, 1971 – Cat Mother
• November 13, 1971 – Grootna
• November 20, 1971 – Loading Zone – featuring Linda Tillery
• December 04, 1971 – Malo – with Jorge Santana, brother of Carlos*
• January 19, 1972 – Gold
• February 19, 1972 – Little Sister, Gunn, and Thunderclap
• March 04, 1972 – Little John featuring John Hart
• April 08, 1972 – Loading Zone –
• September 30, 1972 – Anglo Saxon – with John Hart, formerly of Little John
• November ?? 1972 – Gold

*Green Death with Kurt Steele did the light show

From the Forgotten Montclair Group – “Their light shows were mostly two shallow glass bowls, placed on an overhead projector. The bottom bowl held oil and food coloring, and the top bowl fitted inside it, allowing them to squish the colors around in kaleidoscopic patterns. They set up their equipment and chairs on a table in the back of the room where the band played. Despite the low-tech process, their light shows were very fresh and added a lot to the atmosphere of the rock concerts.”

More Info:

Rock Archaeology 101 – Montclair Recreation Center

The End