Country Joe Shows

This page provides full details of most of the Country Joe shows and events that have taken place over the years. This list was compiled following a great deal of effort by Ross Hannan and Corry Arnold. Really, really nice folk like Joe McDonald, David Bennett Cohen, Barry Melton, Tom Weller, Ron Cabral, Uli Teute, Kirk White, Scott, Bob Hardy, John Roberts, Anthony Harland, Bill Miles, Anthony Edman, Patsy Caropresi, Kevin Goodman, Bruce and Susan Smith are putting in the effort to help us make this list better and we really appreciate their help. This remains work in progress, particularly for the late 1980s and early 1990s, and will be periodically updated. Any informants with real or imagined information about other Country Joe and/or Country Joe and the Fish shows are encouraged to contact us.

As a special treat, we have included a list of Country Joe shows that have, for one reason or another, been cancelled. This list can be found somewhere way down at the foot of this page.

Date	Location	Address
Late September or Early October 1965	Unknown Living Room, Portland, OR Joe McDonald and Barry Melton. The near legendary Great Pacific Northwest Tour was in fact a bus ride, possibly sponsored by the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), to Portland not a tour of Northwest colleges and student unions. Over to Joe: As far as the "Tour" I will tell you what I remember. Calling it a tour is a stretch. Barry would still be 17 years old. We rode the Greyhound Bus, it ran a ticketed journey from Oakland up North. We played in Portland or Seattle or one of those cities at someone's house, like in their living room. To a group of people. I guess that the thing was set up by SDS?! We were at a college up there Reed College? Did we play ....I guess so. That is him and me both with guitars. What did we sing? I don't know. We took LSD at the college and walked around in a wooded area and went back to a house where we were staying with some people. Someone there drove us to the bus station in a black hearse and we had a laughing fit. On the bus ride home I wrote a poem inspired by the snow on the ground as I had never seen snow before, as seen from the bus. The only gig I clearly remember is the living room. I actually have heard from someone who was in that living room. He contacted me by e mail or at a gig recently. I don't remember any other gig. So is that a tour? I don't remember anything about money. We might have paid for it ourselves. I don't know. That is about it from me. I would guess it was after we made the EP which was I think September. It was because we did not have copy for RAG BABY magazine. It was a bi weekly I think so the math should be obvious.
Late September or Early October 1965	Reed College, Portland, OR Joe McDonald and Barry Melton	3203 S. Woodstock Blvd, Portland, OR 9720
11 October 1965	Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA Joe McDonald, Peter Krug, Paul Gilbert, Betty Reid, Carl Shrager, Bill Steele [Benefit for DMB Publications - Rag Baby and Et Tu]	2901 Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94705
15 October 1965	Lower Sproul Hall Plaza, University of Berkeley Campus, Berkeley, CA [Morning - 09:00 to 11:30] Joe McDonald with Malvina Reynolds, Carvel Bass, and others [International Day of Protest and Vietnam Day Committee Teach-In]. The Teach-In took place in the grass field that is now Zellerbach Hall. Anecdote from Joe: It was there that I sold the first EP and was put in charge of a small stage in "Lower Sproul Plaza" It had a microphone and I sang songs to the crowd that passed by going to the field where the speakers spoke, among them I. F. Stone and Ken Kesey. Malvina Reynolds came by with her guitar and asked if she could sing and I said yes and she sang a bit. My memory is that no one paid much attention to either of us. The "Random Notes" in Issue 3 of Rag Baby reported that Folk Music on the Peace March was Omnipresent. Spontaneous choruses of the well known Freedom songs and older gospel ("We Shall Overcome", "This Little Light of Mine", "Down by the Riverside"") seemed to break out along the mile plus length of the demonstration. From the sound truck folksingers tried with varying degrees of success to get the crowd singing, but only the first thousand or so could hear. Attempts at singing Phil Ochs' "I'm Not Marching Anymore" (sic) (odd thing to sing while marching) and the liberal song were more or less soli, but the whole crowd knew "Help". In the morning the early demonstrators heard Malvina Reynolds, Joe McDonald, Carvel Bass and other folksingers and that night after the tear gas, the Instant Action Jug Band featuring Paul Armstrong on the jazz kazoo, did world favorites like "Bring It With You When You Come" and songs from the RAG BABY TALKING ISSUE, which was having its world premier at the International Days of Protest. Joe was credited in the Final Program for the International Days of Protest as organizing the folk singers.	Bancroft Way at Sather Rd, Berkeley, CA 94720
15 October 1965	Lower Sproul Hall Plaza, University of Berkeley Campus, Berkeley, CA [Afternoon - 11:30 to 12:00] Joe McDonald with Lou Gotlieb	Bancroft Way at Sather Rd, Berkeley, CA 94720
15 October 1965	Peace March, Berkeley, CA [Night - Lower Sproul Plaza] Instant Action Jug Band and Malvina Reynolds. The line up of the Jug Band at this event most closely resembled what was to become "Country Joe and the Fish" - the band. In attendance were Joe McDonald, Barry Melton, Bruce Barthol, Paul Armstrong and David Cohen amongst others. it is unclear if John Francis Gunning was present. At UC Berkeley, a Teach-In on campus is followed by a march on the Oakland Army induction center. "That evening, some 15,000 demonstrators left the campus marching toward Oakland. Marchers include children, grandmothers, and a busload of Ken Kesey's Merry Pranksters along with college and high school students. The Oakland and Berkeley authorities had refused a parade permit. As the marchers approached the Oakland city limit they could see about 400 Oakland police wearing riot helmets, brandishing special riot weapons, blocking the way. The march stopped less than a hundred yards from the police line. As spectators and a group of about 100 right-wing counterdemonstrators filled the gap between the march and the police, a previously agreed-to subcommittee held a swirling, confused discussion on what to do." ... [After negotiation, the march proceeded to Oakland Civic Center Park , where the teach-in was continued and another march called for the next day." [Halstead, p. 87; Rorabaugh, pp. 96-97] The following day (October 16), the marchers return. (About 100 had remained in the park overnight). When the two to five thousand protesters reach the Oakland City line, they are stopped by police. The police ask the protestors to sit down in the street to avoid violent confrontations. Poet Allen Ginsberg chants "Hare Krishna" at the front of the march. The Hell's Angels motorcycle gang appears, rips down banners, and attacks protestors, yelling, "Go back to Russia you fucking communists!" The police attack the Angels. When the Angels threaten to attack the next peace march, Ginsberg, Kesey, and Pranksters subsequently visit the home of Angels president Sonny Barger to discuss the situation and share some LSD with Barger and his friends. By dawn the two groups had chanted together. [Barlow. Intrepid Trips: "Allen"; LAT, 10/17/65]	Bancroft Way at Sather Rd, Berkeley, CA 94720
15 October 1965	Army Terminal, Oakland, CA [Night 11:00 to 11:45] Joe McDonald
16 October 1965	Lower Sproul Hall Plaza, University of Berkeley Campus, Berkeley, CA [Morning - 08:30 to 09:00] Joe McDonald	Bancroft Way at Sather Rd, Berkeley, CA 94720
16 October 1965	Lower Sproul Hall Plaza, University of Berkeley Campus, Berkeley, CA [Afternoon - 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm] Joe McDonald , Tom Paxton, Mark Spoelstra	Bancroft Way at Sather Rd, Berkeley, CA 94720
29 October 1965	Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA Joe McDonald, ED Denson, Pat Sullivan, Pete Winslow (Poet)	2901 Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94705
30 October 1965	Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA Joe McDonald, Pat Sullivan, Pete Winslow (Poet)	2902 Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94705
05 November 1965	2000 Life Sciences Building, University Campus, Berkeley, CA with Allen Ginsberg, Ed Sanders and The Fugs [First show using the Country Joe and the Fish name, although at this point still typically the McDonald/Melton duo, but this time augmented with members of the Instant Action Jug Band]. Advertised as "Folk-Rock-Mantra".	Campanile Way at Harmon Way, Berkeley, CA 94720
Nov-65	Anecdote: Kitty reports in "Rag Baby" that Ramblin' Joe McDonald takes a short trip down to LA
05 December 1965	Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA Joe McDonald and others [Advertised as a Folk Benefit with "over 10 artists"]	2901 Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94705
17 December 1965	Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA [Blind Ebbets Field, The Engmas]. "Blind Ebbets Field" was actually Barry "The Fish" Melton, guitarist with Country Joe and the Fish. Melton took the name from the home of the Brooklyn Dodgers – who played at Ebbets Field before they moved to Los Angeles after the 1957 season. Advertised as "Hudson River delta Blues".	2901 Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94705
18 December 1965	Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA [Blind Ebbets Field, The Enigmas]	2901 Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94705
04 January 1966	Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA [Joe McDonald]	2901 Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94705
08 January 1966	Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA [2 am Paul Krassner caucus story on page 1 of the Barb] Krassner mentions the "Instant Jug Band" - probability is that an early version of Country Joe and the Fish, in some form or other, played. John Fahey also played the 'Wock on this date. The oblique reference to “The Instant Jug Band” is the only explicit reference to the Instant Action Jug Band that we have been able to uncover in 1966. However, by January 1966 this would have been an early version of Country Joe and the Fish performing with McDonald, Melton, Barthol, Armstrong and perhaps one or two others. By this point McDonald had replaced Basho in the adjacent apartment house and it appears that this may be a reference to a performance by the band, rather than the duo, Country Joe and the Fish in a reasonably stable form, albeit still colloquially the Instant Action Jug Band.	2901 Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94705
09 January 1966	Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA Joe McDonald with ED Denson (MC), "Crazy" Melton, Hanks McGrew, Robbie Basho, "Preacher" Paul Armstrong and others	2901 Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94705
10 January 1966	Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA Joe McDonald with Kelly Sistus, Moe Hirsch and other poets, actors and musicians [VDC Benefit]	2901 Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94705
11 January 1966	Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA [Joe McDonald]	2901 Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94705
17 January 1966	Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA Joe McDonald and other poets, actors and musicians [VDC Benefit]	2901 Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94705
18 January 1966	Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA [Joe McDonald] with Sweets Mill Mountain Boys	2901 Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94705
20 January 1966	The Questing Beast, San Pablo Ave, Berkeley, CA Although advertised by the Questing Beast as a Joe McDonald show, evidence points to this being the first true Country Joe and the Fish show as a band. Country Joe McDonald, Barry Melton, David Cohen, John Francis Gunning and Bruce Barthol played "Bass Strings" and other songs. In Joel Selvin's book "San Francisco: The Musical History Tour", Selvin says, about an Instant Action Jug Band show in late 1965, that took place at the Cabale Creamery that McDonald, Melton and Barthol played "Bass Strings". If this were correct then it would date it to well before November 1965 as the Cabale had long closed at this point in time. After November 19, 1965 the 2504 San Pablo location was home to the Questing Beast - the venue having also been called The Good Buddy and Caverns West since it was the Cabale Creamery. Therefore either the date is wildly incorrect, or (more probably in my view) the location correct (2504 San Pablo) but the venue name incorrect. Furthermore, in an interview with Mojo Navigator (Issue 10), Gunning states that the first Country Joe and the Fish show was at the Questing Beast. The implication is that earlier shows had either been Instant Action Jug Band shows or Country Hoe and the Fish as the McDonald/Melton duo - perhaps augmented by other members of the band.	2504 San Pablo Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94702
24 January 1966	Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA Joe McDonald and other poets, actors and musicians [VDC Benefit]	2901 Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94705
25 January 1966	Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA [Joe McDonald]	2901 Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94705
31 January 1966	Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA Joe McDonald, "Congress of Wonders" by Open Theater, "Conversations from Jail" by Steve Weissman, Robbie Basho, Mike Ross Man and Jerry Abrams [VDC Benefit]	2901 Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94705
08 February 1966	Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA [Country Joe and the Fish]	2901 Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94705
14 February 1966	Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA [VDC Benefit]	2901 Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94705
15 February 1966	Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA [Country Joe and the Fish]	2901 Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94705
22 February 1966	Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA [Country Joe and the Fish]	2901 Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94705
25 February 1966	Rev Gary Davis, who played the Florence Schwimly Little Theatre Theater and the Jabberwock on February 25, stayed with Country Joe and the Fish in their Russell Street apartment building behind the Jabberwock.
25 February 1966	Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA with Dan Paik and Others. Line up included Joe, Barry and Paul Armstrong [Benefit to raise the $1100 bail for Bill Ehlert and Bill Tolman who were busted for possession of pot on February 23 and were being held at Santa Rita County Prison]	2901 Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94705
26 February 1966	Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA with Dan Paik and Others. Line up included Joe, Barry and Paul Armstrong [Benefit to raise the $1100 bail for Bill Ehlert and Bill Tolman who were busted for possession of pot on February 23 and were being held at Santa Rita County Prison]	2901 Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94705
27 February 1966	Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA with Dan Paik and Others. Line up included Joe, Barry and Paul Armstrong [Benefit to raise the $1100 bail for Bill Ehlert and Bill Tolman who were busted for possession of pot on February 23 and were being held at Santa Rita County Prison]	2901 Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94705
04 March 1966	Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA with Robbie Basho	2901 Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94705
05 March 1966	Jabberwock, Berkeley, CA with Robbie Basho	2901 Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94705
During Spring 1966	Country Joe and Barry Melton hitchhike to New York, returning in a van (carrying the Blues Project's amplifiers) with Robbie Basho and ED Denson. Basho, a hypochondriac, convinced himself that he need constant medica attention, resulting in a number of visits to hospitals and emergency rooms en-route.
24 April 1966	University of California, Berkeley, CA (North Field) with Malvina Reynolds, The Wildflower, Dan Paik, Chris Selsor, The Gothic Cathedral Jug Band, Bethlehem Exit [Scheer for Congress Benefit]