It was 32 years ago, today.  11/9/74.  It was a beautiful Saturday night in a beautiful town.  My Bro and I, along with our eventual wives, (my 1^st, his only), holding the hottest tix in town.  The New Riders of the Purple Sage, with Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen opening, at the San Diego Civic Theater.  Having seen The Riders the previous March at JJ’s Club, I was unsure how the experience would translate in a larger venue show.  We settled into our seats and the lights went down.

This was one of those magical nights that I have heard Buddy speak of.  The Commander came out and proceeded to blow the roof off the venue.  This would then force the Riders (as the headliners) to do the show of a lifetime.  On this night, the challenge was met.  This was a great show.  Skip had really settled in, and on this night NO ONE was asking where Torbert was.  As was custom in that era, the band opened with "I Don’t Know You", then slipped into "Sunday Susie".  Then as Skip started into "Austin Texas", which I had not heard before, I knew this night would be really something special.  Then "Instant Armadillo Blues" and the blur that is the rest of the setlist.  The Commander came out and joined the band for a few songs.  I have never been able to locate a setlist for this particular show, but the next night (11/10/74) at Sacramento was very close.  Except that I remember seeing Skip doing “On the Amazon”.

My trepidation was unfounded.  I finally knew for myself that this band was as good in a large venue as in a small club.  I later found out that between the shows The Riders had done a thank you concert in Central Park for 50,000.  An even larger venue, indeed!