Those who know me understand that music and Jess do not belong in the same sentence. In 1953, that music wiring failed to show up with the rest of me.
I have no sense of rhythm; my foot won’t tap along with anything. I don’t hear music; it fails to stir up anything in me.
Yet it seemed crazy not to walk over to The Troubadour and see what that might stir up.
This is the place! For over 50 years every rock ‘n’ roller or comedian of importance had his/her moment here. Just to stand outside and try to get my head around EVERYTHING that happened inside, is overwhelming.
And far too much to share in a narrative posting.
So a timetable history follows (the first 25 years only). With essential reference points in bold.
(I suspect some readers of this blog attended shows at the Troubadour, perhaps even performed on its stage. If so, please post in the comments. Thanks!).
1957
The Troubadour opens.
Jess celebrates his fourth birthday.
Lenny Bruce is arrested here on obscenity charges.
Lenny Bruce being hauled our of the Troubadour.
1960
Jess goes Christmas shopping with his mother [link]
1965
Here, for the first time, the Byrds perform their classic take on Bob Dylan’s “Tambourine Man.”
Comedian Richard Pryor opens up for Nina Simone.
And Jess gets a new bicycle.
1966
Buffalo Springfield makes its live debut here.
Jess (far left) with his old bicycle, brothers, and father.
Jess quits taking piano lessons (“Thank god,” say many).
Just up the street from the Troubadour, there is rioting along Sunset Strip. Jack Nicholson and Peter Fonda join in and the cops handcuff Fonda. [post]
1968
Joni Mitchell makes her Los Angeles debut here.
Gordon Lightfoot performs his US debut here.
Jess Brallier joins his church choir and God cringes.
1969
Poco arrives here to find unknown comic Steve Martin [post] doing their songs on banjo and the crowd is loving it.
Neil Young plays his LA debut solo show here.
James Taylor makes his solo debut here.
1970
Cheech and Chong are discovered here by Lou Adler at a Monday Hoot Night.
Jess has his eye on the University of Pittsburgh where he intends to study industrial engineering as if that makes some sort of sense.
The Eagles’ Don Henley and Glenn Frey meet in the front bar.
Elton John makes his U.S. debut here, introduced by Neil Diamond.
Jess (far left), class treasurer
Kris Kristofferson
Neil Diamond releases Gold, an album recorded live at the Troubadour.
Kris Kristofferson makes his Los Angeles debut here, opening for Linda Ronstadt.
Led Zeppelin and Fairport Convention play a three-hour jam session. Songs included “Hey Joe” and “Mystery Train.”
Janis Joplin parties here and the next day is found dead at the Landmark Hotel from a heroin overdose. [post]
1971
Don McLean’s performance inspires Lori Lieberman to write “Killing Me Softly with His Song.”
Bill Withers performs his Troubadour debut.
Tom Waits is discovered here by manager Herb Cohen during an amateur night.
Things get weird for Jess at Pitt. [post]
1972
Carly Simon, opening for Cat Stevens, meets James Taylor for the first time. They later marry.
Bill Withers
Jess, trying to fit in, meets scotch for the first time. He later passes out.
Billy Joel makes his LA debut here as the opening act for Ballin’ Jack
Over a six-night run here, Randy Newman performs his masterpiece album “Sail Away.”
1973
Van Morrison records his live record, “It’s Too Late to Stop Now…”
The Byrds reunite here to launch their tour.
Jess interviews Cheech and Chong in their dressing room after their performance at the Syria Mosque in Pittsburgh. Fun interview!
Pointer Sisters make their debut performance here.
Pointer Sisters at the Troubadour
1974
During a set here by jazzman Larry Coryell, Brian Wilson jumps on stage wearing a bathrobe and slippers and sings “Be-bop-a-lula.”
Jess is now a creative writing major and in big trouble! [post]
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band close the hyped Columbia Records showcase week with a 90-minute set here that starts at two a.m.
John Lennon and Harry Nilsson are escorted out of the club for heckling the Smothers Brothers.
Lennon and Nilsson the night they were tossed. Lennon pleads, "It was the first time I drank a Brandy Alexander.”
1975
Miles Davis records his album “Live at the Troubadour.”
Leonard Cohen, performing a five-night stand here, meets with Phil Spector and Bob Dylan between sets. The next year Leonard and Phil start work on the record “Death of a Ladies Man.”
Willie Nelson performs his new album “Red Headed Stranger.”
Jess graduates from Pitt, works at Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh, then decides to try his hand at book publishing. [post]
1976
Charles Bukowski meets his future wife, Linda Lee Beighle, at a reading at the Troubadour.
1978
Jess meets his future wife, Sally Chabert, at the photocopier on the tenth floor of Harcourt Brace Jovanovich in New York City.
1979
Rickie Lee Jones releases “Chuck E.’s in Love” – a song written about musician and former Troubadour employee, Chuck E. Weiss.
1980
Tim Hardin, a long time Troubadour regular, plays his final show.
Jess works with the weird but brilliant Stuart Harris [post]
Jess and Sally marry.
1981
Jess reassures Herman Wouk. [post]
1982
Metallica make their Los Angeles headline debut.
Jess and a couple of wonderful colleagues push “Blue Highways” onto the bestseller list. [post]
The Eagles release “Sad Cafe” – a song written about the Troubadour.
And…2022
Jess walks to the Troubadour, ponders, goes home, and writes this.
Sigh. This isn’t working.
But I’ve spent too much time messing around with it. So fuck it. Apologies for posting.
Instead you ought to watch “Troubadours: Carole King / James Tyalor & the Rise of the...” This is the trailer.
Goodnight…from the Troubadour.