04-May-1970 Long Branch,NJ Monmouth College,USA
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01 For what it's worth
02 He's guilty
03 I am the doctor
04 Goin' down slow
05 Twenty more miles
Notes:
This gig is sometimes referred to as “Kent State Massacre Show”, referring to the fact it took place the very evening following the shooting deaths of several unarmed students by National Guard at Kent State University. The deaths caused protests and civil disturbances in many College and University campuses on this night (and the following two nights). Many scheduled events (particularly rock concerts) on this night ended up being hastily cancelled by school officials across the US. Indeed, there are conflicting reports about whether this Steel Mill show at Monmouth took place. It has been rumored that Bruce opened this show with a blistering 10-minute rendition of the protest anthem “For What It’s Worth”. Other rumored songs played include “Guilty”, ‘I Am The Doctor”, “Goin Down Slow” and “Resurrection”.
08-May-1970 Rumson,NJ Rumson-Fairhaven High School,USA
Unknown setlist
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Notes:
FROM THE MORE RECENT ANALYSIS OF BRUCEBASE, THIS SHOW WAS NEVER PLAYED.
Steel Mill and Mercy Flight play at the school's 1970 senior prom. Steel Mill opens the evening's festivities and Mercy Flight close the show.
10-May-1970 Long Branch,NJ Monmouth College,USA
Unknown setlist
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Notes:
Known from a poster advertising the event. One show, double bill, with STEEL MILL headlining and MERCY FLIGHT opening. This was an early afternoon show that may have been held outdoor.
16-May-1970 Richmond,VA Vcu Gym,USA
- This show was NOT PLAYED
Unknown setlist
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Notes:
According the most recent researches (Brucebase, as always), this show has not been played (See 23-May-1970)
23-May-1970 Richmond,VA Vcu Gym,USA
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01 KT88
02 Jeannie I want to thank You
03 I am the doctor
04 Something's gonna break
05 Temporary out of order
06 Sweet Melinda
07 Come on (the world is crying for freedom)
08 Resurrection
09 (fucked up) amplifier Blues
10 For what it's worth
11 Run shaker life
12 Twenty more miles
Notes:
ONE show, double bill, with STEEL MILL headlining and MERCY FLIGHT opening. Held in the evening in VCU’s Gym. The show is infamous because it ended with Vini Lopez arrested for unruly behavior, the consequences of which would see Lopez miss a couple of Steel Mill shows in September 1970. The above-mentioned setlist is culled from a circulating 80-minute audience recording of only fair quality. There are continuity cuts between most songs and this is not the complete show, which contained about 20 minutes more music (2-3 songs). This audio has never appeared on any mainstream bootleg but does circulate via private sources, in various cannibalized permutations (i.e., with some in-between song chatter deleted or some songs missing. The audio is frequently mis-attributed to an supposed gig at VCU Gym on May 16, 1970. However information from VCU’s archives does not indicate any Steel Mill show in Richmond on the 16th.
Multiple comments made by Springsteen during the show yields strong evidence the audio is from the well-documented show at VCU on May 23, 1970. Mercy Flight’s co-manager, Roger Clem, can be heard introducing Steel Mill to the crowd. During the middle of the country-rock inspired “I Am The Doctor” Springsteen tells crowd “we went swimming today down in the James River (outside Richmond) and we took our surfboards with us”. During the intro to “Resurrection” Bruce also mentions canoeing earlier that afternoon. Bruce sings, “here we are back in Richmond, Virginia again” as the opening line of “Amplifier Blues”. Attendees of this show have verified Bruce’s distinctive comments – so, all up, the proof this audio is from May 23, 1970 is compelling.
From the outset of this show there were problems with the school’s generators. There was a power outage during Mercy Flight’s opening tune, “Mississippi Queen” and the problems continued intermittently for the remainder of the evening. This, in conjunction with VCU officials’ complaints about the loudness of Steel Mill’s performance, caused tension between the band and officials. Springsteen and Vini Lopez can be heard making related comments during the show. Following “Jeannie I Want To Thank You” Bruce remarks to the crowd “there’s a weird thing going on between your officials and us” At another point Bruce can be heard extorting to someone “there should be no restrictions on me”. At yet another point Bruce tells the crowd “we’re gonna finish this one with you guys and split to the middle of the road and play”. Despite the drama the audience is enthusiastic and the band’s performance is excellent.
The MC’s comments and opening instrumental are in the correcting performing order. The rest of the audio in it’s likely running order. Although it has not surfaced as part of the circulating audio, there are attendee recollections that “Guilty” was performed following the opening instrumental “KT-88” (there’s an edit so this is quite plausible). All songs are complete except for the final song, which is cut prematurely close to its true conclusion. It is likely there was another song performed following “Twenty More Miles” that’s missing from the audio source – and it would seem it was during this song that VCU officials shut the band’s power off as they overran the 11PM curfew. Vini Lopez in an act of defiance continued playing his drums, which resulted in him being hauled way on disorderly conduct charges – an incident that Vini has jokingly referred to in several interviews.
31-May-1970 Richmond,VA Virginia State Fairground,USA
Unknown setlist
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Notes:
Steel Mill is guest headliner at a state "Battle Of The Bands" competition. Outdoor event.
Last computed : 25/04/2024 21:46:20