Summer of Love Annivesary

firstbassman · Post by **firstbassman** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 5:16 pm

I don't think so John S.
Though I don't keep up with every date, Marty does very few shows nowadays.

Here are the only shows on this tour he is scheduled to perform:

July 15 - Clarkston, MI/ DTE Energy Amphithr
July 28 (or 29?) - Monterey Fairgrounds
Sept. 1 - Sausalito, CA/ Sausalito Arts Festival
(plus the Today show appearance)

In the photo you posted is (from L to R): Kantner, Diana Mangano, David Freiberg and Slick Aguilar.

And if everyone must know, the reason why I couldn't attend any of the Virginia shows this year was because I was attending a National Guitar Workshop class in McLean all week.

jps · Post by **jps** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 5:19 pm

This is a terrible pic of him but for the most part, the light levels were quite low during the JS part of the concert, and BV tended to stay in the shadows,also, but...

Bobby Vega is a great bassist. Unfortunately he is not all that well known. I was surprised and very glad to see him play that night at the HOB.

firstbassman · Post by **firstbassman** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 5:29 pm

Jeffrey, when was that photo taken?

BTW, doesn't the scale length on that bass look awfully short?
Or is that an optical illusion?
Thanks.

jps · Post by **jps** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 5:43 pm

That was during the RIC 75th concert at the HOB last August. Sorry for the rotten quality but the image was very dark and that is a tight crop of just BV standing in the shadow of...

jps · Post by **jps** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 5:45 pm

Oh, that is the prototype Bobby Vega Signature short scale 4003!

beatlefreak · Post by **beatlefreak** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 5:58 pm

I think it's just because the headstock is slightly angled towards the camera that makes the scale look short.

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 12:12 am

Mark, I had thought the white-haired guy next to Donna was Marty, at least that is who someone said he was when we watched them out in Hollywood last August...guess they were wrong! Before that (and even now) the only two I would know from sight would be Paul and Donna, LOL....

35012 · Post by **35012** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 8:58 am

For what it's worth, Bobby and Marty were both at the show in CT on June 30th.

firstbassman · Post by **firstbassman** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 6:01 am

This is close to beating a dead horse, but just for the record . . .

I think there is a little west coast perspective going on here. (No insult intended.) What happens in California is the exception, not the norm.
Bobby Vega playing at the 75th anniversary show (or other special occasions) is perfectly within the realm of acceptable JS/Kantner/Gaiman behavior.

I will state one more time the unbiased, untarnished truth. The current (and recent) version of the Jefferson Starship band tours without a bass player. I’m not offering an opinion on whether that is the right (musical) decision or not. Just stating a fact.

No bass player. Period. (Special occasions not withstanding.)

Now, as far as Marty Balin goes . . .
There are “personal reasons” (which I don’t think is my place to get into) as to why Marty is not a “full-time member” of the band. Over the last two or three years or so his appearances have been “hit or miss” other than the pre-scheduled ones that I listed previously. His presence should be treated as a fortunate treat, sort of like an unexpected arrival of Haley’s comet.

As to the appearance of a “white haired” singer. Don’t feel too bad John (Leftybass). Someone (in another forum) thought that Freiberg (on the Today show appearance) was actually a guest appearance by Grace Slick. (!?)

Here is a “then” picture of Marty:

This is what he looks like now:

And, oh, by the way, it is “Diana” (Mangano). Not “Donna.”