Led Zeppelin 1968.12.30 - Spokane

On Led Zeppelin's fifth day in America, they played a gig in a gym most of us would recognize from high school basketball, at a small college in Spokane, Washington. According to the promoter, the band were so stoned when they arrived that he literally had to help Robert Plant onstage. Jimmy Page allegedly threw a punch at the promoter as he (the promoter) came offstage after introducing the band as "The group formerly known as The Yardbirds," but was so stoned he missed completely. About 1200 people got to see this show live. Most of them were there to see Vanilla Fudge, who had been popular and had several hits that year. Our boys were billed as "Len Zefflin" in print ads. At least one kind soul recorded it. Maybe it was the newness, or the insult of irrelevance, or the haze of pot smoke, or the kids on the floor of the gym - there were no chairs so that the crowd could gather around the stage. Whatever caused it, the Hindenburg catches fire on this night and the Zeppelin emerges victorious. The setlist is mainly the first album. It's all they've got - they've been a band four months. This is their fifth show in five nights - they've played every night since landing in Denver the day after Christmas. They'd played just 22 shows before leaving for America. The first album wouldn't come out for two more weeks. This is the rawest form. Led Zeppelin as it began. Playing in front of 1200 college kids who got discounted tickets because the student government had a deal with Concerts West. Gonzaga '68. The Kennedy Pavilion. Special thanks to Frank Reddon, who generously shares his exclusive interview with the student-promoter of this gig at his fabulous website: http://enzepplopedia.com and also supplied this show to my collection. Gonzaga University - Spokane, WA December 30, 1968 The Kennedy Pavilion Mono Capricorn Records - 1994 CR-2031E Lineage: TimD Silvers > FLAC[8] via TLH Setlist: Train Kept A Rollin' - 2:36 I Can't Quit You Baby - 7:03 As Long As I Have You - 9:14 Fresh Garbage Shake Hush Dazed and Confused - 9:53 White Summer - 7:00 How Many More Times - 16:15 The Hunter Pat's Delight - 7:06

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staern (2008-04-04)

Stuck at 83,7 for several days now. Time for a seed or re-seed!!!

staern (2008-04-07)

Well, now I got it, thank you! I will seed it for a couple of days for sure. This is in fact the first time I have heard a LZ concert from 1968 (it´s a pity it´s not complete!), and I wonder how many taped concerts from that year that are existing? I know they did a few shows here in Sweden, but I don`t think they were taped. Maybe the uploader TIM has some information?

TimD54 (2008-04-12)

As far as I know, there are tapes from Gonzaga (this one) and Seattle (12.27.68,) and possibly Denver (12.26) in 1968. There were shows on December 26, 27, 28, 30 and 31 in 1968, as Zeppelin only arrived in America after Christmas 1968.
There are rumors of tapes from the Scandinavia tour, as well as video on the official DVD of a TV appearance in Sweden I think. I have even heard that there is a tape of the first show, in Gladsaxe, Copenhagen, Denmark (the Teen Club show) around, but have never heard it.
For my money, the 68 shows and early 69 shows (San Francisco, Boston in February, even to Dallas in August and Paris 10.10.69 are some of the very best Led Zeppelin ever had to offer.

staern (2008-04-12)

"as well as video on the official DVD of a TV appearance in Sweden I think."
No, it was in fact from Copenhagen, Denmark.
Regards!