One of my favorite Chuck Berry concerts was at a packed little rock hall in South Lake Tahoe a long time ago. I'm guessing it was in the summer of 1971-- but it could have been a year on either side of that. He was backed by a great band and played two long sets. He hung out with the audience between sets, smoking and chatting with people braver than me. The show was so long and wonderful that my friends and I left, satisfied, while he was still playing. I remember hearing the sound as we walked towards the lake, which was across the street.

In the early days of the internet I actually found someone who was selling a poster for this show, but it was in the days before pay-pal, etc., and I never got a response when I tried to buy it. But that little fact gives me hope that someone out there some day will have some answers for me: Like, when was it, really? And who was the back up band? Or maybe you can just tell me the name of the hall-- which was in a former grocery store on Highway 50. (The building is still there.)

So, if you were there, or if you know where I could satisfy my curiosities, (or if you've got that danged poster!) let me know! Thanks. Peter

Answering my own question! I surfed the net a bit and found a series of posts on a Lake Tahoe website about all the dances up there in the 1970s. I learned the name of the place-- variously The Sanctuary and The Funhouse. And I posted a query of my own about who backed Chuck Berry up there in 1971 or thereabouts.

A few weeks later I got a couple of posts in response from Jim Burgett-- a "famous" local band leader from South Lake Tahoe, known for doing tenn dances at the American Legion Hall there for years and years. (I was a little kid in his hey day, and just remember the signs.) Jim was famous for doing covers of the big hits of the day.

Anyway, it turns out he was the promoter of the concert I saw, and it was his band that backed up Chuck Berry. It was even wilder than I thought. First, there were 700 people outside. (I was inside and didn't know!) This was a "joint was rockin'" sort of experience. Burgett says it's the only time he had to call the police to one of his shows. Then Burgett had the usual first time promoting a Chuck Berry show problem-- i.e., wrong amp! (He remembers that Chuck Berry wanted a Fender Bassman. I think it's usually a Dual Showman, at least nowadays. But Jim thought there must be a mistake, and tried to get Chuck a "better" amp.) Then there was a misunderstanding about the show itself. I think I said in the original post, this was an unusual show for me because Chuck Berry played two long sets. I'd never seen that. And according to Jim, it was a surprise to Chuck Berry, too. So after solving the amp problem, he had to get Chuck to stick around 90 minutes after his first show to do another show. Jim must be a persuasive man, or else Chuck must have liked the backup he was getting. It turned out to be one of the longest, best shows I have ever seen-- and Chuck Berry hung out with the crowd during at least part of his break between sets. That's where I met him, at the side of the stage. He was sitting back, talking to someone, and skinny, trembling me walked up and yelled over the warm-up act's sound system those immortally stupid words "You're my idol!" He nodded, shook my hand, and went back to more intelligent conversation. (38 years later I met him again. I switched one word. I figure "hero" is a better description now that I'm catching up with him in age.)

Anyway, Chuck was still flailing away when my friends and I left The Sanctuary that night, totally satisfied with a couple hours of GREAT Chuck Berry music, and even a handshake, and you could hear the guitar thumping away for "blocks" as we walked back along the lake.

Of course, he was just as good, and played just as long about four years later in Monterey!

Tulane wrote:

Answering my own question! I surfed the net a bit and found a series of posts on a website about all the dances up there in the 1970s. I learned the name of the place-- variously The Sanctuary and The Funhouse. And I posted a query of my own about who backed Chuck Berry up there in 1971 or thereabouts.

A few weeks later I got a couple of posts in response from Jim Burgett-- a "famous" local band leader from South Lake Tahoe, known for doing tenn dances at the American Legion Hall there for years and years. (I was a little kid in his hey day, and just remember the signs.) Jim was famous for doing covers of the big hits of the day.

Anyway, it turns out he was the promoter of the concert I saw, and it was his band that backed up Chuck Berry. It was even wilder than I thought. First, there were 700 people outside. (I was inside and didn't know!) This was a "joint was rockin'" sort of experience. Burgett says it's the only time he had to call the police to one of his shows. Then Burgett had the usual first time promoting a Chuck Berry show problem-- i.e., wrong amp! (He remembers that Chuck Berry wanted a Fender Bassman. I think it's usually a Dual Showman, at least nowadays. But Jim thought there must be a mistake, and tried to get Chuck a "better" amp.) That's where I met him, at the side of the stage. He was sitting back, talking to someone, and skinny, trembling me walked up and yelled over the warm-up act's sound system those immortally stupid words "You're my idol!" He nodded, shook my hand, and went back to more intelligent conversation. (38 years later I met him again. I switched one word. I figure "hero" is a better description now that I'm catching up with him in age.)

Anyway, Chuck was still flailing away when my friends and I left The Sanctuary that night, totally satisfied with a couple hours of GREAT Chuck Berry music, and even a handshake, and you could hear the guitar thumping away for "blocks" as we walked back along the lake.

Of course, he was just as good, and played just as long about four years later in Monterey!

I absolutely love Chuck Berry... How lucky were you to have been there back then.
YOU ROCK!!!!!!!!!!

I was at this concert. Boy does reading this post bring back memories!

Chuck Berry is my all time favorite.

-Jim!

Is there another concert soon?

Look what I found! Turns out it was July 4, 1971.

This is a great story. The end? 1600 people in a tiny hall, and 700 more trying to get in. Police out side. It was Around and Around come true! There's some stuff here about a contract dispute, but Chuck Berry played two LONG sets, great ones, with a great band, and sat by the stage during the break. I shook his hand that day. I was 15. I said those immortal words: "You're my idol!"

Now I'm 54, and it's still true.

Anyway, read about it here:

http://www.tahoe.com/article/20100811/EDITORSCHOICE/100819997/1020/WHATTODO

Now that I'm 54 and a lawyer, I must say cringe at what the promoter describes somewhat proudly.

Check out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_imprisonment

I assume that the statute of lmitations has run!

It's just another promoter's story that shows exactly what Chuck Berry fought for: fair treatment.

But anyway, a great performance by our man, never forgotten.

Great story Peter! False imprisonment? Well, lets just say Mr. Burgess with a really big fan to the point he just could not get enough (No matter what!)

I have not been on Go Head On in a week or so. Time to catch up.