Going to watch a musical group at the Ramada Inn in 1970

Time-travel with me to Phoenix in 1970, and let's go watch a musical group at the Ramada Inn - Johnny Talon and Evolution. And if we stay until May 18th, we can go see Helene and Jeannine & the Fine Arts!

If your first reaction is "Who?" and you're wondering why anyone would go to the trouble of time-traveling back to 1970 to see a group at the Ramada Inn, I understand. Most people would prefer to see the Rolling Stones, or some other famous group, but not me. I'll see if I can explain.

By the way, this will have to be an imaginary journey - I wasn't anywhere near Phoenix in 1970, I was too busy being an annoying nerdy little kid in Minneapolis, learning to play the piano. A few years later I learned to play the guitar, and most of my friends in high school played some type of musical instrument. And that's where I developed my fascination with watching live music being performed.

I like listening to live music, especially voice and guitar, or piano. I never got very good at any of those things, but I learned to appreciate it, and I especially like it up close and personal. So, while I never went to any of the major concerts (and never had any interest in them), I went to a lot of small venues, at little bars in Tempe while I was going to ASU, and wherever someone was playing that I knew, like at a hotel, in Phoenix. I would sit in the tiny audience and just appreciate the music. Heck, one time I was the only one in the audience, and the band played for me (that must have been in 1982 or thereabouts).

Something absolutely magical happens when someone steps on stage, and starts playing the guitar. I went to see one of the mechanics who used to work on my car in California play in a band at a small venue, and when I walked up on stage to shake his hand and say hello, it was awesome for everyone.

Anyway, we're in Phoenix in 1970, and we're on our way to the Ramada Inn. And since there are two in Phoenix, we need to be sure to go to the one at 38th Street and Van Buren, not the one downtown. We can call ahead and find out when their first show is, I don't really like to stay up too late. They do four shows a night!

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