Memorable Nights At The Shaboo -- Courant.com

Shaboo 40th Anniversary Concert (benefit for Windham Hospital)

This weekend 6/25

featuring Elvin Bishop (author of Juke Joint Jump, the tribute to the Shaboo that reached Billboard Top 200 #42 in 1975), James Cotton Blues Band (a Shaboo regular) and Shaboo All-Stars (now known as David Foster and the Mohegan Sun All-Stars)

Be there or be square!!

Pictures of the 40th Anniversary Concert on 6/25/2011-

http://www.wili-am.com/shaboo11.htm

Plus, if you look at the links at the bottom, one will lead you to a bunch of on-air interviews with David Foster, one of the folks mentioned in the original Hartford Courant article about the origins of the Shaboo.

I remember seeing Tom Waits there about '74-75 and there was a life-size cutout of Mr. Waits guarding the doorway. Wonder where that went after the show?

I'm not saying that was the highlight...no way! Maybe my opinion is influenced by my seeing Tom Waits live-and-up-close in my teen years, but I still think Heart of Saturday Night/Nighthawks At The Diner is the best part of his long and illustrious career.

Oh, darn it. I missed this concert. I don't think I've ever been to the Shaboo either, but it was a great concert venue.
It's still in business? That's super! One of my good friend's brother owned part of the Shaboo way back when. Good guy.

no, it's not in business. darn it! They should open it back up again. You're right.
Say, ever go to the free jam in Bristol on Thursday nights?

"Shit, shower, shave & Shaboo!" was our Saturday night motto. Growing up in Eastern CT during Shaboo's heydey, I was a regular visitor. Was into jazz mostly early 80s, vivid memories of the Billy Cogham/George Duke show that blew me away. I'd never imagined anyone could play drums like that. Billy had a bag of drumsticks on his waist, they kept breaking and like magic another stick would appear to replace it. Keen memory of the Jeff Lorber Fusion when Kenny G. was either a member of the band or visiting. G. was most impressive and had his name written on all his equipment. We asked him to smoke some fine weed with us after the show but he snootily stated that he "didn't do that stuff anymore." Johnny Winter absolutely gassed on whiskey, falling all over the stage, kept pulling from that Jack bottle. Muddy Waters - I knew I was seeing something memorable right there. I'd sneak in my own booze under my poncho, only once got told to ditch it when the lights went up during set break. Sitting at the giant spool tables under that low ceiling, all black. NRBQ, Roomful all the time, Rhinestones, John Lee Hooker, SO many blues artists, my old fave James Montgomery on his harp. Incredible parties out in the parking lot, the music out there was just as loud.

I started the Tuesday night Rock night at the Hedges.
I ran 6 year until the fire that happened on a Friday night that the place was not even opened.

During the 6 Year run we had the first live all night radio broadcasts on WHCN
Bonnie Rait, Wildweeds and Tower of Power were all
at the Hedges on Tuesday.
Later we did oldies bands including Chubby Checker, the Platters, Shirellies Etc.
But the

I started the Tuesday night Rock night at the Hedges.
It ran 6 year until the fire that happened on a Friday the place was not even opened.

During the 6 Year run we had the first live all night radio broadcasts on WHCN
Bonnie Rait, Wildweeds and Tower of Power were all
at the Hedges on Tuesday.
Later we did oldies bands including Chubby Checker, the Platters, Shirellies Etc.

Marty From Newington wrote:

Ah, the Shaboo Inn. I will never, ever forget the Shaboo. While other college kids were slaving at Macdonalds and KFC at their PT jobs, it was my honor and privilidge to work at the Shaboo Inn.
I'll never forget the countless bands I saw perform there. It was like watching the best bands of the era play in your living room.
The after hour parties and getting the chance to meet legends like Jonny Winter, Todd Rundgren, Buddy Rich and on and on and on.
There will never, ever be a place like it again.
It was truely the best!

Oh, yesssss. I was barely out of my teens when I started going to the Shaboo in the 70s. I went with my fiance, Michael, aslo known as Miguel by many people who worked and freqented the Shaboo. I thought Michael was gorgeous with his waist long hair. I was enthralled with him and enthralled with the Shaboo. It was a golden time for me. We frequently went to the Shaboo. It was like a second home sometimes. We saw so many great bands there! Todd Rundgren, Johnny Winter, Jonathan Edwards, on and on... The Shaboo was an icon of the times, with its symbolic water tower, the relaxed decor and especially the location-in the bottom of a barn. In a generation that was trying to get more back to the basics, it was a fitting environment for relaxation, fun, good music, and good feelings. I learned how to play pool there. 25 cents a game!

i know that might be wrong, becasue the

stage announcer talks about up coming shows.

Coming this fri & Sat is Roger McQuinn "just off the Bob Dlyan tour" (tour ended 5/25/76)

Also mentioned "Then the following weekend on the 20th and 21st is Muddy Waters. "Just

celebrated his 63rd Birthday" (Muddy Born April 4th 1913)(makes this after 4/4/76)

All this info means that my tape of BB King dated 10/4/75 has to be after May 25th 1976

Read This one ::

Hey Guys., I'm doing some research on old past gigs from the 70's from the Shaboo.

I've got a handful of live tapes that i need help on. the tape in question is of B.B. King. the date on my tape says Oct 4th 1975. but i know that might be wrong, becasue the stage announcer talks about up coming shows.

Coming this fri & Sat is Roger McQuinn "just off the Bob Dlyan tour" (tour ended 5/25/76)

Also mentioned "Then the following weekend on the 20th and 21st is Muddy Waters. "Just celebrated his 63rd Birthday" (Muddy Born April 4th 1913)(makes this after 4/4/76)

All this info means that my tape of BB King dated 10/4/75 has to be after May 25th 1976

Does anyone have info that can help me deterime what the correct date for my BB tape is??

Reach me personal: bbking_archivist@sbcglobal.net

Thanks George

George I think I was the opening act for BB that night. I do not remember the date but maybe David "Lefty" Foster has a record of the performance dates. You can reach me at george@georgetgregory.com

George Rue wrote:

Read This one ::
Hey Guys., I'm doing some research on old past gigs from the 70's from the Shaboo.
I've got a handful of live tapes that i need help on. the tape in question is of B.B. King. the date on my tape says Oct 4th 1975. but i know that might be wrong, becasue the stage announcer talks about up coming shows.
Coming this fri & Sat is Roger McQuinn "just off the Bob Dlyan tour" (tour ended 5/25/76)
Also mentioned "Then the following weekend on the 20th and 21st is Muddy Waters. "Just celebrated his 63rd Birthday" (Muddy Born April 4th 1913)(makes this after 4/4/76)
All this info means that my tape of BB King dated 10/4/75 has to be after May 25th 1976
Does anyone have info that can help me deterime what the correct date for my BB tape is??
Reach me personal: bbking_archivist@sbcglobal.net
Thanks George

I loved Shaboo. I saw Bonnie Raitt there, I believe aroung '72 or '73, right in the front row. I wish i could see pics of the place.

So who the f{}ck is J.B. Hutto and why does he show up in 90% of Google Results for "Shaboo Inn"??!! Sheesh, what a freakin' spammer...unless, of course, he is the Greatest Rocker That Nobody Ever Heard Of.

J. B. Hutto was one of the old Chicago Blues guitarists that used stop in at little CT clubs like Shaboo, Crystal Lake Ballroom etc. pretty much staying away from larger venues. JB passed away almost 30 years ago. I'm afraid the only spamming would be by his distribution company.

I can't believe that I stumbled upon a thread on the Shaboo Inn!!! Amazing. Definitely remember the Rick Derringer show, and Dire Straits tickets that I forgot to buy (damn!).

Remember seeing Janis Ian there! What a kick!

Was having one of my brain blanks and could not remember the name Shaboo, stumbled on this thread in my hunt. Thxs for giving me hours of wonderful memories scrolling through the comments. It was a magical time, that sadly I doubt could be replicated in todays' society. (along with woodstock). Groups of today could learn a lot from the musicianship and fan appreciation of the Shaboo era performers. Just my opinion.

Susan "I loved Shaboo. I saw Bonnie Raitt there, I believe aroung '72 or '73, right in the front row. I wish i could see pics of the place."

I first saw Bonnie play at a church in Cambridge in 72. I couldn't believe it when she became a regular at Shaboo and I went to all of her shows. She and Freebo would hang out with us into the wee hours. Nice memories!

I went there once to see a very young Bela Fleck when he was banjoist for a Boston bluegrass outfit Tasty Licks. This must have been around 1978 or so and while "Newgrass" music was enjoying fleeting popularity at that time, Mr. Fleck was an unknown at age 20.

There were only five other people in the entire place (sounds like a typical "undiscovered-as-of-that- moment" Shaboo Experience) even as I went there specifically to see Tasty Licks although as I mentioned, there was no indication of Bela's eventual fame although he was pretty good at pickin' banjo! I still have the LP bought then. What memories!

I went to eastern conn state and remember shaboo well. the most memoable ight is when i drove matt guitar murphy home he was passed out in the back seat!! Hes a great guy.