• Josh Klapow

$15 For Hendrix, Steppenwolf, Jethro Tull and Marvin Gaye?

I grew up about 7 miles from Devonshire Downs. It was a place that hosted county fairs, 4H events, and and ICONIC rock festival A kid in the Valley listening to "rock" and "hard rock" (it wasn't classic yet). One of the cool things about growing up in L.A. was that you never worried that a group wouldn't make a stop on tour.

Very different vibe when I moved to Alabama. But the great irony are the iconic Muscle Shoals studios. From The Stones, to Dylan to Skynryd to Aretha and so many more. They all were there. Sadly, by the time I arrived in Birmingham The Shoals (including the Swampers) were a part of the State's history.

The Rolling Stones

Lynyrd Skynyrd

When you lived in The San Fernando Valley you knew you had access to every rock band out there, every up and coming band, and if you went to Six Flags Magic Mountain you could catch some of them on their way "out". These pics predate me just a bit, but the Newport 69 Festival at Devonshire Downs (7 miles from my home) was the Woodstock of the west. it reminds me of how in the midst of the dry, smogy, dusty heat, if you were a kid from The Valley, you were pretty much guaranteed a youth filled with live, amazing rock. And think about it $15.00 for Hendrix, Steppen Wolf, Jethro Tull, Marvin Gaye, and a ton more? Damn... (Scroll to the bottom for a clip of Hendrix playing at the festival)