What's a Great Classic Zero Show?

The video's low-res, but the audio is pretty crisp. I wish I could say the same about my memories of this day in the high desert.

Ranch Rock 86: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EA318qwf8E8

Well, there is a lot to chose from. And there are various "eras," all revolving around the two main players, Kimock and Anton starting in late 84/ early 85. There are a ton of personnel changes throughout their history, which probably peaked around 1999/2000 (when Kimock started his own full time ensembles) yet lingers until this day.

One of the most notable splits in their timeline is the "instrumental" version (which occasionally had vocals) and then, around 1992, they got a full time vocalist (who sang a bunch of notable tunes written by Robert Hunter).

Within that instrumental era you had the John Cipollina version, until he passed away in 89.

I would say the best way to tackle their catalog is to follow their Bay area venue history -- they started in small bars (Last Day Saloon, Chi Chi Club) and progressed to ever bigger places (Great American Music Hall, The Fillmore, and Maritime Hall).

Any shows in any of those aforementioned venues would be representative of their sound at the time.

Plus, whenever they were on the road in their attempt at finally "making it" on the East Coast or MidWest, you can count on a decent performance.

So, put on zero underwear, chut up, and listen to it all - you have a chance in a million to discover one of the wellsprings of jamband music before there was such a word.

Dunno what's available, but the 8 or so shows I attended at the WOW Hall in Eugene in the 90s were all great, IMO.

I'm particular to the mid-90''s as that's when I was knocking down their shows, particularly some of those epic nights at the Great American.

It was also the only time I saw Hunter out in the wild. He was maybe 50 feet down O'Farrell Street, hanging in the dark shadows of an apartment building, scribbling something (lyrics one would assume) on a crusty old note pad. After a bit he seemed to get what he wanted and confidently marched up through the GAMH entrance. It's always stuck in my mind like it was yesterday.

> they started in small bars

Seeing them at Sweetwater in the summer of 86 is one of my all-time favorite shows.

Golden Gate Park band shell in 1988 with Jerry.

here's one song of an early vid that captures some of the instrumental era with John --  Tear Tags Off Mattresses ZERO 6.17.87

Steve Kimock John Cipollina Banana Martin Fierro Bobby Vega Greg Anton  --- Empire Rock Club Philadelphia Pennsylvania

It's a little raw quality-wise since it ws only recorded with consumer grade camera for personal use by their manager:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxHwXmzfdtw&list=RDuxHwXmzfdtw&start_rad...

95 era - 

ZERO 10-19-1995 Pits Of Thunder Arbutus Town Hall Baltimore MD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNaeoZAOhy0&list=RDsNaeoZAOhy0&start_rad...

Keep listening 

you'll find it

Great summary of the eras, Alan.  I was lucky enough to have caught on very early and see shows with Cipollina (and plenty of late nights at the Chi Chi Club). I lean toward the instrumental years, especially watching Kimock take over as the de facto lead  after Chip's passing.  Although I can't seem to find a date, I'd include the addition of Bobzilla on bass as another high point for the band.  He's both an outstanding addition to the band and ended the era of rotating bass players,  

> Golden Gate Park band shell in 1988 with Jerry.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mD9T0qQt0_A

Not a zero show but this is my favorite Kimock I was actually at

SKB with a stripped down 4 piece lineup and no vox

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dPrTT74mqOE

https://archive.org/details/skb2000-02-20-c61.shnf/skb00-2-20d3t5.shn

> favorite Kimock I was actually at

SKB at The Edge in Santa Barbara on May 18, 2001.

https://archive.org/details/skb2001-05-18

The best show depended on the drugs you were on and the women in your dance space.

Here's a classic (one of three shows taped when they were recording an album, do yourself a favor and check out the whole run):

Zero Live at Great American Music Hall on 1992-10-16

https://archive.org/details/zero1992-10-16.s2.151968.sbd.jeanlerondarchi...

or

https://archive.org/details/zero1992-10-16

This one has always been one of my favorites...

https://archive.org/details/zero1997-09-27.shnf

You sparked my memory. I plugged into the board at the hog farm with my D6 Sony  deck. I have to go dig through my tapes and see if I can find it. Likewise, I had a broken scapula and could only kinda stand at the board and record. I have a lot of good music from that day. Rod Deal and The Ideals were my friends and let me patch into the board. All the other bands sound guys just left me alone, I kept a low profile Dead Head Style and just kept taping. I remember Pele JuJu and Rod Zero I can't remember what else, must go pull my briefcases out of the closet......Also, some great nights on clement in the city with zero upstairs from the main bar, can't remember the name either this old brain is full of too much worthless information getting old is a bitch

I've always loved this little clip of John Cipollina's solo during The Core:

https://youtu.be/dMzL2JVeZNc

I sure miss him! There's more of this show on YouTube if you search for "Zero 3/2/87"

lso, some great nights on clement in the city with zero upstairs from the main bar, can't remember the name either

That would be the Last Day Saloon.  

This was likely my fave!   Oregon Country Fair mainstage on Friday night, 2 sets, one for the public, and one after the "doors" close with Barry Sless and Mookie Siegal.  During sound check Barry Sless and Steve Kimock were trading ethnic scales and other guitar wizardry's that aren't normally played w/ their bands. They were both grinning, and so were we!!!  

https://archive.org/details/Zero1999-07-09.akg.shnf

haloweenie Mill Valley , the old Sweetwater ohhh chut up 88,89,90,91? it's all a blur favorite reprise "the core"....