Via Google Maps
Former Location –
This is the location where Marty Balin first met Paul Kantner. The “Gourd” was a kind of funky bar that served sandwiches and had a small stage where Kantner was playing at the time.
Balin also first met Signe Toly Anderson, the original vocalist for Jefferson Airplane, when she was performing at the Drinking Gourd. With the addition of Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady and Skip Spence, this was the beginning of Jefferson Airplane.
Jefferson Airplane Discography
1966 – Jefferson Airplane Takes Off
1967 – Surrealistic Pillow
1967 – After Bathing at Baxter’s
1968 – Crown of Creation
1969 – Volunteers
1969 – Bless Its Pointed Little Head
1970 – The Worst of Jefferson Airplane
1971 – Bark
1972 – Long John Silver
1973 – Thirty Seconds Over Winterland
1974 – Early Flight
1977 – Flight Log
1987 – 2400 Fulton Street
1989 – Jefferson Airplane
1992 – Jefferson Airplane Loves You
1996 – Journey…best of
1998 – Live at the Fillmore East
Drinking Gourd
1898 Union Street
San Francisco CA 94123
In 1968 I discovered the Drinking Gourd on Union Street. We drank pitchers of Fallstaff beer, and listened to Folk Music on their small stage. It is a wonderful memory of my youth.
Great venue in the day…I got to play it several times in the late ’60’s (once with “Dirty Uncle Billy” Roberts of “Hey Joe* fame).
Actually that photo is one block north of the actual location of the Drinking Gourd. It was at the corner of Union and Webster. 1998 Webster, to be exact. I lived on the cheese and crackers that came with a glass of white wine for months…. Lots of names came by to hang out and not be mobbed. It was a lovely time. (I’m told I had fun, anyway.)
Correction. Union and Buchanan.. I lived on Webster, hence the confusion. I had to stagger home some nites.
Dr. Jack, the Gourd was at Union and Laguna, kitty corner from the Bus Stop bar, not Webster.
I spent a lot of time there as well.
The picture they show was a new structure after the Gourd and Marina Music were gutted.
I loved playing there, and have many fond memories.
My wife and I loved this place…still have a menu from there, house wine was 60 cents!! Think Joan Baez hung there sometimes.
The Slippery Rock String Band had Thursday nights at the Gourd for quite a while in the mid-sixties. I played guitar and sang in that band. Great fun and great audiences. The Gourd was our last SF gig before heading for Hollywood and obscurity.
I WAS A SAILOR STATIONED AT ALAMEDA IN THE MID-SIXTIES, AND STUMBLED INTO “THE GOURD” ONE NIGHT FOR A BEER. THE CROWD DIDN’T SEEM TO MIND A VIETNAM VETERAN, AND I SPENT MANY MORE NIGHTS ENJOYING THEIR COMPANY AND MUSIC. IT WAS A GREAT PLACE TO GET AWAY FROM MILITARY LIFE AND THE THOUGHTS OF WAR.
I use to go there to watch Reilly and Maloney sing their hearts out.
I just loved them. David just recently passed away.
First heard Josh White, Jr. there in ‘67 or ‘68; memories fogged by the haze of time. Today’s events make those days seem like a peaceful stroll through GG Park.
So many great memories at the Gourd. One of my fellow soldiers at the Presidio sang there often and even recorded an album there. His name was Bob Pope. Always wondered if he stayed in the business after his discharge. I believe he was from Southern Ca. My two favorite streets off base was Union and then Chestnut. So many great places.
Does anyone remember Pierre, a bartender at the Gourd in the 60s? Tall, wore glasses, deep voice, liked his drink. He went by “Pete” sometimes, born & raised in SF. My Daddio passed last year and I inherited 2 vinyl albums which the Gourd had produced and I have plenty of his bar stories still in my head but I would love to hear from others who knew him them.
I loved going to The Drinking Gourd to see Reilly and Maloney . And then there was Billy Roberts. Such a fun place.
I’d play harmonica with both Billy and Reilly & Maloney in the early ‘70’s, and again after returning from almost two years in Mendocino.
It was where I learned a lot about performing.
Jeffrey Comanor and Jim Post, and pianist Joe Russo were there too.
Howdy Moon and Rogers & Burgin…lots of wonderful music.