Play On
April 17, 1982
finds me guerilla-postering Cal State Long Beach yet again on behalf of our Loved Ones when guitarist Scott Watson and I, to quote my trusty journals,
come across a band playing at the CSULB Nugget. Thru the window we see a guitarist wearing a MONKEES T-shirt *. Then I hear them singing “I’ll Be Back” ** with GOOD 3-part harmony! What else can we do? BS our way in without paying (via the Pig Paper), take a center table, Look and LISTEN.
Impressed in particular by the band’s bassist – he wore a white sweatshirt, jeans and sneakers, bounced around a lot, sang harmony AND lead, had a Vox amp! – we approached him between sets only to soon discover ...and not that surprisingly I suppose... that we were in fact talking Monkees etc. with none other than former Raspberry Scott McCarl!
Wondering whatever became of that band whose 1974 Starting Over album was a firm fixture upon the Pig Player that year (but alas, turned out to be their swansongs), our new best bud simply smirked “Eric Carmen never could figure out if he wanted to be Paul McCartney or Brian Wilson.”
Point more than taken.
He gave me a 45,
and We parted that evening with his assurance that “I’m sure we’ll be in touch again.” And... we were!
Only it wasn’t to be for another 17 (!!) years when, writing Raspberries up for the MusicHound Rock: Essential Album Guide book I tracked Scott down via the wonders of the www, and was answered thusly:
Gary,
Yep, that was me you spoke to, good memory there!
The Finders were one of the L.A. club bands I was in '76-85; some bands rather bad, some good, that one being the most Beatle-ish by far. GOOD Ringo drummer and to-the-note guitarist in that one (Bobee Potter & Andy Highhouse). I remember we played on the rooftop of a building at freeways 10 & 110 overlooking the downtown L.A. skyline, to promote a Beatles Convention held in that building, in competition w/Beatlefest, about 2,000 came and we were the "Liverpool" band as well for it; I NAILED "I'm Down" that day! Anyone out there tape it?
Anyway Gary, I do remember that gig, even remember speaking with someone too - you!
So Long,
Scott McCarl
[ * : it truly cannot be overstated how unusual, not to mention inspiring this choice of wardrobe was during this pretty damn bleak musical era ]
[ ** : ditto! ]
