The band Eli was formed in Redding, California, and moved to the Bay Area in the early part of 1974. From there they hooked up with producer "Jelly Roll" Troy. Playing a version of Southern Rock that had more of a heavy metal leaning than the Allmans or Skynyrd, Eli was able to attract some label interest and caught the ear of promoter Bill Graham, who gave them a few shows, including this one in June 1975, opening for Black Oak Arkansas.
Compared to the other Eli show on the site, taped roughly 5 months earlier, this show has an overall better sound quality, but unfortunately also…entire summary
Steve "JJ" Lockhart - guitar, vocals
Steve Gunner - guitar, keyboards, vocals
Chris Paulsen - drums
Chris Littleton - bass
The band Eli was formed in Redding, California, and moved to the Bay Area in the early part of 1974. From there they hooked up with producer "Jelly Roll" Troy. Playing a version of Southern Rock that had more of a heavy metal leaning than the Allmans or Skynyrd, Eli was able to attract some label interest and caught the ear of promoter Bill Graham, who gave them a few shows, including this one in June 1975, opening for Black Oak Arkansas.
Compared to the other Eli show on the site, taped roughly 5 months earlier, this show has an overall better sound quality, but unfortunately also contains a few tape warbles and drop-outs. The performance itself is a little tighter and more relaxed, and there is more of a focus on the dual guitar work, since the band had been pared down to a quartet with the loss of keyboardist David Harper.
Shortly after this show, as it was likely a label deal might come together, they had what guitarist Steve Gunner calls "management troubles," which caused the breakup of the band.
Of the members of Eli, only Gunner went on to any recognition. Gunner, in the late-1970s, played in a band with Skynyrd drummer Artemus Pyle, and in 1994 was asked to join the revised CCR, called Creedence Clearwater Revisited, which includes original members Stu Cook and Doug Clifford. Gunner is still recording and touring with CCR today.
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