Freedom

The Atlanta Pop Festival

Jimi Hendrix Experience

Sony Legacy, 2015

Hendrix and the Experience live could be hit or miss. And most of this was on Jimi’s considerable shoulders. This 1970 performance was captured at the Atlanta Pop Festival, before a crowd purported to be the largest festival to date in the US, (400,000, give or take). Plus, it was dubbed as a Southern Woodstock.

This latest two disc release (available on vinyl for those so inclined), from Hendrix’s sizeable archives starts with a positively incendiary (excuse the pun) reading of “Fire.” Disc One roils back and forth with an emphasis on more restrained, bluesier numbers, “Lover Man,” Red House,” and a slow burning “Hear My Train A Comin’.” “Spanish Castle Magic,” one of Hendrix’s more quirky numbers, is fleshed out early on. A solid set of songs to be sure.

But then there’s Disc Two.

With the trio tearing into their rendition of Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower,” they set in motion a really, really memorable 2^nd half of the show. “Foxey Lady,” Purple Haze,” and “Hey Joe,” are attacked with incisive skill and genuine enthusiasm. These are all FM standards now, but at the time they were still dangerous and intimidating new musical stylings. The “Star Spangled Banner” is played against a backdrop of exploding fireworks, which just helps make it more betterer than other versions of the song. When people talk about Hendrix’s deft and groundbreaking guitar histrionics it can stumble into the realm of blind hero worship. This performance gives those manic declarations their credence.

Sam Feinsilver _ Hendrix — (Photo by Sam Feinsilver)

When I was a kid first getting excited about music, I worked with a guy who’d seen a great many shows in the 60’s by now legendary, nay mythical, performers. I asked if he’d ever seen Hendrix, and his response was memorable. “Yeah, in Atlanta. While he was onstage I got my ass kicked by two guys who thought I was looking at one of their girlfriends.”

I’m hoping he gets a chance to hear this release and finally enjoy the show that never was for him the first time around.