Remembering the Palomino, the legendary North Hollywood honky-tonk
September 30, 2015 10:14 AM Subscribe
On February 19, 1987, it was just another night at the Palomino, with Taj Mahal and The Graffiti Band playing some folk, soul, blues and maybe a bit of jazz. It wasn't unusual for some more major musicians to be in the crowd, but this night George Harrison, Bob Dylan, John Fogerty, and Jesse Ed Davis joined Taj and jammed, with Fogerty playing "Proud Mary" at the prompting of Dylan. But if you want to visit this iconic club today, you'll find yourself in front of Le Monge banquet hall. The Palomino is no more, but you can visit the Valley's legendary honky-tonk with an oral history of The Palomino, and a fan-made VH1 "Behind the Music" style documentary that includes some vintage clips and photos.
That documentary focuses more on the later years, in part because the interviewees seem to be largely from the "roots rock" era of the Palomino. But for a look back, there are some video and audio recordings, both official and audience-recorded, online:
The Flying Burrito Brothers live at the Palomino, a full set (audio only), recorded on June 8, 1969.
George Thorogood & the Destroyers live at the Palomino Club, a full set (audio only), from 1979.
Parts of the February '87 Taj and friends show: Matchbox; Gone, Gone, Gone; Knock On Wood; Blue Suede Shoes; Proud Mary; Johnny B. Goode; Hand Jive; Peggy Sue; Dizzy Miss Lizzy
Del Reeves - "Goodtime Charlies" live Palomino Club, featuring the bluegrass side of Del, George and the Band (professional audio recording).
Jerry Lee Lewis at the Palomino (maybe?), and Jerry and co at the Palomino years later
Carli Munoz playing his composition "The Snipper" live at The Palomino Club, 1970's.
Tracy Lee Nelson & Gary Farmer live at the Palomino Club.
Bob Marriott live at the Palomino club 1982 (muddy, audio only).
The Palomino Club Performance Series "Rosie Flores" The Ronnie Mack Band on August 15, 1989, the only video from The Palomino Club Archives YouTube account.
That documentary focuses more on the later years, in part because the interviewees seem to be largely from the "roots rock" era of the Palomino. But for a look back, there are some video and audio recordings, both official and audience-recorded, online:
The Flying Burrito Brothers live at the Palomino, a full set (audio only), recorded on June 8, 1969.
George Thorogood & the Destroyers live at the Palomino Club, a full set (audio only), from 1979.
Parts of the February '87 Taj and friends show: Matchbox; Gone, Gone, Gone; Knock On Wood; Blue Suede Shoes; Proud Mary; Johnny B. Goode; Hand Jive; Peggy Sue; Dizzy Miss Lizzy
Del Reeves - "Goodtime Charlies" live Palomino Club, featuring the bluegrass side of Del, George and the Band (professional audio recording).
Jerry Lee Lewis at the Palomino (maybe?), and Jerry and co at the Palomino years later
Carli Munoz playing his composition "The Snipper" live at The Palomino Club, 1970's.
Tracy Lee Nelson & Gary Farmer live at the Palomino Club.
Bob Marriott live at the Palomino club 1982 (muddy, audio only).
The Palomino Club Performance Series "Rosie Flores" The Ronnie Mack Band on August 15, 1989, the only video from The Palomino Club Archives YouTube account.
The bootleg of that show is called the Silver Wilburys, so someone thought so.
posted by filthy light thief at 10:58 AM on September 30, 2015
posted by filthy light thief at 10:58 AM on September 30, 2015
My only cultural context for the Palomino as an east coast kid was a line from Frank Zappa's San Ber'dino, "He got slobbering drunk at the Palomino." I moved to the San Fernando Valley in 1996, and I'll never forget the first time I drove by the actual Palomino, which was by then closed and forlorn. It hadn't occurred to me that it was an actual place! I saw it featured in an episode of CHiPs a couple of years after that, but didn't realize until reading some of these more recent retrospectives what a significant place it had been in its day. It sums up my experience living in Los Angeles pretty well; constant reminders that I had gotten there at least 20 years too late.
posted by usonian at 11:49 AM on September 30, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by usonian at 11:49 AM on September 30, 2015 [1 favorite]
I saw Maggie Mayall and the Cadillacs at the Palomino, in the mid-80s, which was kind of amazing because it was an all-woman band that was simply a rock/blues band and not a gimmick.
posted by janey47 at 12:09 PM on September 30, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by janey47 at 12:09 PM on September 30, 2015 [1 favorite]
It's great to see George and Dylan smiling and having a good time. For some reason I find it comforting to know the two were good friends.
posted by young_simba at 12:16 PM on September 30, 2015
posted by young_simba at 12:16 PM on September 30, 2015
My only cultural context for the Palomino as an east coast kid was a line from Frank Zappa's San Ber'dino , "He got slobbering drunk at the Palomino."
Neat! There are a number of interesting connections and references to the place. The documentary in the OP features a number of clips from Clint Eastwood's highest grossing film, Any Way but Loose, where his side-kick was his pet orangutan, who drank and made faces at people in the Palomino.
posted by filthy light thief at 12:21 PM on September 30, 2015
Neat! There are a number of interesting connections and references to the place. The documentary in the OP features a number of clips from Clint Eastwood's highest grossing film, Any Way but Loose, where his side-kick was his pet orangutan, who drank and made faces at people in the Palomino.
posted by filthy light thief at 12:21 PM on September 30, 2015
filthy light thief, that blog in the first link is worth the price of admission for an old lady like me with roots in Southern Cal. Thanks!
posted by janey47 at 5:19 PM on September 30, 2015
posted by janey47 at 5:19 PM on September 30, 2015
Dread Zeppelin 1994 Burning Love / Immigrant Song / War
posted by homunculus at 8:31 PM on October 4, 2015
posted by homunculus at 8:31 PM on October 4, 2015
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posted by Freedomboy at 10:45 AM on September 30, 2015