An artifact from a performance by one of many famous acts to appear at the Psyche Delly at 4846 Cordell Avenue in Bethesda in 1977 has surfaced on eBay. The signed contract for the July 25, 1977 concert by the Dixie Dregs is being offered for $63.38 by seller Visible Vibrations. Tickets were only $4, and the Dregs played two sets, at 8:30 and 11:00 PM. The contract is signed by the venue's owner, Lou Sordo.
A legendary Southern-rock-jazz-fusion band of the 1970s and early 80s, Dixie Dregs featured musicians who went on to high-profile solo and replacement gigs during the Reagan-Bush era. Steve Morse joined Kansas and Deep Purple. Rod Morgenstein had an even more high-profile career behind the drums in Winger, cleverly working progressive time signatures and fills into multiplatinum hair metal records. Bassist Andy West took a star turn on guitar virtuoso Vinnie Moore's debut album, Mind's Eye.
As for the Psyche Delly, it ceased to be a concert venue in 1983. According to Richard Harrington of The Washington Post, Maryland's raising of the drinking age to 21 sent its most youthful patrons into the more-permissive D.C. music scene. After the "deli" restaurant part of the business closed, it would eventually become the location of Flanagan's Harp & Fiddle, which ceased operation in 2020.
Thanks Robert, for always interesting history and insights...
ReplyDeleteThanks for this posting on your blog, love stuff like this! On the downside tho', cue 1..2..3... until someone here complains about the use of the word "Dixie" while most have never even heard of my old stomping grounds let alone ever went to a show or had a sandwich there BEFORE their grand reopening in '79 when I saw the rockabilly OG Carl Perkins.
ReplyDeleteOk Boomer
Delete4:59 - Such a great point on the word police. Nothing wrong with Dixie Chicks, Lady Antebellum, or the Redskins. Many, great artists played there. Speaking of the good old days, does anyone know if the WHFS studio is still there at Triangle Towers? Long closed I know but I always wondered if the gear was just sitting there like a sort of museum to the great music channel. DJ Weasel still lives in that building.
ReplyDelete@10:13AM Ok Zoomer
ReplyDelete