Memory:Jim Hickey
Having seen Giant live on two other occasions as an opening band, I was already a devoted fan with a complete vinyl collection (now entirely replaced on CD). On March 1, 1977, GG played a relatively small club just outside Baltimore, Maryland called *"The Hollywood Palace"*. I'm a local and had attended a number of excellent concerts at this venue, which held maybe 250 comfortably. That night was a packed house (with probably a far larger audience than the local Fire Marshall would have approved). My brother and I were indeed fortunate to have gotten tickets for the show and even more fortunate to have run into an old high school friend who had staked out "prime real estate" at the club -- a horseshoe shaped front booth/table literally 8 feet from the stage. As I recall, the U.S. $2 bill had recently been issued and most of the waitresses were confusing it with $5 -- we were either making money when ordering beer or paying almost nothing for it! ...but I digress. [I do hope the band didn't lose out on the bar proceeds!]
We watched the concert directly in front of Gary and Ray, with Derek slightly off to the right. It was a fantastic performance, viewed from a perspective that only a roadie would get! ...and beer was being delivered to our table! We were able to witness the perfectly timed instrument hand-offs, facial expressions, cues....it was absolutely amazing, as was the sound in such a small room. We heard (pretty much) the content of "Playing the Fool" and that's what I play now to recall the evening. Giant is still one of my favorite bands. My oldest son (26) is a GG-inspired musician out in Berkeley, CA. Of the myriad concerts I've attended over the last 40 years, the "Hollywood Palace" show remains the best in my memory!