Here is a fun one for On This Day in History. My memory is a bit hazy on this. I remember that Uncle Tupelo had a number of tour dates scheduled for southern California in February of 1993. They played Bogart’s in Long Beach, The Palomino in N Hollywood and The Casbah in San Diego. I think this one was a late addition- they got an opening slot for Johnny Cash at the Rhythm Cafe. I remember Tony M telling me that he REALLY wants a tape of the show, but he can’t help me at all in getting my gear in.
So I head over to Santa Ana- I have never been to the venue before. Turns out it is a dinner theater type of place and a band is already playing. I think there might have been an early and late show and the band was JC’s first set. I remember panicking, thinking I missed the show.
They let us in after a bit and I was able to sneak in the DAT, a microphone, and 2 battery packs. No video. They seat me at a table and the entire crowd is SUPER old. This was before Johnny teamed up with Rick Rubin so it was a bunch of 60+ people and me. I remembered the older gentleman across from me falling asleep during JC’s set.
Tupelo were great- a 22 minute set heavy on March 16-20 stuff and other acoustic songs. The crowd didn’t hate them, so that’s a win. That show is already up on the archive.
There was a LOT of hootin’ and hollerin’ early in the set, but then folks tired out and it sounds much better later on.
The venue later changed their name to Galaxy Concert Theater and I saw Texas Tornados and Wilco there in 1995. It is now The Observatory.
I also have about 10min of John Carter’s opening set if people want to hear it.

Recorded by: Shayne Stacy
Equipment used: Sony TCD-D3 and 1 Nakamichi CM-300 mic
Transfer Equipment: Sony PCM-R500 and M-Audio Audiophile 2496 card