I was the cook at the Lion's Share around 1972 - Mike (Considine) was the owner and he needed to serve food so minors could be allowed in (mo money) he gave me a little room to the side of the liquor bar with a serve through window, and a cutting board - he explained the minor situation - and didn't want to be bothered by anything food related after that. The music and the scene was just so very hip. Van Morrison was there at least monthly it seemed - Sonny Terry & Brownie McGee - Herbie Hancock - Sun Ra - Jerry Garcia picking in a bluegrass band called 'Old and in the Way' - I cooked and served Jerry a cheeseburger at an afternoon sound-check - a very big moment for me - I'm a bit of a harmonica player and another idol, Charlie Musselwhite graced the stage - one afternoon when I came to work there were security guards outside and one of the bartenders had to come to the door and OK me before they'd let me in - the whole place had been 'rented' for a private party - as I was setting up in my 'kitchen' a guy came in with a sack of pot and a BIG chunk of hash - he started rolling hash/grass bombers and since it was my cutting board and I prided myself on rolling skills in those days I took over and when everything was rolled up he gave me two for my services - the opening act was a 3 or 4 piece with a very hip babe singing and playing a wicked slide guitar - after the set she and Mike had a little conference in my kitchen and when Mike left for his office we talked and she commented about the looseness of the party - cops standing watch outside - and inside there were barmaids walking around with a platter of free coke - piled high - no shit. She asked me if I had gotten high yet - meaning the coke - and I said no - and she whipped out a small glass vial and gave me a couple of toots from her coke spoon necklace - I was in hippie heaven - I don't KNOW who that gal was - but looking back it almost had to be Bonnie Raitt - I didn't know who she was at the time - so I can't say for sure - but it fits perfectly. Many more stories.
Anyone know who Meadowsweet Rich is in the post above? That story about being upstairs at the LS when Norton Buffalo came in...I was there! I've told that story many times. It was the last week when the LS closed down. Not only did Norton have his cosmetic case full of harmonicas, he also kept his stash in it and pulled out some doobs. And Jim Tongue was a good friend of mine....so sorry to hear of his passing.
Across the street, here was a restaurant called The London Broil, which I think was owned by Barry Oldham, who later owned the Mayflower. There was also the Spanish place that had a few different names, but were all owned by Jose Pons He was an old girlfriend's dad and we used to loot booze from the restaurant. I remember the gas station was right past Amazing Grace, where the empty area is now.
What was the diner shaped building on the north side? I's always been a dry cleaner as far back as I can remember, which is about 1969-70
Do you know the name of the bar across from the Lion's Share in the middle of Miracle Mile by a Chevron Station that was also in between the east and west bound lanes circa 1970.
early Lion's Share down the street from the flick in Sausalito. We went in and ordered cheese fruit and wine, way underage and thought it was the coolest, man. Beatatude. poetry, folkies, tea, dark and a real eye opening gateway thought process that got us going to North Beach to check that whole scene out. We were blowin in da wind.
San Anselmo Share, saw my fav John Stewart one night, with Jerry Corbitt and Big ass chawing long hair Charlie Daniels. We didn't think he was such a jerk, then. arf
What ever did happen to Considine, anyway? sure did bring alot of great stuff to us all.
Lion's Share was a cool little club..remember seeing Mose Allison, The Sons, Norton Buffalo and some others there in the early days. Best story I can remember is one night The Sons were smoking up on the hill behind the club and the cops came up to bust 'em. Bill Champlin told the cops that they could arrest him, but that they (the cops) just HAD to smoke that pot---it was too good to waste! Don't know if the story was true, but it was told to me by Mark Isham one night at Marin Recorders in San Rafael...gave us all a howl
Dave - River City was the name of the place in Fairfax I was trying to think of. I saw several shows (snuck in, underage) but I particularly remember a youngish Taj Majal jamming with a large band...
Yo Storocco- Nope. The tattoo place was not Lion's Share. It was further down the Miracle Mile, towards the hub. Right next to, on the uphill side, of Redhill Automotive. (see prior post, by me, dated March 10)
Note to Paul: I've been reading your posts since you began here, and I'm duly impressed with your wit and savy. Haven't seen ya'll since Meadowsweet Rich's Xmas/ New Year bash in '05, ( the nite of the San Anselmo-Ross Valley flood!) I think it's "high time" we got together for a sesh.---Rob
I was at Bedrock Records yesterday , and right next door ( if I remember correctly ) was the old Lion's Share location , now it is Paradise Drive Tatoo Parlor.
Lion's Share was on the north side of Redhill Ave. (Miracle Mile), inbetween what is now Redhill Auto and what was Hatt's Custom Choppers. It's a "modern forties retail" looking, one story. I believe it's got a weather-beaten coat of green paint on it now. Lots of oleander growing in front. Just a block toward San Rafael, from United Mkt. I've been curious and peeked in the windows, and it looks like it's now some sort of manufacturing facility or a machine shop of some kind. Lots of big, floor-standing tools that I don't recognize. Before it was Lion's Share, I believe it was a hardware store. "Highland Hardware", I've heard. That little district was referred to as Highland from the 1910's thru the 40's. The Mission-style buildings on the center divide were NWP train station buildings. The north side of the street was for normal traffic, and the south side (east bound) was the NWP right-of-way. If you look closely, there's still some of the old green and white 4x4 fence posts to keep people and animals away from the third rail (600 volts DC).
Lions Share was a club located on Miracle Mile in the same block as United Market, in an easterly direction. The Share put on music & poetry reading, many well known locals played there. Van Morrison was a frequent performer when I was a high schooler, Commander Cody played there too. I remember the hill behind there as being a place people would hang out & socialize with beverages & herb before the shows.
Hey Paul, I remember partying upstairs there with my old buddy Jim Tonge, who just recently passed away, we were up there before Commander Cody played one night when this guy wearing a vest and a driving cap & carrying a small briefcase walked into the room, "Any of you guys with Cody?" he asked, and then proceeded to introduce himself as 'Snortin Norton', turns out the briefcase was for his harmonicas, and he was later to be known as Norton Buffalo, later that night he jammed with Cody & The Airmen & really impressed everybody with his harp skills.
I liked going there all the time , and I especially liked around 1972 when they would have Clover Play . I remember going upstairs to the private party room , that is where some action was when the band was taking a break.
Lion's Share was great. We could get in at 14 and see the Son's, Clover, etc. My friend's mom would drop us off and then pick us up at closing. Was there a large bouncer there with long hair and a beard that wore a sherrif's star? I remember a lot of "Hippies" there and the smell of dope. We probably could buy beer too! Don't forget River City and Sleeping Lady in Fairfax. Saw Eddy Money booed off stage at the SL many years ago.
The hippest joint around. The best place for music, long before Sleeping Lady, Uncle Charlie's, Pepperland, etc. My favorite venue to see the Sons of Champlin, Van Morrison, etc. Marin was abundantly blessed with music luminaries, and it seemed that they all played there. Quick story to get the ball rollin': I was there one night with a pal to see the Sons. Probably around 1972. We had just turned 16,so we had driver's licenses, if I recall. My pal, who shall remain anonymous (Jeff McNear), had wolfed down a large platter of spaghetti and red-sauce moments before leaving my mom's house, and heading up to San Anselmo to see the show. Once inside, we ordered pitcher after pitcher of beer. (they weren't too keen on checking ID's back then). Suitably looped, we made our way to the very front of the house, immediatley in front of the band, and rocked out for a while. I turned and looked at my pal, and he was white as a sheet, and sweating profusely. "Think I gotta sit down for a while", he says, and plops down right there. Scant moments later, he staggers to his feet, and spews around 4 pounds of pasta and tomato sauce on Geoff Palmer's monitor speaker, at the edge of the stage. Cool. Bill Champlin is immediatly enraged, jumps down off stage, grabs drunken pal by the belt loops and collar, kicks open a side door, and tosses him out! He spent the rest of the evening snoozing in the parking lot. Ah, Youth...
