Moby Grape, Boulder Creek Theatre, October 31, 1977
Artwork and commentary by Jim Phillips

”Moby Grape was one of my favorite bands in the heyday, and Jerry Miller is a friend, but this 1977 poster called the “Witch” was commissioned by Will Simmons of What On Earth, the warm-up band for the event and regular poster art client of mine. There was not much pay involved except maybe a Thai stick or two, which was often enough to get me going in those days. I threw myself into it, as was my usual mode, probably working day and night for three or four days. It was a Halloween show, which is the ultimate inspiring date for a poster artist, and the witch stirring a caldron with an electric guitar was a no-brainer to me. Flaming lettering wasn’t new but I thought it was appropriate, and it allowed that creepy bottom-lighting like was used in the old Dracula movies.

”The most notable thing about the poster is that it was later to become the key to a second poster period for me. Here’s how it happened. The Moby Grape show and the Witch poster came and went, as did my poster involvement, and all was forgotten for years. All except for Paul Grushkin, who called me out of the blue in 1986 and requested this particular poster for his upcoming book, The Art of Rock. The book was published with the Witch poster featured prominently. The AOR book signings came and went, and all was forgotten again. I guess the book needed some time to sink in, because it eventually sparked a poster revival, although sadly, the year following the accidental death of Rick Griffin. In 1992, some collectors represented by Ron Schaeffer conspired with “Big Daddy” Wes Wilson to start up Poster Art Expo at the Hall of Flowers in Golden Gate Park. I heard about it but didn’t think my smallish two-color Santa Cruz posters would rate. However, the next year I somehow got interested in trying a table at the show, something I had never done. At the show, my worst fears were realized, and I sat without customers for hours. That is until one guy came up and bought three posters for six hundred dollars. All of a sudden I was a believer, and there was dinner out that night. Another good thing that happened was Bruce Dauser stopping by my table to chat. He was from Santa Cruz and had seen the Witch in Grushkin’s book. Bruce was a printer and an old Family Dogger. In 1965 he ran a store in Haight-Ashbury with Albert Nieman. In 1994, Albert was in touch with Boots Hughston, who was producing a benefit for Chet Helms at an old seamen’s hall on Harrison St. in San Francisco. Bruce heard the word was out for a poster for the event and brought my name up.

”The funny thing is, there was already a half dozen posters for the show, by the likes of Wes Wilson, Alton Kelly, Ken Kesey and others. But at the last minute Steve Miller came on board to perform, and of course they needed to have a poster with Steve Miller at the top. Somehow, my poster was the only one with pay, which at this point, was necessary for me to take the work. And it also turned out to be the main advertising poster, which was posted across the city. At the end, the final irony was that Steve Miller didn’t play after all, but it was a mighty foot in the door for me, towards another poster run. And this time I had a computer. Eventually I became art director for Family Dog, directing other artists to make Maritime Hall posters while I worked with Arlene Owseichik on a series of Fillmore posters.”

See more artwork by Jim Phillips