For Joplin’s show, Harvard Stadium had been transformed into a concert arena with the addition of rows upon rows of seats onto the field. Although only 10,00 were expected, an estimated 40,000 spectators were crammed inside. After it was discovered that some sound equipment had been stolen, the show was delayed. According to several accounts, the crowd was restless, near rioting.“Oddly, while we were sitting there, and the crowd was getting into something, it became very smoky and sweet there, let’s put it that way, we could see, straight ahead, the open-scaffolding stage,” said Kevin McElroy, who was seated near the front with his boyfriend, Peter Warrack. “Janis was underneath. And she had a bottle of Southern Comfort, and she was just in a world of her own there. She just was doing what she wanted to do in the moment. After another hour-and-a-half or so—it was really quite a delay—she literally burst onto the stage. It was just electric.”
SETLIST:
1) Tell Mama (Etta James cover)
2) Half Moon
3) Mercedes Benz
4) My Baby(Garnet Mimms cover)
5) Try (Just a Little Bit Harder) (Lorraine Ellison cover)
6) Maybe (The Chantels cover)
7) Summertime (George Gershwin cover)
8) Full Tilt
