Butts Band 1974 US and UK Tour

[TheWallsScreamedPoetry]

After an introductory party held at The Roxy on Sunset Strip in March 1974 The Butts Band set off on a short tour of The States to promote the new album and a few dates in England where they headlined a handful of gigs in June 1974 including the famous Greyhound rock-pub in Croydon and opened for The Kinks at the London Palladium earlier that same evening and for Sparks in Hull.
Sadly the nearest the guys got to me was Scarborough.
Whilst there they also appeared on the prestigious Old Grey Whistle Test on the BBC showcasing two songs in a live studio set.

In the US the band played some short residencies at several small clubs in Dallas, Philadelphia and New York but the practicality of a working band with two home bases 6000 miles apart was non existent.
They famously played a residency spot at Max's Kansas City, supporting various acts, reminiscent of the Doors Whisky days.

US Tour dates: March-April 1974

March 13th to 18th Max's Kansas City
March 20th to 23rd The Bijou Philedelphia PA
March 25th to 30th Performance Center Cambridge MA
April 3rd to 7th Quiet Knight Chicago IL
Early April Dallas TX


Poster from Max's Kansas City, New York from March 1974 residency


Robby Krieger, Jess Roden, Phil Chen.

[TheWallsScreamedPoetry]

Poster from NME.

UK Tour dates: June 1974

11th Old Grey Whistle Test BBC Studio

15th Links Pavilion, Cromer
16th #1 The Palladium, London w/The Kinks
16th #2 Greyhound, Croydon
18th Barbarella's, Birmingham
19th The Penthouse, Scarborough
21st University of Hull w/ Sparks
22nd University of Reading

[TheWallsScreamedPoetry]

The American audiences who packed Max's Kansas City for a week to hear the New York debut of The Butts Band seemed to be there mainly to see what the ex-Doors are up to.
On the first night there was even a cry for Light My Fire.
But by the end of each set they had learned that even with Krieger and Densmore in it this isn't the new Doors.
It's the brand new Butts band and they're good.
Most of the crowd hadn't heard of Jess Roden who's now singing and playing funky guitar but after his years of neglect with Alan Bown and Bronco it's nice to see him fronting a strong and successful group.
In fact he dominates the band to a surprising extent.
Even when the songs have been written by Robby Krieger, Jess makes them his own, getting up in front and projecting with as much emotion as he sings his own soulful numbers.
His voice has terrific strengths and feeling now and on songs like 'Sweet Danger' he really moved the packed Max's crowd.
Since recording their debut album The Butts Band have added a second drummer and combined with John Densmore's crisp pounding and Phillip Chen's agile bass it provides a solidly rhythmic base which Jess amplifies through his chopping riffing on his guitar while Krieger takes those high flying breaks and Roy Davies fills out the range with varied keyboard tones.

Martin Kirkup
Sounds March 30th 1974