The Vancouver music scene changed for the better when a couple of California hipsters opened a music bar called The Egress in 1973. Located on Beatty Street near the new CBC building, the club was a listening room modelled after the famous Troubador club in Hollywood, with superb acoustics and a nice selection of food and drink. The lovely hat-check girl was none other than
Nicolette Larson, who was biding her time before launching her fabulously successful performing career.

From the moment the place opened, I was determined to play there, and I pestered the proprietors relentlessly until they gave in and allowed me to create handbills for their shows while they decided if I was worthy of a spot on their stage. I bought a Rapidograph illustration pen set and got to work with a series of hand-drawn pieces that went up on telephone poles all over town. Many handbills later, they finally granted me an opening slot for Peter Yarrow, who showed up for the gig with a band consisting of some members of the New York Dolls, decked out in their outrageous platform boots and those blinding satin suits. Peter was terribly nice and we hung out together quite a bit during the week.

Because it was my first "real" gig in a genuine club with a liquor licence, and a full week-long engagement, I was a complete wreck because I could hardly eat or sleep from all the excitement. (Years later I ran into a fan who told me that I had bonked him on the head with my guitar on the way to the stage because I was completely blind without my glasses and refused to wear them while performing.) I'll never forget leaving the club in the wee hours with my cash tucked away in my shoe.
I don't remember how much it was, but it felt like a million bucks.

The first gig went well enough that they gave me another one opening for Phil Ochs. This was toward the end of his career, and he was in an unfortunate state due to his struggle with alcoholism, but he was a dear, sweet man and was polite and friendly with his opening act. I feel honoured to have shared a stage with this legendary performer.

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