THE PSYCHEDELIC SUPERMARKET

I remember I was 13 years old and lived in Salem Mass.  At the time, none of my friends could get permission to go to Boston for the Moodies show, so I decided to go by myself.  My folks let me go for my father took me to the Red Sox games a lot back then so I knew my way around Kenmore square which was near the venue.  I remember taking the subway from Wonderland, getting off at Gov. Center, then taking the trolly to Kenmore Square.
When I was asking for directions to the Psy. Sup. I found that it wasn't far from Kenmore Square.  I believe it was up Mass. Ave. about 200-300 yards on the left.  There was a parking lot right in front of the venue of about 75 spaces if that helps you a bit.  I remember going through the lot which was between two big buildings so that the building that the Supermarket was in was back off the street about 50 yards.  The building was big itself with some stores in it.  But now to the good part.

The venue was down this little alley between the building that was back between the other buildings around it.  So, I guess you could say there were two seperate buildings in back.  Walking down the alley there was this big steel door on the left about 20-30 yards down it.  I peeked my head through the door to find this stairway on the left that went down to the basement, this stairway kind of looked like a fire escape for it was made of steel or iron and it went straight down about 15 feet then turned back around to the bottom, kind of like you see on the outside of a building.
When I got to the bottom there were church pews to the left and the right all in a row of about 12 on each side.  I saw that Graemes' drum set, the one with the old Moody Blues logo on it, I was awed by it!  I got my ticket from sombody there and was told to come back later for it was only 4 o'clock.  I went to get a quick bite to eat and was back in a half hour, when I wealked back down the alley I heard that sound, the boys were havung a sound check.  So, I walked down the stairs.  I slowly walked toward the front of the church pews.  Don't forget, I was olny 13 at the time so I didn't know what to do so I just sat there and had the best moment of my entire life to now!  I watched the Moody Blues play for an hour and a half!

I remember it like it was like yesterday.  John, Justin, and Graeme, were just kind of jamming some tunes with no singing together, Mike was down in the front pews across from me talking to about 3-4 girls, then he went up on stage and joined in with the others in the middle of in tune which was so cool at the time.  I'm not sure what Ray was doing, but I do know that when they started playing some real songs that he joined in too!  I was too shy at the time to get up enough nerve to go speak with them, but just when I was about to go up at the end of their long soundcheck some guy walked in and started yelling at me and the other people about being there and kind of threw us out.  But, I didn't care by then, I was just sorry that I didn't talk to them back then.  But, every time I get a chance to talk to Justin, I remind him about the Supermarket, and that time.  I really don't remember the place that much, but everytime they used to come to town years ago John would mention that they played the Boston Tea Party.  And, I had to correct him about that some time later for they never did play the Tea Party, it was the Supermarket, I would know for I was around at the time and always knew who was playing.  So, to say the least, I saw the real show, plus the one after it!  I hope I have helped you a little bit with this matter.  I'm sorry I got a little carried away with the story, but, I haven't told it in years and believe me I could have told you a lot more about the night at the Supermarket.

Ted