Also, a couple of balloons had made it to the stage, just in front of me. Chris Wood had a stand with electric cords that held his sax and other instruments, which blocked some of my view. I remember having to look past obstacles to get good photos of the band. It was sad to see, and it did give me a sense that we were not seeing Traffic at their very best. Knowing that he died nine years later as a result of substance abuse, I suspect that he was having drug problems at the time. Chris Wood seemed to be floundering at times during the show in 1974. Jim Capaldi was very much the showman, and was in fine form, singing and on drums. I would put Steve Winwood up with any rock guitarist. Even though he is best known for his organ playing, I was more moved by his electric guitar. Seeing him go from guitar to organ to piano, from one song to the next, was amazing. I was impressed by Steve Winwood's musical agility. (I forget if there was another opening act.) I was glad to see Traffic return as a smaller band, with Jim Capaldi playing drums again. The second time I saw them was in October, 1974. He broke a drumstick, and it landed right in front of me. Roger Hawkins was behind the drums, leaving Jim Capaldi free to be at the front of the stage, singing and playing tambourine. They were now an expanded version of the earlier threesome.
Traffic had just recorded a new album, Shoot Out at the Fantasy Factory, the follow-up to The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys. It was also the first time that I had gone early and waited all day to be at the front of the stage, a practice that continued for almost two years.
This was the first concert that all four of us attended together. John Martyn opened, with Free second on the bill. David: Traffic was one of my favorite bands in the 1970s, and still ranks high with me today.
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