10/8/1978 Pure Prairie League, Gypsy, Missouri, Saltpeter Cave, Murphysboro, IL; 10/8/2011 Poco, Pure Prairie League, Yavapai Performing Arts Center, Prescott, AZ


 

43 years ago and 10 years ago today...

October 8, 1978 & 2011 - Murphysboro, IL & Prescott, AZ

In another TSTT rarity, Pure Prairie League performed concerts on the same date 33 years apart at Salt Peter Cave and Yavapai Performing Arts Center.
Back in 1978, Pure Prairie League introduced their new lead singer and picker Vince Gill to the southern Illinois audience. PPL headlined a bill that included area recording artists Gypsy and Missouri at the Salt Peter Cave, a natural amphitheater carved out of a cliff face. The cave sat dormant for years until being reintroduced as a concert venue earlier this year.
Fast forward 33 years to 2011 and we found PPL opening for Poco at a small college stage in Prescott. Two of the PPL members from 1978 were still with the band. Both bands met their fans at the merch table following their sets. I was fortunate to get an autographed setlist from both PPL and Poco, with the Poco set being handwritten by pedal steel guitar player and band leader Rusty Young.




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