The West Coast Eastside Revue Concert ~ Shrine Auditorium ~ February 21, 1965
On February 21, 1965, the legendary Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles hosted one of the most important concerts in East L.A. music history—The West Coast Eastside Revue. Produced and promoted by Eddie Davis, owner of Rampart Records, the Sunday concert ran from 4 PM to 8 PM and was emceed by Dave Hull of KRLA radio.
The Shrine Auditorium, located at 866 West Jefferson Boulevard just south of Downtown Los Angeles, seated more than 6,300 fans. Its massive stage and curtain system allowed vocal acts to perform up front while backing bands played behind the scenes, creating a seamless and exciting concert flow.
The lineup was extraordinary, featuring nearly every major Eastside Sound artist of the era: Cannibal and the Headhunters, The Premiers, The Blendells, The Blue Satins, Thee Midniters, Mark & the Escorts, Ronnie & the Casuals, The Jaguars with the Salas Brothers, The Romancers, Lil Ray, The Sisters, The Atlantics, The Heartbreakers, and many more—all on one historic bill.
At just 15 years old, I attended the concert with friends from the neighborhood. Admission was $1.75, and we walked to the Shrine because streetcar fare was too expensive. Like many teens in attendance, we already knew the songs from 45-RPM records purchased at local shops such as Flash Records, Dolphins of Hollywood, Whitefront, Music City, and The Record Rack.
The concert opened with Cannibal & the Headhunters, backed by The Premiers, igniting the crowd with their Rampart Records hit “Land of 1000 Dances.” The Premiers followed with “Farmer John,” fresh from their appearance on American Bandstand. One legendary performance followed another, with standout sets by The Blendells (“La La La La La”), Ronnie & the Casuals (“I Wanna Do the Jerk”), The Jaguars (“Where Lovers Go”), The Heartbreakers (“Cradle Rock”), The Ambertones (“I Need Someone”), and many more.
Despite a late-evening warning issued to Eddie Davis by the LAPD regarding city curfew rules for teenage gatherings, the concert concluded without incident. That night remains unforgettable—a defining moment of the 1965 Eastside Sound movement.
Later that year, Rampart Records released the LP “The West Coast Eastside Revue,” pressed on distinctive clear gold vinyl. Though not a live recording, it featured studio versions of songs performed at the concert and included an iconic poster that perfectly captured the spirit of the East L.A. music scene. A second volume followed in 1969. Both albums are now highly collectible and historically significant.
It was truly a concert to remember—and I was there.
—Steven Chavez
Shrine Auditorium Concert ~ February 21, 1965
