Mark Farner is one of the most talented front men to ever walk onto a stage. He wrote 90% of the songs, played bass in his early years, lead guitar of course for GFR, keyboards on several GFR songs, harmonica and drums as well as providing lead vocals at such a high level. Unbelievable talent!
This band was so good they sold out Shea Stadium faster than the Beatles and Led Zeppelins tour manager kicked them off as Zeppelins opening act after seeing how awesome they were
That's why I say and many others say the Beatles my you know what are the greatest rock band come on really THE BEATLES ARE ARE POP BAND NOT ROCK AND ROLL THE TRUTH
One of top 10 live performances by any band. Thank you! Can you believe these guys were 18 and 19 years old? Crazy! We grew up fast back then we boomers.
Grand Funk Railroad is a great American rock band who achieved their peak in popularity during the 1970's. "I'm Your Captain (Closer to Home)" is one of my favorites. But they had a lot of great hits such as "We're An American Band", "The Loco-Motion", "Walk Like A Man", "Shinin' On", "Some Kind Of Wonderful", "Bad Time" etc.
Oh boy, what a fantastic choice - Grand Funk is one of the great American bands for sure, and they absolutely ROCK this performance. Can't wait to see how much you enjoy it, I'm sure it will be another great reaction like always. Peace and love from Canada!
Lead singer, Mark Farner would often remove his shirt during live performances and then women in the audience would take theirs off too so yes, times were different then. Women were burning bras and experimenting with sexual freedom. People weren't so easily offended. Woodstock in Aug. 1969, lasted for 3 days and had over 400,000 people show up and there was zero episodes of violence. You couldn't do that today with the way people are now. It's really sad and makes me miss this era!
When the internet first came out ,the second band I looked up was GFR !!! E Pluribus Funk album is great!!! I really got into this band and Black Sabbath because you can hear the BASS !!! You two rock !!!!
Great conversation about being more free and a bit wild and this is such a sensual performance that it awakens and stirs our animal side. Wow....that raw energy. The drummer just bangs away and keeps time and never lets up.....and they all just lead us along into that aroused wild side. GRAND FUNK.....that's what they do. Funk....and I must say....some naughty funk. LOL
Excellent reaction one of the best bands who isn't in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame react to a great song we're an American band by Grand Funk Railroad and also I'm your captain
Back in the day I saw them twice and they really,really rocked the joint>They were a great rock band that made you feel their power when you seen them live. Still rocks like crazy after all these years...Love it !!!
Absolutely great music ! I agree with your thoughts on freedom of expression. Simply the optics of watching these men act free from judgement makes this experience much more exciting
The history of this song is interesting. It's based on a prison work song from Mississippi collected by Alan Lomax in the 1940's, and adapted by the English band The Animals. Grand Funk built on that for this performance. You can very much hear the prison chant in the stop time verses: the pickaxes swinging in time to bust up the rocks. And of course in the subject: Inside (prison) Looking Out.
I was 18 in Feb. 1973 , the year I graduated high school. GFR was so big out BOE chartered 2 Grayhound busses to take 80 students and 20 teachers to see them in Charleston, West Virginia. Plus another 100 in cars. WOW ! GREAT PERFORMANCE! Some more songs= SINS A GOOD MANS BROTHER, their song PARANOID, Loneliness, People, Lets stop the WAR "... Closer to home, Foot stompin music",, Black LICORICE, try to watch the live stuff, one more= Heart Breaker. Mark wrote it when he was 16.. God Bless.
Now….you are in my era of musical beginnings. I was a teenage during the Grand Funk days, in fact I played in a band and we did many of the GFR songs. This brings back so many memories, thank you.❤️ Also……Grand Funk played an outdoor concert 25 mikes outside of Atlanta, Georgia, USA and they could be heard in the city. At that point in time….it was the loudest outdoor concert ever recorded. ❤️😎🎸🇨🇦
My older brother took me to see them at Cobo Hall in Detroit (Michigan) in the spring of 1971.. Just before I left for Vietnam.. great concert and experience
Man, if I could "like" this tune 500 times, I surely would. This was only an audition for some record companies...can you imagine how grand Grand Funk was in concert? I appreciate your reaction/review, and surely hope you discover more of their music. Thank you very much.
Mrs Merchant Of Alba, Back in my day when we listened to this song in high school, you would've had no trouble loostening your top button and perhaps other buttons as well! however, there is no time like the present! perhaps by the end of the song? You seem like you are rocking to me!!!
Shortly after this they added a keyboard to the group. Try a live from 72 like I'm Your Captain. Mark (lead singer) still performs today with his new group American Band.
Mark Farner the guitar player songwriter was only 19 when they recorded this. Grand Funk sold out Shea Stadium faster than anyone. Even Beating the Beatles box office record. I remember this songs bass destroying my very large (at the time) 8-in woofer. They have a very long methodical song that's worth a listen it's called I'm Your Captain. 🤠🏞️🐂
Their live performances were epic My first experience 1970 Crosley Field Cincinnati Ohio 17 years old trippin on LSD Wow I'm still here enjoying good music Love your channel
They were TOO GOOD to open up before Led Zeppelin!!!! They were let go by Zeppelin’s manager because they kicked ass so much that Zeppelin had to try to match their energy level. Early 70’s Grand Funk energy was unmatchable.😊 3 guys.
GFR was HUGE BIG back in the late 60's and early 70's for sure! At one point, they were outselling even the great Led Zeppelin in both record sales and concert sales. Rock on! 🔥🔥🔥
It's not too late to get a little crazy. Y'all should go out and raise a little hell every now and then. It's good for your soul. If you do it semi responsibly, you shouldn't get into too much trouble 😆 The one thing that always amazes me about this performance is how young these three musicians were when it was recorded. That's some seriously amazing talent at that age. One of my favorite bands.
The greatest and loudest American band at the time and for a long time. Great instrumentalists too. The bassist Mel Schatcher was named God of Thunder and one of the best bass players at the time.
It WAS great back then. I was there but most of us were the same so it didn't seem crazy. We were wild and free. So much fun. People weren't offended by everything. The lead singer was 19 then.
If you haven’t heard “Closer To Home” 1971 live at Shea Stadium or “Heartbreaker” and “We’re An American Band” 1974 live in New York then you will want to hear them!
NOW THATS WHAT IM TALKIN BOUT..!!! THE SECOND ALBUM I EVER BOUGHT, RIGHT AFTER, COSMOS FACTORY BY CREDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL AT THE TIME, GF WAS THE LOUDEST BAND ON TOUR.. HAVE YOU NOTICE THAT THE BEST BANDS ARE THE SIMPLE SET UP, GUITAR, BASS N DRUMS, WITH OR WITHOUT A LEAD SINGER… LOVED UR REACTIONS…. A FAVOURITE OF MINE, HAD GOOSEBUMPS ALL OVER… ROCK ON 👊🖖
We didn’t have internet or cell phones…..the technology has changed all of us. I saw them first time in ‘73…..however, thanks to the internet we can experience this again! ✌🏻🇺🇸
loosen up, baby. the 70s were all about 'Live & Let Live." livin' free. l-i-v-i-n! doing your own thing, hanging loose & feeling groovy. far out, man! those days were outta sight!
You're right about the marijuana & jail lyrics. The singer, Mark, mentions being behind walls & bars (jail) and they won't keep reefer away from me. Also mentions making up nickel bags all day long (plastic baggies of marijuana to sell). I'm assuming that's why he was in jail..... caught selling it. Not saying he actually was in jail but good lyrics for a song. Everyone smoked weed in the around this time and some still do. It's legal now in many U.S. states. All of them are great musicians. And they were around 19-20 during this performance.
And these guys showed the skilled musicians some things you could do in the studio do not work live. Grand Funk Railroad was the masters and a lot of bands followed there example.
Conformity was seen as surrender. Young people wanted to be free to do their own thing. And so long as their thing didn’t’t hurt anyone else, it was cool. We are getting back to the Conformist 1950’s mentality, so expect another Generation to rebel against it soon. The Wheel is turning and it can’t slow down. Great band, performance, and reaction. Loosen up and enjoy. ✌️❤️🎶
GFR was the real deal. They sold millions of millions of records and sold out concerts from the late 1960’s- though the later 1970’s This show they were in there late teens or very early 20!’s
Grand Funk sold-out MSG in 2 hrs. ! added a second how and it sold-out in 4 hrs. ! Grand Funk sold-out MSG twice in less than 6 hrs. ! As you stated, With-out the internet, call ordering or ticket outlets like Strawberries. You had to go to the box office only !
What people miss on when talking about those days is there was a major confrontation going on. The established society was the opposite of wild and carefree. Not all young people were into the music scene and Woodstock. The long hair was constantly being criticized. In the words of Bob Seger, "Is that a woman or a man?" It was a rebellion.
You should listen to Billy Joel "The Stranger" She my have a little Stranger in herself. Watch and you we see what i mean. Billy is one of the better ones. I got to see him live A few times.
That's what a rock band looks and sounds like!
Mark Farner is one of the most talented front men to ever walk onto a stage. He wrote 90% of the songs, played bass in his early years, lead guitar of course for GFR, keyboards on several GFR songs, harmonica and drums as well as providing lead vocals at such a high level. Unbelievable talent!
This band was so good they sold out Shea Stadium faster than the Beatles and Led Zeppelins tour manager kicked them off as Zeppelins opening act after seeing how awesome they were
Both true statements!
That's why I say and many others say the Beatles my you know what are the greatest rock band come on really THE BEATLES ARE ARE POP BAND NOT ROCK AND ROLL THE TRUTH
Timeless hit.
It doesn't sound out-dated 50+ years later.
One of top 10 live performances by any band. Thank you! Can you believe these guys were 18 and 19 years old? Crazy! We grew up fast back then we boomers.
We were all happy and so free. Wish you to find that. Music is the answer ❤
Grand Funk Railroad is a great American rock band who achieved their peak in popularity during the 1970's. "I'm Your Captain (Closer to Home)" is one of my favorites. But they had a lot of great hits such as "We're An American Band", "The Loco-Motion", "Walk Like A Man", "Shinin' On", "Some Kind Of Wonderful", "Bad Time" etc.
Oh boy, what a fantastic choice - Grand Funk is one of the great American bands for sure, and they absolutely ROCK this performance. Can't wait to see how much you enjoy it, I'm sure it will be another great reaction like always. Peace and love from Canada!
11.30.23. They’re from Flint Michigan™️, and were a huge act in the late 60s - early 70s✊🏽
Great reaction I grew up listening too this band peace
America's most overlooked and underappreciated band. They have one of the most iconic songs ever in American Band!
Rock&Roll will take you to different places!! Rock On!!!!!!!!!!
I'm in my mid 60's and that was my Era and things were light and fun...
The 60s and 70s was the best times of my life.❤
Mark, Don, and Mel... Awesome 60s ROCK.
Grandfunk definitely owned the midwest back in the 70's.
I started high school in 71 your right even though I’m bias but the 70s were the best time for music but I still love the 60s-80s -90s cheers🥂
These guys were SO good!
Thats how you earn your pay check Kick ass rock like it was meant to be One of my favorite live jams Peace to you and yours
Lead singer, Mark Farner would often remove his shirt during live performances and then women in the audience would take theirs off too so yes, times were different then. Women were burning bras and experimenting with sexual freedom. People weren't so easily offended. Woodstock in Aug. 1969, lasted for 3 days and had over 400,000 people show up and there was zero episodes of violence. You couldn't do that today with the way people are now. It's really sad and makes me miss this era!
What talent! WOW ! Where is this today!
When the internet first came out ,the second band I looked up was GFR !!! E Pluribus Funk album is great!!! I really got into this band and Black Sabbath because you can hear the BASS !!! You two rock !!!!
This is the best song about weed ever made! “Keep smokin that stuff”! We all did back in the day!
Great conversation about being more free and a bit wild and this is such a sensual performance that it awakens and stirs our animal side. Wow....that raw energy. The drummer just bangs away and keeps time and never lets up.....and they all just lead us along into that aroused wild side. GRAND FUNK.....that's what they do. Funk....and I must say....some naughty funk. LOL
Excellent reaction one of the best bands who isn't in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame react to a great song we're an American band by Grand Funk Railroad and also I'm your captain
…..I want to hear your craziness !!! Lol G.F.R. was a great live act ! Left everything on stage 🔥🎸❤️
One of the most underrated bands ever
I believe a nickle bag these days is less than a bong hit in volume lol. Great reaction guys.
Back in the day I saw them twice and they really,really rocked the joint>They were a great rock band that made you feel their power when you seen them live. Still rocks like crazy after all these years...Love it !!!
7:40 that is one of the most interesting observations I've yet heard in response to this song.
Best time to live. These boys can kick butt. Did notice a smile on both your faces. Enjoy more of there songs that others put in the comments.
Absolutely great music ! I agree with your thoughts on freedom of expression. Simply the optics of watching these men act free from judgement makes this experience much more exciting
Grand Funk were a GREAT band back in the 70s!! I had many of their albums ❤
It’s a whole new world, you can’t be reserved when you Rock and Roll 🤘🤘
Just 💯❤️🤘. Greetings from 🇮🇹🇧🇪
The history of this song is interesting. It's based on a prison work song from Mississippi collected by Alan Lomax in the 1940's, and adapted by the English band The Animals. Grand Funk built on that for this performance. You can very much hear the prison chant in the stop time verses: the pickaxes swinging in time to bust up the rocks. And of course in the subject: Inside (prison) Looking Out.
Y’all nailed it, this song is about a trip, down roads with many roundabouts
Yes we were very free spirited bordering crazy but it was so much fun in the 70s Love watching your reactions
Love the reaction...Saw them 3 times in 1970...71.. Their 1st 4 albums were all killer.
I saw them at the warehouse in New Orleans around 1970ish. They put on a great show. My wife’s favorite band.
My favorite band when I was in grade school.
They were 19 and 20 at this performance
good ole rock. Peace and Love from Canada ❤
I was 18 in Feb. 1973 , the year I graduated high school. GFR was so big out BOE chartered 2 Grayhound busses to take 80 students and 20 teachers to see them in Charleston, West Virginia. Plus another 100 in cars. WOW ! GREAT PERFORMANCE! Some more songs= SINS A GOOD MANS BROTHER, their song PARANOID, Loneliness, People, Lets stop the WAR "... Closer to home, Foot stompin music",, Black LICORICE, try to watch the live stuff, one more= Heart Breaker. Mark wrote it when he was 16.. God Bless.
I saw them live in Miami around 1969 or 70. Great live act.
I laugh at watching you guys react to this great music when I was just a kid!
Now….you are in my era of musical beginnings. I was a teenage during the Grand Funk days, in fact I played in a band and we did many of the GFR songs. This brings back so many memories, thank you.❤️
Also……Grand Funk played an outdoor concert 25 mikes outside of Atlanta, Georgia, USA and they could be heard in the city. At that point in time….it was the loudest outdoor concert ever recorded. ❤️😎🎸🇨🇦
My older brother took me to see them at Cobo Hall in Detroit (Michigan) in the spring of 1971.. Just before I left for Vietnam.. great concert and experience
This is my favorite song by grand funk ❤❤❤❤❤
The band that made me grow my hair out at 17, after I saw them live! MONSTERS! 😎🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Same. And it's still long.
One of my all time fav songs! Simple and firmly planted in it's blues roots.
Man, if I could "like" this tune 500 times, I surely would. This was only an audition for some record companies...can you imagine how grand Grand Funk was in concert? I appreciate your reaction/review, and surely hope you discover more of their music. Thank you very much.
I was a kid in the 60s and a teen in the 70s...what a great time to be alive! Id go back!
Mrs Merchant Of Alba, Back in my day when we listened to this song in high school, you would've had no trouble loostening your top button and perhaps other buttons as well! however, there is no time like the present! perhaps by the end of the song? You seem like you are rocking to me!!!
Shortly after this they added a keyboard to the group. Try a live from 72 like I'm Your Captain. Mark (lead singer) still performs today with his new group American Band.
OK, you twoareadorable. 😊❤,
Mark Farner the guitar player songwriter was only 19 when they recorded this.
Grand Funk sold out Shea Stadium faster than anyone. Even Beating the Beatles box office record.
I remember this songs bass destroying my very large (at the time) 8-in woofer.
They have a very long methodical song that's worth a listen it's called I'm Your Captain.
🤠🏞️🐂
Their live performances were epic
My first experience 1970 Crosley Field Cincinnati Ohio
17 years old trippin on LSD
Wow I'm still here enjoying good music
Love your channel
They were TOO GOOD to open up before Led Zeppelin!!!!
They were let go by Zeppelin’s manager because they kicked ass so much that Zeppelin had to try to match their energy level.
Early 70’s Grand Funk energy was unmatchable.😊
3 guys.
The words you are looking for is FREE SPIRIT. That's what we called it in those days
GFR was HUGE BIG back in the late 60's and early 70's for sure! At one point, they were outselling even the great Led Zeppelin in both record sales and concert sales. Rock on! 🔥🔥🔥
Another great Michigan band
Every time I see this, I think that the drummer looks like Joe Flaherty from SCTV.
It's not too late to get a little crazy. Y'all should go out and raise a little hell every now and then. It's good for your soul. If you do it semi responsibly, you shouldn't get into too much trouble 😆
The one thing that always amazes me about this performance is how young these three musicians were when it was recorded. That's some seriously amazing talent at that age.
One of my favorite bands.
Flint Michigan R&R !!!!
The greatest and loudest American band at the time and for a long time. Great instrumentalists too. The bassist Mel Schatcher was named God of Thunder and one of the best bass players at the time.
I played their songs on the radio in detroit. They sold millions of records. And their concerts were sold out. They are a power michigan band.
Oh boy they were so good back in the day!
50 years ago all the musical genres were rollin' and tumblin' all night long..
It WAS great back then. I was there but most of us were the same so it didn't seem crazy. We were wild and free. So much fun. People weren't offended by everything. The lead singer was 19 then.
Shea Stadium show was the first concert in my life!! I was 12 years old🔥🤘✌
If you haven’t heard “Closer To Home” 1971 live at Shea Stadium or “Heartbreaker” and “We’re An American Band” 1974 live in New York then you will want to hear them!
First concert 1975 Greensboro, NC😎
Loved this!
NOW THATS WHAT IM TALKIN BOUT..!!!
THE SECOND ALBUM I EVER BOUGHT, RIGHT AFTER, COSMOS FACTORY BY CREDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL
AT THE TIME, GF WAS THE LOUDEST BAND ON TOUR..
HAVE YOU NOTICE THAT THE BEST BANDS ARE THE SIMPLE SET UP,
GUITAR, BASS N DRUMS, WITH OR WITHOUT A LEAD SINGER…
LOVED UR REACTIONS…. A FAVOURITE OF MINE, HAD GOOSEBUMPS ALL OVER… ROCK ON 👊🖖
We didn’t have internet or cell phones…..the technology has changed all of us. I saw them first time in ‘73…..however, thanks to the internet we can experience this again! ✌🏻🇺🇸
Mark Farner - epic - Sexy musician - beyond - amazing band - these three musicians not given enough credit in the music world !!!
If you liked this one,try “ Heartbreaker” from the same concert. Their big ticket hit was “ We’re An American Band”…. Try it.
They started in the ballrooms. And ended up in large stadiums and concert halls. You could see they for $5 with a second band. Buy their live cds.
loosen up, baby. the 70s were all about 'Live & Let Live." livin' free. l-i-v-i-n! doing your own thing, hanging loose & feeling groovy. far out, man! those days were outta sight!
You're right about the marijuana & jail lyrics. The singer, Mark, mentions being behind walls & bars (jail) and they won't keep reefer away from me. Also mentions making up nickel bags all day long (plastic baggies of marijuana to sell). I'm assuming that's why he was in jail..... caught selling it. Not saying he actually was in jail but good lyrics for a song. Everyone smoked weed in the around this time and some still do. It's legal now in many U.S. states. All of them are great musicians. And they were around 19-20 during this performance.
Im glad you get to experience the power of grand funk. This to me is better than free bird live😮
Ive actually been looking forward to this one. You never disappoint.
the lead singer is still singing today.💚🎸
These boys are still touring to this day.
CLASSIC performance!! Led Zep has these guys open for them and they kicked them off tour for being too good of opening act to follow.
"Let's stop the war" and "Foot stompin music" are good one's too.
That's a lot of decibels from just three guys.
There are different personalities in every era.
These guys aren't very skilled musicians but it's still fantastic! Love em'
And these guys showed the skilled musicians some things you could do in the studio do not work live. Grand Funk Railroad was the masters and a lot of bands followed there example.
It’s never too late to get your freak on!
I waited in line overnight for a ticket and field pass for Pink Floyd.
Conformity was seen as surrender. Young people wanted to be free to do their own thing. And so long as their thing didn’t’t hurt anyone else, it was cool. We are getting back to the Conformist 1950’s mentality, so expect another Generation to rebel against it soon. The Wheel is turning and it can’t slow down. Great band, performance, and reaction. Loosen up and enjoy. ✌️❤️🎶
GFR was the real deal. They sold millions of millions of records and sold out concerts from the late 1960’s- though the later 1970’s This show they were in there late teens or very early 20!’s
Them being them probably help kept them from having to go to veitnum it was a different time for sure!!
y'all evaluated the song correctly !
Grand Funk sold-out MSG in 2 hrs. ! added a second how and it sold-out in 4 hrs. !
Grand Funk sold-out MSG twice in less than 6 hrs. !
As you stated, With-out the internet, call ordering or ticket outlets like Strawberries.
You had to go to the box office only !
Ladies and Gentlemen, MUSIC !
What people miss on when talking about those days is there was a major confrontation going on. The established society was the opposite of wild and carefree. Not all young people were into the music scene and Woodstock. The long hair was constantly being criticized. In the words of Bob Seger, "Is that a woman or a man?" It was a rebellion.
It's a cover of an old song in Grand Funk fashion.
You should listen to Billy Joel "The Stranger" She my have a little Stranger in herself. Watch and you we see what i mean. Billy is one of the better ones. I got to see him live A few times.