The Fugitives

Using its choppy, biting fuzz guitar distortions, the Fugitives’ “Blowin’ My Mind” — a half-acid, half-punk trip shot through with bizarre lyrics (e.g. “psychiatric rigmarole”) — was proof a schizoid music group in stylistic turmoil. Had been they the Naugahyde-frocked, Cuban-heeled “Rocks of Sacramento,” as originally they offered themselves, or nice acoustic Anglophiles, or simply long-haired punk freaks? All identification crises apart, the group’s ever-changing regular membership hardly fostered balance. Small wonder after that which they ranged all around the musical map. Founded in 1964 by Jim Phillips (saxophone), the Fugitives ultimately fell collectively around bassist Al Purdy, songwriter/guitarist Jack port May, second acoustic guitar Paul Houston, and percussionist Tom Fabian. Under promoter Dick Leventon’s administration, they produced a tsunamic splash in the Oct 3, 1964, Sacramento Surfer’s Convention (kept at the item Mart in the California Condition Fairgrounds), after that gigged at some Leventon-organized “Governor’s Hall” dances. Leave Jack Might to regional Sac competitors Group B and enter guitarists Laramy Smith and Tony Powell, recasting the music group (groan!) simply because neo Beatle balladeers. Leave Jim Phillips (“Blowin’ My Brain” vocalist), enter Frank Galindo. The Fugitives today fled to LA to recut “Blowin’ My Brain” (under an alias, the Grimfacqles) and popped through to the teen Television “Hollywood A Go-Go.” Adjustments in the band’s workers once again ensued, but by middle-1966, the dizzying whirlwind acquired spun itself out. Purdy shortly found himself using the Small Concert, while Smith continued to collaborate with Gene Clark. The very first and previously unissued edition of “Blowin’ My Brain” appears over the various-artists compilation Nuggets Through the Golden Condition — The Sound of Youthful Sacramento (Big Defeat).