Which band IS really America's Greatest (rock & roll band)?

Buffalo Springfield were a major influence on my early musical career, but they were legendary for their inconsistent live shows...fist fights...out of tune playing and singing...but obviously monster talent. I tried to sing like Stills which for me was a really bad idea as it likely sounded like a 17 year old surfer kid who had just swallowed a frog.

Buffalo Springfield and Moby Grape remind me of each other---almost too much talent for one group, both with three guitarists and singers, and multiple songwriters. Springfield’s three album are all must-owns imo, and while the Grape’s are more variable, there are some great ones. Their debut is one of the best ever, sounding just as fresh and exciting as it did at the time of it’s release. A lot of the music from their time now sounds dated, but the music of these two groups is timeless. Two of America’s greatest bands, though I’m not sure I’d call either Rock ’n’ Roll. Maybe the Grape, Springfield definitely not.

I saw Moby Grape when I was 16 in 1967. A surfer friend I was visiting in Santa Barbara got us tickets to see Tim Buckley since he knew I was a huge fan, and the show turned out to be Buckley opening, with The Jimi Hendrix Experience second, and Moby Grape headlining. Suffice to say this was a life altering event as Moby Grape was one of the most powerful live bands I’ve ever seen, and sort of made all the other "folk-rock" white guys seem tired. Buckley was cool also of course, and that Hendrix guy...wonder if he ever made it...

Damn wolf, I’m green with envy. Though going to shows in San Francisco frequently, I somehow managed to never see the Grape live. Same with Springfield. But the one band (heh) I most regret not seeing live are The Hawks, whom you also saw. Punk ;-) .

"though I'm not sure I'd call either Rock & Roll. Maybe the Grape, Springfield definately not".