Gig Of The Week: The Yardbirds @ Shrine Expo Hall, June 1, 1968

When The Yardbirds landed at Los Angeles' Shrine Exposition Hall in June 1968, the British quartet was on the verge of breaking up – frontman Keith Relf and drummer Jim McCarty to form progressive band Renaissance, bassist Chris Dreja to pursue photography and guitarist Jimmy Page to assemble a New Yardbirds that quickly became Led Zeppelin. To judge from a quickly withdrawn live album recorded two months earlier, the 'Birds were taking what would become their last rave-ups seriously, performing with fire and commitment. Their most familiar U.S. hits (“Heart Full Of Soul,” “Over Under Sideways Down”) make welcome appearances, but the presence of “Drinking Muddy Water” from their then-current LITTLE GAMES album and an unusual (for them) cover of “Hey Joe” show this ever-forward-looking band still eager to learn new tricks.