Opened by Local Group Downchild.

Pat Marciniak of Hundred Flowers reported that the Small Faces “brought with them a musical sound that’s a big overwhelming combination of musical flowers and colors, along with bright globes of sound. Their concert was thoroughly enjoyable, as was proved by the crowded Depot of fans who cheered with screams and whistles of cries for more.” The show started late because Ian McLagon’s piano was missing, so the first set only lasted 45 minutes. HF again:

To prove how popular the group really is in the Twin Cities, all anyone wouldn’t had to do was to see the long lines of people standing out in the pouring rain waiting to get into the second show. Only a few had umbrellas, but those who didn’t, didn’t want to move, afraid they might lose their place to see the show.

Scott Bartell’s review in the Strib revealed that it was Early Days for the Faces, and the first show was two-thirds full. Rod Stewart was such a new “face” that Bartell had to describe his voice and approach, which he compared to Joe Cocker, but “minus the worst spastic seizures.” Each song seemed different, with excellent contributions from Ron Wood, Ron Laine, Ian McLagon, and Kenney Jones. Here’s a story about that concert from Mike Guion:

The Faces were the headliners, and did two shows that night. The second show was to start at 10, but didn’t until after midnight, and despite the late start, the opener did play. By far the most loud show I’ve ever attended, with “Around The Plynth” the highlight, with Woody’s slide shaking the walls. Hard to believe now, but that show did not end until 3 or so. We stood outside in a downpour waiting for the first show to end. Rod had yet to use any hair dye, and the band had to walk from the upstairs dressing room through the crowd to the main floor. Rod’s first solo album was still fresh, and the Faces were touring off their new release called “First Step.” I remember all this so well because I had to be back in downtown at 6 am for my first Army physical. I never got undressed after driving my friends home. Just laid on my bed waiting to take that drive back, wondering if I got drafted where I’d go and what would happen to me. I failed the test. Said I had high blood pressure. I believe the Faces saved my life.

DOWNCHILD Bartell had a lot to say about Downchild, too, calling them “competent within their tradition (that vast commercial tundra bounded by Blood,Sweat and Tears on the jazzy side and Gary Puckett and the Union Gap on the money side) but they don’t add much to it. I could only listen with half an ear after the first few songs, which gave me time to consider the light show. I considered it pretty dull, though perhaps the groups asked them not to get too flashy. I did like some of the photos of girls, however.” Jerome Lawrence Beckley of Downchild proudly reports that the band performed all but one original tune. “It was difficult making a living being a concert band doing original material back then.” (The cover tune was Dylan’s “Just Like a Woman.”)

Jerome says that the image above is

part artistic license by my creative friend, David Wood, who created this poster, and Traficante adding our name under the poster design. Our name was fooled with all the time. My favorite was “The Dawn Childs Orchestra.” The name comes from a song by Sonny Boy Williamson, “Mr. Downchild.”

So to be clear, the name of the band was Downchild.