Psychedelic Jukebox: [1967] Kaleidoscope - Keep Your Mind Open

 

Formed in the hotbed of Los Angeles in 1966, Kaleidoscope emerged not as a conventional rock group but as a boundary-breaking collective of multi-instrumentalists and cultural explorers. Central figures included David Lindley, renowned for his mastery of banjo, fiddle, mandolin, and guitar; Solomon Feldthouse, steeped in Middle Eastern traditions and playing oud, saz, bouzouki, and vina; Chris Darrow, the band’s songwriter and bassist; Chester Crill, often under aliases like Fenrus Epp or Max Buda; and John Vidican on drums. What distinguished Kaleidoscope was not only their refusal to appoint a single leader—they operated on democratic principles—but also their embrace of world-beat avant la lettre, melding rock, blues, folk, jazz, country, and septentrional musical textures into one constantly evolving sound .

Their debut album Side Trips, recorded on some of the first eight-track machines in the U.S., was released in May 1967. Produced by Barry Friedman (aka Frazier Mohawk), it featured an astonishing array of instruments and sonic textures, from ancient lute-like saz drones to banjo slaps and fuzzed-out guitar experimentation. Among the tracks, “Keep Your Mind Open”, penned by Chris Darrow, stands out as a poignant and anti-war message delivered with lyrical elegance and melodic restraint. The song captures the essence of late‑60s counterculture: urging listeners to reject dogma, embrace transience, and find solace in love and mindfulness amid turbulent times.

The band’s early live presence was as theatrical as it was musical. Kaleidoscope appeared at major festivals—Berkeley Folk Festival (July 4, 1967), Newport Folk Festival, the Avalon Ballroom—and enhanced performances with belly and flamenco dancers, forging a unique cross-cultural spectacle. This blending of world styles earned them attention from the likes of Jimmy Page, who later referred to the band as his “favorite band of all time,” citing their mix of psychedelic and Middle Eastern influences, particularly on tracks like “Beacon from Mars”. In fact, Page’s violin-bow-on-guitar technique may have been inspired by Lindley’s earlier experimental use of the bow.

Beyond the stage, Kaleidoscope’s reach extended into the film world. They contributed two songs to the soundtrack of Antonioni’s Zabriskie Point in 1969 and supported Cream on the band’s farewell tour. While Side Trips never achieved commercial mass appeal, their second album, A Beacon from Mars (late 1967), drew praise for its studio spontaneity and deepening fusion tendencies. That album saw Chris Darrow depart shortly after, but he briefly returned to tour when replacements were unavailable.

Kaleidoscope’s legacy is most potent in the trajectory of its members. Chris Darrow went on to join the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, backed Leonard Cohen on seminal 1967 sessions (So Long Marianne, Teachers), led Linda Ronstadt’s band, and produced artists including a young Ben Harper. In his solo work, Darrow channeled psych‑folk, country-rock, and exotic folk traditions, influencing the roots revival of the 21st century. David Lindley, meanwhile, gained fame as a session maestro, collaborating with the likes of Jackson Browne, Warren Zevon, and Ry Cooder, and later forming El Rayo-X.

Though Kaleidoscope disbanded around 1970, their sound presaged the worldbeat movement by decades. Their early adoption of global instruments and fusion aesthetics anticipated trends that wouldn't become mainstream until the 1980s and beyond. As Almost-There magazine notes, “Keep Your Mind Open, a dreamy yet poignant anti‑Vietnam War song,” remains emotionally resonant and stylistically ahead of its time.

Sources:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaleidoscope_(American_band)
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Side_Trips
3. https://www.musicconnection.com/chris-darrow-an-appreciation/
4. https://www.liquisearch.com/kaleidoscope_us_band/history/recording_and_performance_career
5. https://treasuryofclaremontmusic.com/chris-darrow
6. https://www.almost-there.co.uk/kaleidoscope