It seems Mimi Fariņa joined this rock band sometime in the summer of 1966. Their earliest known gig was in August of that year, and by February 1967, the band apparently had another female singer, as you can see from the blue and orange poster below. But Mimi probably left the band a little earlier than that, since she accompanied Joan on her two-month tour of Japan in January. The Only Alternative disbanded in 1969.
The only other information I have on this band, besides the handful of concert dates listed here, is the names of two other members: Tor Olson and Phil Hirsch. If you know anything more about The Only Alternative and his Other Possibilities, write to me at doug@richardandmimi.com. Thanks!
August 17, 1966, at The Fillmore. Psychedelic Fashion Show, with Jefferson Airplaine and Quicksilver Messenger Service. Click to enlarge
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Sep 30-Oct 2, 1966, at San Francisco State College The Acid Test: "Whatever It Is" With Grateful Dead, The Committee, and Congress of Wonders.
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October 8, 1966, at U.C. Berkeley. With Quicksilver Messenger Service and Circus Maximus ("with Nepenthe") Click to enlarge |
October 18 thru 23, 1966, at The Matrix. Click to enlarge
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December 17, 1966, at California Hall. With Country Joe and the Fish. Artist: Tom Weller Click to enlarge
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February 6-12, 1967, at The Matrix. Opening for Sopwith Camel. Artist: Victor Moscoso.
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February 17-19, 1967, at The Matrix. Artist: Victor Moscoso (from a photo by Fred Roth) Click to enlarge
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June 3-4, 1967, at The Ark, in Sausalito, CA. With Andrew Staples. Click to enlarge
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October 7, 1967, at The Ark, Sausalito, CA With Moby Grape and Baltimore Steam Packet.
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unknown date, 1967, at The Ark, Sausalito, CA
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| Date: | Appearing with: | Venue: |
| 66 Aug 17 | Mimi, Jefferson Airplane, Quicksilver Messenger Service | Fillmore Auditorium |
| 66 Sep 30-Oct 2 | Grateful Dead, The Committee, Congress of Wonders | San Francisco State College |
| 66 Oct 8 | Mimi, Quicksilver Messenger Service and Circus Maximus | U.C. Berkeley |
| 66 Oct 10-15 | Mimi, Tom Rice, Denise Le Brun | Hungry I |
| 66 Oct 18-23 | (headlining) | The Matrix |
| 66 Oct 24-27 | Jefferson Airplane | The Matrix |
| 66 Dec 17 | Country Joe and the Fish | California Hall |
| 67 Feb 6-12 | Sopwith Camel (billed but apparently never showed up) | The Matrix |
| 67 Feb 17-18 | Fred Roth | The Matrix |
| 67 Feb 19 | Big Brother & the Holding Company and Fred Roth | The Matrix |
| 67 Mar 3-5 | (headlining) | The Matrix |
| 67 Apr 4-8 | Steve Miller Blues Band, Orkustra | The Rock Garden |
| 67 Jun 3-4 | Andrew Staples | The Ark (in Sausalito) |
| 67 Oct 7 | Baltimore Steam Packet, Moby Grape | The Ark |
| [unknown date] | (headlining) | The Ark |
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