Going to rock concerts. . . what? sorry, I'll speak up. GOING TO ROCK CONCERTS IS A RIGHT OF PASSAGE FOR AMERICAN YOUTHS. WHAT WERE YOUR FAVORITE CONCERTS. . . I SAID YOUR FAVORITE ROCK CONCERTS?
The best concert I went to was David Bowie's greatest hits concert in the 1990s. BUT.... my favorite concert was a band called The Church and their Gold Afternoon Fix tour!
I also liked Depeche Mode -- saw their Violator tour.
The Elves, by the way, (who are on a cruise... clearly we pay them too much), once stalked Phil Collins to his hotel. LOL!
And I suspect they would say their favorite concert was The Cure (or possible Jimmy Buffett), but I don't know that for sure -- Elves are big concert goers.
I think my favorite concert was at a fair in Ohio in the 70s. I was probably 13 and went with my sister to see Tony Orlando and Dawn. We screamed like, well, girls and waited at his bus to get his autograph. I've been to many concerts since, but that was just plain fun.
I loved the U2 concert I saw in 1997-ish, with the Ramones as the opening act. I also really enjoyed Electrafixion (a band formed by Ian McCullough and another former Echo & the Bunnymen member) in a small, smoky, crowded, loud bar in Denver.
Tam, Echo and the Bunnymen, that's a name I haven't heard in some time!
By the way, I saw The Church at the Paramount Theater in Denver, Depeche Mode at Redrocks, and Bowie at McNichols! The Paramount was awesome. . . Redrocks was a close second.
Did you ever go to the Bluebird? An intimate concert experience. Red Rocks is great. I saw Depeche Mode at Fiddler's Green one summer. Not quite as great as Red Rocks, but a nice outdoor venue.
Well as far as pure entertainment Kiss, Blue Oyster Cult and Alice Cooper were all three the best I've been to.
The worst was Ted Nugent. Musically it was good but it was just him on a stool in the middle of the stage surrounded by a wall of speakers. No band, no colored lights, nothin' but Ted. For the kind of money they charge for concerts, I expect more than what I can hear on a recording any time I want.
The first concert I ever went to... Sonny and Cher (!) for the astronomical price of $5 a pop.
Since I already broke the rules here, the best concert "musically" I've been to was a Jazz performance by Maynard Ferguson. He opened for Spyrogyra, whom I loved at the time, and just blew them away.
Nice list Jed! The Elves stalked Phil Collins in Phili (I think they saw him at the Spectrum), and used to work at some theater where a lot of acts came.
Tam, I haven't been to the Bluebird. I did see Howard Jones at Fiddlers though. That was nice, but I really prefer Redrocks -- I love being just above the stage at Redrocks, where you can see the city in the background when it gets dark!
How could I forget Syones at Philly Civic 1965 and Philly Spectrum 1972 and 1974 . . and then there was a hellaciously good Wishbone Ash show at a little theatre in Pennsauken, N.J. The whole thing was set up cabaret style-- unusual but incredibly effective . . and the band, goodness gracious.
USArtguy, I've heard that Alice Cooper shows are really good.
My least favorite concert was New Order. Their opening act, the Sugar Cubes (then led by Byork), stunk. People were chanting "death to the Cubes"! And then New Order came on and lip-synched the whole thing. In fact, at one point, one of them was so stoned that he fell down. . . and the music didn't stop. Sad.
I was disappointed in Sting too. He seems to just like jamming, which wasn't what I really wanted to see.
Jethro Tull 1974 Omni, A Passion Play, absolutely perfect as a musician, it was a humbling experience. I saw Tull a half dozen times always good
In Commentarama fashion other notables:
Led Zepplin, 1973 Atlanta Fulton County Stadium, 30feet in front stage right
Pink Floyd, 1974 AFCS Dark Side of the Moon/Wish You Were Here
Return to Forever, 1976 FOX Theater (perfect)
Frank Zappa 1980 FOX Theater featuring, Steve Vai on guitar Terry Bozio on drums
The Allman Brothers, every time/Black Sabbath/Doobie Brothers/ZZ Top/ Deep Purple/Dixie Dregs/Argent/Uriah Heep/Jeff Beck/Alice Cooper/Grand Funk, and many more…
several years ago I heard of some big name performer giving a terrible performance due to a cold and quit after only three songs. The standard ticket rule then was no refunds. Someone at the concert sued to get the promoter to refund everyone's ticket price but I never heard it resolved and I don't remember the specifics. Can concert-goers get their money back if a performer quits or is too sick/drunk/high to perform?
I just haven't been a devotee of rock concert-going. I love classic rock, but just never like the volume at the concerts. {I am a delicate flower} I went to Sonny & Cher in the early '70's and lots of John Denver concerts.
Most of my concert going has been to classical music concerts. I was crazy in love with Eugene Fodor (violinist) when I was a teenager. {Okay, I was a snobby delicate flower}
Bev - I totally understand. I love music from all genres if I think it is good. In the 1980's, I lived outside the Twin Cities and was a huge fan of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, first under the baton of Pinkas Zuckerman (responsible for the fabulous Ordway Theatre in downtown St. Paul) and later Christopher Hogwood. I love listening to the orchestra under Hogwood. Chris was a Brit who was one of the founding practitioners of period instruments in which classical works are played using original orchestra and on instruments tuned and bowed the way they were back in the 17th & 18th centuries. I loved Yo Yo Ma when he would come and play with them as well as Claudio Arraeau.
Best concert for me was Bruce Springsteen (before he became all political). My friends and I sat in the second row and he kept playing until they finally turned the overhead lights on as the hint to get off the stage. The opening act was a little known band at that time called John Cougar Mellencamp and the crowd thought he was terrible (and clearly drunk on stage). He was booed off the stage.
I also had a chance to see Queen in high school but my Dad wouldn't let me go. I still haven't forgiven him for that.
Two stand out in my mind. The Monterey Pop Festival (summer of love, '67 Camaro SS 350, and not a care in the world). See? I told you I was old.
The other was the Eagles Hell Freezes Over concert. It was probably the last time I was still able to separate their politics from their music. They were every bit as good as they were in the 70s, if a bit long in the tooth. They are still my favorite band, but I won't buy anything they make as a group or as individuals today.
1. U2, 1987. The hottest rock band at the time, in their undeniable prime, back when general admission tickets could put you within feet of the stage. The Joshua Tree remains one of my favorite albums of all time. 2. Hall & Oates, 1991. I caught this 80s act at a small club after they lost their popularity, but they played with joy and were amazing. I went back the next night to see them again. 3. 10,000 Maniacs, 1987. This band was just breaking out onto the national alternative scene when I was helping out at a small club, and I got to see the sound checks and show up close. Later they got rather tedious. I suspect it was Natalie Merchant's fault, as all of her records are boring. 4. Cocteau Twins, 1990. I knew nothing about this band and bought tickets to their show from a scalper because I happened to be walking by and was bored. The concert blew me away. 5. The Church, 1991. I saw the Church a few weeks after Hall & Oates, at the same club. Great, great show, which no one but me seemed to enjoy. Hordes of people were wandering out, prompting the lead singer to call out "drive safe" between songs. Nevertheless, I was really into 'Gold Afternoon Fix' and enjoyed the concert despite the unenthusiastic audience.
Holy smokes, did I see Christopher Hogwood? I saw him at the Kennedy Center performing Mozart piano concertos in the mid-90s, when I was on a period performance kick. It was probably one of my favorite classical concerts, right up there with Mahler's 2nd (Slatkin) and 9th (De Waart).
I saw them in the redneck south, where any band called "The Church" that plays songs about science fiction is going to have a limited audience on the best of days...
OK - I am aparently younger than some of y'all! and late again (told ya, busy week last week). First all out concert I went to was freshman year, Feb 1991, and Garth Brooks came to the San Angelo (TX) Colesium. It was GREAT!!!! Got extremely close to the stage. Saw him again in one of his sold out-let's add another shows in Dallas - from 8 million miles away, not nearly as good. In the mid-90's I lived in the Waco area and saw Doug Supernaw in concert several times in clubs/at rodeos - one of the best for those venues, would cover any song he liked, and the more he drank the better he got. Last Thursday I saw MercyMe here in Midland - it was fantastic!!! We have a great Christian music festival (Rock the Desert) that has given some awesome shows, too.
The best concert I went to was David Bowie's greatest hits concert in the 1990s. BUT.... my favorite concert was a band called The Church and their Gold Afternoon Fix tour!
ReplyDeleteI also liked Depeche Mode -- saw their Violator tour.
New Order sucked.
The Elves, by the way, (who are on a cruise... clearly we pay them too much), once stalked Phil Collins to his hotel. LOL!
ReplyDeleteAnd I suspect they would say their favorite concert was The Cure (or possible Jimmy Buffett), but I don't know that for sure -- Elves are big concert goers.
I think my favorite concert was at a fair in Ohio in the 70s. I was probably 13 and went with my sister to see Tony Orlando and Dawn. We screamed like, well, girls and waited at his bus to get his autograph. I've been to many concerts since, but that was just plain fun.
ReplyDeleteSuzie, I remember watching the Tony Orlando and Dawn show on television.
ReplyDeleteI loved the U2 concert I saw in 1997-ish, with the Ramones as the opening act. I also really enjoyed Electrafixion (a band formed by Ian McCullough and another former Echo & the Bunnymen member) in a small, smoky, crowded, loud bar in Denver.
ReplyDeleteTam, Echo and the Bunnymen, that's a name I haven't heard in some time!
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I saw The Church at the Paramount Theater in Denver, Depeche Mode at Redrocks, and Bowie at McNichols! The Paramount was awesome. . . Redrocks was a close second.
april 1971 Grateful Dead at Franklin & Marshall - first Dead show -- Accoustic set with New Riders - say no more
ReplyDeleteJanuary 1972 - Led Zep Philly Spectrum from Row 2 stage Center. Oh my!
Tower Theater, Upper Darby, Pa. c. 1971 David Bowie & the Spiders (Mick Ronson etc.) Unbelievable theater.
1975 - Fleetwood Mac - Tower Theater, Upper Darby - got to meet and chat with a young Stevie.
1974 - Greatful Dead; Philly Civic Center - Wall of Sound - all three shows
2007 Alison Kraus & Robert Plant Knoxville Civic - about 20 feet away. Really sweet
May 1&2, 2009 - historic last shows by the Dead at Philly Spectrum (no wonder I use Tennessee Jed as an online name.)
2009 - last Wednesday of every month, live from the Bijou Theatre in beautiful downtown Knoxville--Tennessee Shines
So many shows, so little space, but these are among my favorites-- oh wait, The Association at Susquehanna University 1967.
Did you ever go to the Bluebird? An intimate concert experience. Red Rocks is great. I saw Depeche Mode at Fiddler's Green one summer. Not quite as great as Red Rocks, but a nice outdoor venue.
ReplyDeleteWell as far as pure entertainment Kiss, Blue Oyster Cult and Alice Cooper were all three the best I've been to.
ReplyDeleteThe worst was Ted Nugent. Musically it was good but it was just him on a stool in the middle of the stage surrounded by a wall of speakers. No band, no colored lights, nothin' but Ted. For the kind of money they charge for concerts, I expect more than what I can hear on a recording any time I want.
The first concert I ever went to... Sonny and Cher (!) for the astronomical price of $5 a pop.
Since I already broke the rules here, the best concert "musically" I've been to was a Jazz performance by Maynard Ferguson. He opened for Spyrogyra, whom I loved at the time, and just blew them away.
Nice list Jed! The Elves stalked Phil Collins in Phili (I think they saw him at the Spectrum), and used to work at some theater where a lot of acts came.
ReplyDeleteTam, I haven't been to the Bluebird. I did see Howard Jones at Fiddlers though. That was nice, but I really prefer Redrocks -- I love being just above the stage at Redrocks, where you can see the city in the background when it gets dark!
How could I forget Syones at Philly Civic 1965 and Philly Spectrum 1972 and 1974 . . and then there was a hellaciously good Wishbone Ash show at a little theatre in Pennsauken, N.J. The whole thing was set up cabaret style-- unusual but incredibly effective . . and the band, goodness gracious.
ReplyDeletemy typo - That is the Stones, not the syones.
ReplyDeleteUSArtguy, I've heard that Alice Cooper shows are really good.
ReplyDeleteMy least favorite concert was New Order. Their opening act, the Sugar Cubes (then led by Byork), stunk. People were chanting "death to the Cubes"! And then New Order came on and lip-synched the whole thing. In fact, at one point, one of them was so stoned that he fell down. . . and the music didn't stop. Sad.
I was disappointed in Sting too. He seems to just like jamming, which wasn't what I really wanted to see.
Wow! That’s tuff but:
ReplyDeleteJethro Tull 1974 Omni, A Passion Play, absolutely perfect as a musician, it was a humbling experience. I saw Tull a half dozen times always good
In Commentarama fashion other notables:
Led Zepplin, 1973 Atlanta Fulton County Stadium, 30feet in front stage right
Pink Floyd, 1974 AFCS Dark Side of the Moon/Wish You Were Here
Return to Forever, 1976 FOX Theater (perfect)
Frank Zappa 1980 FOX Theater featuring, Steve Vai on guitar Terry Bozio on drums
The Allman Brothers, every time/Black Sabbath/Doobie Brothers/ZZ Top/ Deep Purple/Dixie Dregs/Argent/Uriah Heep/Jeff Beck/Alice Cooper/Grand Funk, and many more…
A tangent to the topic...
ReplyDeleteseveral years ago I heard of some big name performer giving a terrible performance due to a cold and quit after only three songs. The standard ticket rule then was no refunds. Someone at the concert sued to get the promoter to refund everyone's ticket price but I never heard it resolved and I don't remember the specifics. Can concert-goers get their money back if a performer quits or is too sick/drunk/high to perform?
I just haven't been a devotee of rock concert-going. I love classic rock, but just never like the volume at the concerts. {I am a delicate flower} I went to Sonny & Cher in the early '70's and lots of John Denver concerts.
ReplyDeleteMost of my concert going has been to classical music concerts. I was crazy in love with Eugene Fodor (violinist) when I was a teenager. {Okay, I was a snobby delicate flower}
Bev - I totally understand. I love music from all genres if I think it is good. In the 1980's, I lived outside the Twin Cities and was a huge fan of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, first under the baton of Pinkas Zuckerman (responsible for the fabulous Ordway Theatre in downtown St. Paul) and later Christopher Hogwood. I love listening to the orchestra under Hogwood. Chris was a Brit who was one of the founding practitioners of period instruments in which classical works are played using original orchestra and on instruments tuned and bowed the way they were back in the 17th & 18th centuries. I loved Yo Yo Ma when he would come and play with them as well as Claudio Arraeau.
ReplyDelete1970, June - LA Forum - Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young. Indescribable...
ReplyDeletei saw the rolling stones about 10 years ago, front row, second section, on the floor. they were geezers but beyond amazing. best concert ever...
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry, WHAT?
ReplyDeleteBest concert for me was Bruce Springsteen (before he became all political). My friends and I sat in the second row and he kept playing until they finally turned the overhead lights on as the hint to get off the stage. The opening act was a little known band at that time called John Cougar Mellencamp and the crowd thought he was terrible (and clearly drunk on stage). He was booed off the stage.
ReplyDeleteI also had a chance to see Queen in high school but my Dad wouldn't let me go. I still haven't forgiven him for that.
Two stand out in my mind. The Monterey Pop Festival (summer of love, '67 Camaro SS 350, and not a care in the world). See? I told you I was old.
ReplyDeleteThe other was the Eagles Hell Freezes Over concert. It was probably the last time I was still able to separate their politics from their music. They were every bit as good as they were in the 70s, if a bit long in the tooth. They are still my favorite band, but I won't buy anything they make as a group or as individuals today.
What an interesting list of concerts. Once again, I think you all demonstrate that the idea that conservatives are anti-culture is simply wrong.
ReplyDeleteMy top five:
ReplyDelete1. U2, 1987. The hottest rock band at the time, in their undeniable prime, back when general admission tickets could put you within feet of the stage. The Joshua Tree remains one of my favorite albums of all time.
2. Hall & Oates, 1991. I caught this 80s act at a small club after they lost their popularity, but they played with joy and were amazing. I went back the next night to see them again.
3. 10,000 Maniacs, 1987. This band was just breaking out onto the national alternative scene when I was helping out at a small club, and I got to see the sound checks and show up close. Later they got rather tedious. I suspect it was Natalie Merchant's fault, as all of her records are boring.
4. Cocteau Twins, 1990. I knew nothing about this band and bought tickets to their show from a scalper because I happened to be walking by and was bored. The concert blew me away.
5. The Church, 1991. I saw the Church a few weeks after Hall & Oates, at the same club. Great, great show, which no one but me seemed to enjoy. Hordes of people were wandering out, prompting the lead singer to call out "drive safe" between songs. Nevertheless, I was really into 'Gold Afternoon Fix' and enjoyed the concert despite the unenthusiastic audience.
Holy smokes, did I see Christopher Hogwood? I saw him at the Kennedy Center performing Mozart piano concertos in the mid-90s, when I was on a period performance kick. It was probably one of my favorite classical concerts, right up there with Mahler's 2nd (Slatkin) and 9th (De Waart).
ReplyDeleteKurosawa, No one was leaving by the time I saw them in Denver!
ReplyDeleteI saw them in the redneck south, where any band called "The Church" that plays songs about science fiction is going to have a limited audience on the best of days...
ReplyDeleteOK - I am aparently younger than some of y'all! and late again (told ya, busy week last week).
ReplyDeleteFirst all out concert I went to was freshman year, Feb 1991, and Garth Brooks came to the San Angelo (TX) Colesium. It was GREAT!!!! Got extremely close to the stage. Saw him again in one of his sold out-let's add another shows in Dallas - from 8 million miles away, not nearly as good.
In the mid-90's I lived in the Waco area and saw Doug Supernaw in concert several times in clubs/at rodeos - one of the best for those venues, would cover any song he liked, and the more he drank the better he got.
Last Thursday I saw MercyMe here in Midland - it was fantastic!!! We have a great Christian music festival (Rock the Desert) that has given some awesome shows, too.
Better late than never! I really like "Reno", but I didn't really follow him much after that.
ReplyDelete