Live Music

I love live music.

Not necessarily the live band at the Bourbon House on Saturday night in Burlington, KY covering Deep Purple and Lynyrd Skynyrd, but if you are someone or a group performing some original tunes, chances are I would love to give a listen.

I was discussing concerts that I have been to in the past, with friends of mine the other day and realized I've seen some really great live shows.  I figured I might list some of them here and perhaps you will be inclined to tell me about some of your favorite shows.

My first concert ever was Donnie & Marie On Ice, because of course, when you are a little bit country and a little bit rock and roll, you must ice skate.  My mom took me to that, but she also took me to see Van Halen, the real deal with Diamond Dave, circa Diver Down.

On with the artist/venue list of shows that come to memory as being very good.

• Sugar / New Orleans Music Hall, New Orleans, LA
• Living Colour / The Varsity Theatre, Baton Rouge, LA Halloween Night '93
• Warren Zevon / The Varsity Theatre, Baton Rouge, LA
• Public Enemy & No Doubt / The Varsity Theatre, Baton Rouge, LA
• Dwight Yoakam / The Varsity Theatre, Baton Rouge, LA
• U2 / LSU Assembly Center, Baton Rouge, LA Thanksgiving Night, The Joshua Tree Tour
• Paul Simon / Mulate's Restaurant, Breaux Bridge, LA
• The Cure / McAlister Auditorium, New Orleans, LA
• The Smiths / Saenger Theatre, New Orleans, LA
• Elvis Costello / Tipitina's, New Orleans, LA
• Nine Inch Nails / Anne Rice's Halloween Party '91
• De La Soul & A Tribe Called Quest, Tipitina's, New Orleans, LA
• Bob Dylan, Audubon Zoo, New Orleans, LA
• Radiohead, Metro, Chicago, IL '96
• Pavement, Metro, Chicago, IL
• Cheap Trick, Metro, Chicago, IL
• Allison Krause & Union Station, Chicago Theatre, Chicago, IL
• Sleater-Kinney & White Stripes, Metro, Chicago, IL
• The Roots / House Of Blues, Chicago, IL
• Joe Strummer, Metro, Chicago, IL
• Ani DiFranco, Aragon Ballroom, Chicago, IL
• June Of 44 & Dianogah, Lounge Ax, Chicago, IL
• Superchunk, Howlin' Wolf, New Orleans, LA, Lounge Ax, Chicago, IL & Metro, Chicago, IL
• The Rebirth Brass Band / Numerous Times at The Maple Leaf Bar, New Orleans, LA
• many, many more.  I will continue this list again in the future.

The last arena show I went to was R.E.M. at LSU Assembly Center circa Monster. I never was a fan of going to see live music in a giant place where basketball usually takes place and I've been very lucky to see live music in some really good rooms, such as the Varsity Theatre in Baton Rouge, LA.  They don't book bands like they used to there and it's not very well known, but it's one of the best sounding rooms I been in.

The best part about a lot of those shows...free.  The music industry pay sucked when I worked in it, but I was always on the guest list or I would know someone and talk my way in the door.

There was the time I worked up the nerve to ask this girl out, we went to see Suzanne Vega (she was a big fan) & Kitchens Of Distinction at McAlister Auditorium.  The concert wouldn't go down as one of the best shows I've seen, but I did end up marrying that gal.

Been to any good shows?

Comments

[Brad]

First concert: Billy Joel at Alpine Valley (the kid thing, but not on ice)
Best Concert: Black Crowes at Aragon Ballroom, Chicago ~1993
Worst Concert: Blondie at Naperville Rib-fest ~2003 (yes, Blondie in 2003)
Last Concert: New Pornographers at Carling Academy, London 2007

Concerts I wish I could go back in time to attend: Led Zeppelin anywhere in the US or England circa 1970. Oasis anywhere in England circa 1995.

[Phil]

I'd love to see Elvis Costello. One of my dream concerts.

If Paul McCartney tours the US next year, I'm moving heaven and earth to attend. Another dream concert.

Okay, so a few that I HAVE been to? Going back to the 80's -- The Police, Oingo Boingo, Queen, X, The BusBoys, The Dixie Dregs, Tommy Tutone, The Pretenders, Rank and File, Billy Squier, Yes, and The Blasters.

The 90's? Very sparse. The Chieftains, Roger Whittaker, Lyle Lovett, and Curtis Stigers.

After 2000? Uhhh, hmmm... Oh, I know. Eric Herman. Things sure change once you have kids!

[Keith]

The Roots always put on a good show Kevin - probably the best in that genre. I've seen them a half dozen times probably. De La and Tribe - I'd punch 6 year old in the face to see that show.

Ben Harper and Jack Johnson were a good show - went to see that in Cleveland a couple years back. We always have fun at Buffet shows, but those aren't always of the best quality.

I have gotten the chance to see a couple of great shows in small places when some people were starting to blow up. Jack Johnson with about 30 other people in back room of a bar downtown. Ben Harper 8 years ago in West Virginia, playing a small hillbilly/hippie spot. Kanye West at UC when nobody knew who he was.

Also got to see Rusted Root do a pre-show show that kinda just started with some students in a drum circle on the lawn.

Kevin, we need to get out and see some shows.

[Dawn]

Disclaimer - I was a hair metal girl, and also about 12 years old when I did most of my concert-going.
Bon Jovi (LA Guns opened) ~1988
Def Leppard (Skid Row opened) ~1987
Cheap Trick ~1987
Def Leppard a few more times
Indigo Girls a few times
Brad recently dragged me to see Ben Kweller at Shepherd's Bush Empire London.
My favorite concert: Garth Brooks in College Station Texas ~1999
Nightmare Concert - Oasis anywhere in the world.

[Elisa]

First show - Stray Cats & Marshall Crenshaw at the Aragon.
Last show - Morrissey at the Genesee Theater, Waukegan
Next show - Nada Surf at Schuba's

I've seen lots of bad show, but I've also been super fortunate to see some bands. I can say that I saw the Police, Duran Duran and the Smiths before they broke up.

I just Morrissey last night, and saw that Corey Glover of Living Color is playing Judas in a touring company of Jesus Christ Superstar. That sounds interesting...

[The Lady]

First show was Thompson Twins with OMD somewhere in downtown Indy. I have seen many Dead shows and they are always a good time. I saw the Replacements open for Tom Petty. There set was too short.
The Sundays at the Varsity Theater in baton Rouge. Cocteau Twins at the Saenger.
I remember many nights in high school camping out for tickets in the parking lot of Karma records.
High on the list also was Gene Loves Jezebel, Echo and the Bunnymen and New Order in Minneapolis while I was on vacation visiting my Aunt.
I remember being devastated when the A-ha show got cancelled in Indianapolis (after my Dad had gone to stand in line for tickets for me and my friend Suzy). What nostalgia!

[Susan]

Wow, Kev! You have really hit a chord here - the nostalgia! It's interesting to see that there are a lot of people who have seen some of the same bands. Here are some of the ones I could remember:

U2 - Joshua Tree Tour (tickets impossible to get unless you have an awesome friend like Kevin!)
Barry Manilow (twice as a tot)
Billy Joel (as a kid)
Chicago (as a pre-teen)
Heart (1986 or 87)
Indigo Girls (once at the Saenger and one at Humphrey's Half Moon in San Diego)
David Burne (Armstrong Theater in the hood in N.O.)
Def Leppard (with Skid Row)
Bon Jovi (free tickets from the WFMF promotions person)
Milli Vanilli (and damn proud of it)
Iris DeMent (The Varsity)
Georgia Satellites (18th birthday at the Chimes)
Black Crowes (Saenger - the theater reeked of weed by the end of the show)
Better Than Ezra (The Chimes)
Melissa Etheridge (acoustic show in New Orleans - me, Ray and a BUNCH of women!)
Lots of small Christian concerts with friends circa 2001 - 2004, including:
Third Day (3 times and going again in Houston on Dec 14th with Jars of Clay)
Bebo Norman
TobyMac
Mercyme
FFH
Fusebox
Jennifer Knapp
Paul Colman Trio
John Michael Talbot
Lincoln Brewster
Mark Schultz
Big Daddy Weave
Newsboys
Point of Grace
Rebecca St. James
Warren Barfield

[Greg Barbera]

well i was a music critic for many years and have seen all kinds of bands and was raised on a steady diet of punk pock as a teenager. some that come to mind:

Black Flag
Bad Brains
Butthole Surfers
Ramones
Soundgarden
Jane's Addiction
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Shudder To Think
Slayer
Springsteen

and if you were indie rock in the mid- to late-90s and toured through Chapel Hill/Raleigh I probably saw it. Superchunk, Archers of Loaf, Polvo, Whiskeytown, Backsliders... blah blah blah.

best band seen recently? Steel Pulse...

[Sis in Law]

Okay, so concerts...

Last concert seen...Bullet for My Valentine...it rocked (anyone ever heard of them??? they are british, metal)

Scariest Concert ever...Slayer: Reign of Blood (dare I say more??)

Best concert...Ben Harper at the Vogue in Broadripple (he is a great performer)

Best Band concert...Live at Deer Creek. They were incredible live (no pun intended)

Most fun concert...of course...Phish...out of the 33 times I saw them the best were 1997 in Champaign, Illinois at Assembly Hall on campus and again at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago...

(I know you don't like them but everyone should experience a Phish show at least once in their life...good thing I am out of that phase!!!)

[Peter]

What a great thread. Hope you're doing well, mate... Sorry I've been in absentia lately. Here are just a smattering of my faves (will have to think hard and blog about the longer list on my site):

>U2 1987, Cleveland Stadium (Joshua Tree Tour). Have seen them just about every time since and this show still takes the cake.

>U2/Pixies 1992, Richfield Coliseum (Zoo TV Tour). Sensory overload.

>David Bowie (cant remember what year?), Richfield Coliseum (Sound + Vision Tour). Bono shows up with his arm in a cast and sings along to some classics.

>Peter Gabriel/Papa Wemba 1993, Richfield Coliseum (Secret World Tour).

>Jeff Buckley 1994, Wilbert's (Grace Tour) with about 75 other people. Life altering.

>Pearl Jam/Eleven 1991, Peabody's Down Under (Ten Tour)... it's a show that 300 people in Cleveland saw, but 3 MILLION people claimed to see, much like Tribe pitcher Len Barker's perfect game in 1981. EdVed swings from the rafters on the stage.

>Porcupine Tree/Robert Fripp 2005, House of Blues Cleveland (Deadwing Tour, Second Leg). Precise, brilliant.

>Grant Lee Buffalo 1994, Odeon (Mighty Joe Moon Tour). Grant Lee Phillips is an incredible songwriter.

>Pink Floyd 1987, Cleveland Stadium (two nights, both great).

>King Crimson/California Guitar Trio 1995, Nautica Stage (Thrak Tour)... and Soul Coughing/Trans Am at Peabody's Down Under immediately following them... that very same night!

>Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman & Howe 1989, Blossom Music Center (ABWH Tour). Awesome show... T. Lev on bass and they stopped the show so everyone at the outdoor venue could observe a lunar eclipse.

>Van Halen Monsters of Rock 1988, Akron Rubber Bowl.

First Show: Van Halen 1984 tour, Richfield Coliseum.
Last Show: Porcupine Tree, House Of Blues on Wednesday...
Best Show: Probably the Concert for the Hall of Fame in September of 1995. I was actually there for the whole thing, all 7 hours or so of it!!! If you can find a setlist, you'll see why.
Worst Show: Tie between Celine Dion, Cher, and Weezer... oh, and Oasis at Lakewood Civic.
Next Show: Sammy Hagar at EJ Thomas in Akron.
Not Enough Time To Mention, But Great Shows Nonetheless: New Order/ PIL/ Sugarcubes at Blossom; The Cure at Richfield; INXS/ Ziggy Marley at Richfield; R.E.M./Lucious Jackson at Gund Arena; Concrete Blonde/ Cracker/ Counting Crows at the Agora; Peter Murphy/ Nine Inch Nails at Phantasy Niteclub; Indigo Girls/ Matthew Sweet at Nautica; the first 4 Lollapaloozas (each lineup was great); The Tragically Hip at the Odeon (Day for Night Tour); Tom Petty/ Replacements (Richfield, I think); King's X at the Odeon; Queensryche/ Suicidal Tendencies at Richfield (Building Empires, Mindcrime Live Tour); Dream Theater and Tool at the Agora (separate shows, mid 90s); Radiohead OK Computer Tour at Lakewood Civic Auditorium; and.. and... and... crap. I have to hit save or I'll be writing about this for 2 hours. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

P

[Susan]

Can you actually say you saw Pink Floyd in 1987? Shouldn't it be "Pink Floyd"? I mean, without Roger Waters... Don't get me wrong, I have "Momentary Lapse of Reason", but it's kind of like New Coke, you know?

But who am I to talk? The only shows I've seen recently are a bunch of holy rollers! :)

[Peter]

New Coke wasn't that bad, actually. Not Classic Coke, but still pretty tasty. I think I've seen that lineup a total of 8 times.

And having enjoyed Pepsi (Roger Waters solo) a couple of times, I can safely say I'll *always* be a Coke man.

The last time the original (er, Classic Coke) Floyd toured, I had just started grade school. :)