| Author | Message | ||
     Tom Reingold Supporter Username: Noglider Post Number: 12203 Registered: 1-2003  |
Would you believe I'm 45 and I've never been to a rock concert? At least I can't remember ever going to one. Oh wait, in summer of 2004, I went to a free outdoor concert by Fountains of Wayne in the Financial Center in NYC. That may not count. "This is the only thing my signature says." | ||
| Tom Kerns Supporter Username: Tom_kerns Post Number: 323 Registered: 6-2004 |
First: Chicago at the Jadwin (sp) Gym Princeton 1976 Worst: Thin Lizzy, civic center in Philly 1977 Best: Springsteen's last show when he opened the Arena 1981 Best since then: Stones at Shea during Steel Wheels. TomD I'm with you, the sound sucked, the venue sucked, but had a great time. | ||
| Strings Supporter Username: Blue_eyes Post Number: 793 Registered: 4-2004  |
1st: New Kids On the Block (I'm showing my youth, fortunately, my taste improved with age)  Best: Jane's Addiction - Hammerstein Ballroom on Halloween OR Bjork at Cyclone Stadium OR System of a Down, most recently Worst: (Besides NKOTB, because at the time it was probably the best), Counting Crowes at Woodstock 1999... it was so hot and disgusting and that guy with the dreads wouldn't stop whining, it was awful (Sorry to any Counting Crowes fans out there, I can tolerate them on the radio, but I've seen them live and it's boarderline unbearable). | ||
| slipknot (slippy) Citizen Username: Zotts Post Number: 232 Registered: 7-2004  |
First show was Yes in the Spectrum some time in 84, wasn't too thrilled but went to a Rush concert the next week and it was awesome. Best Show was Grateful Dead, MSG the year before Jerry Died, I got a miracle ticket and I called half the numbers before the played. And while it was a concert it wasn't rock, but Ella Fitzgerald at Radio City Music Hall right before she died (I must be bad luck) she had only one leg and sat in a chair on stage, but it was memorable none the less. Worst Show is Clapton in LA center (don't recall the name, where the Lakers played in late 80s) that was garbage, a Neil Young Show at the Beacon in the early nineties where he did unkonwn material where the audience was pissed, it was funny though, but the all time worse was a Dead Show in MSG in 91 or 92 on shrooms where I had the worst drug experience of my life and swore off drugs after that, I felt the world was after me. | ||
| dave23 Citizen Username: Dave23 Post Number: 1283 Registered: 5-2001 |
Slipknot, I cannot imagine doing shrooms in MSG. Yikes. | ||
| AlleyGater Citizen Username: Alleygater Post Number: 1149 Registered: 10-2004 |
First concer: For my 7th birthday, my Dad took me to see my favorite band. I got to see KISS in Philly in 1977 with full makeup. Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. -Benjamin Franklin | ||
| Smarty Jones Citizen Username: Birdstone Post Number: 276 Registered: 10-2005 |
First: Ozzy Osbourne 1980, with unknown Motley Crue and Waysted Opening acts. Best: Tie- Grateful Dead, JFK 1989. Guns-N-Roses 1991. Worst: The Other Ones, Darien Lake 2000....Played 5 poorly played songs, and jumped on the tour buses before the crowd new they weren't just on 1rst intermission. God Bless Jerry Garcia, it was then that I realized how much I would miss him. | ||
| juju's petals Citizen Username: Jujus_petals Post Number: 231 Registered: 5-2003  |
First: REM with 10,000 Maniacs a Vanderbilt Univ in maybe 1984? Best: Robert Cray in 1993ish in Nashville. Small venue and right up front. Amazing . . . Worst: Blues Traveller around 1992 also at Vanderbilt. Good lord, those songs never ended. They just went on and on. There's Jam Band then there is "shut up and end it." I left early to "get some air" when really I just get away from them. | ||
| juju's petals Citizen Username: Jujus_petals Post Number: 232 Registered: 5-2003 |
Tom R, your post was precious. And I mean that in good way. | ||
| jeffl Supporter Username: Jeffl Post Number: 1554 Registered: 8-2001 |
First: Elton John at the Nassau Coliseum. Best: John McGlaughlin and Jean Luc Ponty in Albany/Miles Davis on the pier in NYC. Worst: Modern Jazz Quartet. Most: Saw the Moody Blues, Emerson, Lake, and Palmer, and Richie Havens about 5 times a piece. | ||
| slipknot (slippy) Citizen Username: Zotts Post Number: 239 Registered: 7-2004 |
Sorry I was just reading the list, One of the worst would definately be Dave Mathews Band that this girl dragged me to against my wishes. That is one day I would like back. They stunk so bad, they had that one hit that all the kids loved but eww the smell still lingers. | ||
| Pippi Supporter Username: Pippi Post Number: 1686 Registered: 8-2003  |
I just realized my very first concert was a Frank Sinatra concert in the early 80s (my parents were huge fans). I was not even 12 years old. He was not "in good voice", as they say. It was bad. Then we went to see him again more than a decade later and he was awesome! go figure... | ||
| Eric Citizen Username: Ericactive Post Number: 85 Registered: 7-2005 |
Most memorable had to be a free R.E.M. concert somewhere outside on a lawn at Rutgers while the sun was setting. Otherwise the best was probable one of these... | ||
| ffof Citizen Username: Ffof Post Number: 4440 Registered: 5-2001  |
1st- Sha Na Na at the Syria Mosque in Pittsburgh, 1972 or 73? Best- Probably some Dead show - I'll pick Music Hall in Boston, Fall 1978 Worst- Probably some Dead show - I'll pick last show at the Garden in I think it was 1989 (maybe 90) when Jerry was really out of it. | ||
| sbenois Supporter Username: Sbenois Post Number: 14499 Registered: 10-2001  |
Speaking of concerts, a pretty good one took place 37 years ago today.  | ||
| kmk Supporter Username: Kmk Post Number: 948 Registered: 5-2001 |
First - Leo Kotke (I had a date and I thought I was going to a rock concert, opening act was a xylophone player!) Best - Queen 1978 Tarrant County COnvention Center (Fort Worth) or The Mavericks 2004 NYC Worst - See first....Although I admire the guy's work today, I was young and thought I was going on a hot date! (A close second was some other concert where the opening act members saw me waiting for my ride and asked me- in essence - if I was a hooker! Help me remember the the band's name....the lead singer wore a cap with a bill sort of off to one side and he dressed only in black and white checkered shirts. Real a** holes, I have a felling they were British. They were pissing in public and drunk.) | ||
| Hank Zona Supporter Username: Hankzona Post Number: 5196 Registered: 3-2002 |
S, That was a free outdoor rooftop gig...correct? | ||
| sbenois Supporter Username: Sbenois Post Number: 14502 Registered: 10-2001 |
Yeah. Free. But of course, THAT WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH FOR THE DUMB NEIGHBORS WHO DECIDED TO CALL THE COPS | ||
| Hank Zona Supporter Username: Hankzona Post Number: 5197 Registered: 3-2002 |
so then it isnt just in Maplewood where neighbors call the cops. | ||
| doulamomma Citizen Username: Doulamomma Post Number: 888 Registered: 3-2002 |
Real First: I was about 4 and I guess the sitter couldn't make it, because I went with my dad to see Iron Butterfly, with Yes as their opening act...I wore ear plugs & fell asleep & got carried out... First without parent: Rush in 1980 in Nashville - I thought it was Permanent Waves, but a check on Google shows that it was actually the warm up to Moving Pictures, a tour I also saw. I have no idea why I was permitted to go (since I was in about 7th grade), except older friends my parents trusted were going...I think the ticket was like $12. Best: I can never pick one best...I have great memories of several Indigo Girls concerts in Atlanta at Emory & tiny places around town. But also have great memories at a Squeeze concert at an anti-poll tax rally in London and a James Taylor concert at Great Woods in MA while a huge storm passed over (I had a covered seat!)...and the Dead, a Nelson Mandela tribute concert at Wembley in London with tons of amazing folks, a great Police/UB40 concert, and a Loverbiy concert where I was nearly crushed against the stage (but that just meant I was closer to them - hey - it was the '80's & I had a crush) - god - almost forgot some Elvis Costello concerts, best was at Vanderbilt...juju - I may have been at the REM/10,000 Maniacs! - it was great! Worst: some Elton John concert at Giant stadium (friends gave us tickets) around 1992 or so comes to mind, but there were lots of lame ones in there. Agreed about one of those last NYC Dead shows in the early '90's - not the same... | ||
| IShep Citizen Username: Twinsmom Post Number: 130 Registered: 1-2003 |
First was in San Diego: The Police, Madness and Oingo Boingo--early 80s. | ||
| John Caffrey Citizen Username: Jerseyjack Post Number: 30 Registered: 11-2005 |
What a topic. I used to scalp tix and I got to see many top acts of the 80's. The Who sticks out when my x and I were in the second row in front of the speaker bank... lost hearing on that one but we both still agree it was worth it. Most amazing , Mike Oldfield. He would only tour when he got a band that met his criteria. Pink Floyd , The Wall in Nassau Col. The first half of the concert was taken with stage hands building a wall. The second half, tore town the wall. 17th. Row, Bob Dylan concertw with Rodney Dangerfield sitting in front of us, in a tux, blowing grass. Queen was always fun and yes, Village People was great fun. 2nd row, Led. Zep. Great memories. | ||
| Grrrrrrrrrrr Citizen Username: Oldsctls67 Post Number: 226 Registered: 11-2002 |
Sadly, the first was Shaun Cassidy at the Nassau Coliseum. It was a Birthday present for my little sister, so my whole family went. I was 10 or 11 at the time. First without Parent was THe Dead at Byrne in 1982 (sophomore in HS). By the time HS ended, I and the other guys on my lacrosse team were running our own business out of the back of our goalie's blue Dodge van in the parking lot of every dead show in the tri-state area, but that's another story for another time. Best concert is a tough one...Black 47 at the Academy theatre on St. Paddy's Day 1996, Fishbone/Violent Femmes/Indigo Girls at U-Hall in Charlottesville, summer of either 88 or 89. Fishbode sucked, but the other 2, esp Femmes were awesome. Or, hanging backstage with the SMithereens drinking Schlitz beer at my wife's college cotillion at Hollins College. I feellike I could go on and on for a while, but I'd better quit now. Worst- Dave Matthews at Giants Stadium a few years ago, or Stevie Nicks ant GSAC. A buddy of mine really wanted to go for some reason, and dragged me along. FOrtunately it started pouring about 20 mins into it, so I headed straight back to the car. What was he thinking? Yuck! | ||
| Greeneyes Citizen Username: Greeneyes Post Number: 718 Registered: 8-2001 |
Grrrrrr, You hung out with the Smithereens? Did they provide the Schlitz? Cool! | ||
| Chris Farrow Citizen Username: Evrtnjrsy Post Number: 48 Registered: 3-2005 |
First - Wizzard at Southport (UK) Floral Hall, 1974 (followed by witnessing massive fight on the train back to Liverpool on the way home) Best - doing security for 4 hour Springsteen concert at Wembley Arena 1981 as a 21 year-old - standing between stage and first row (and no security issures to deal with) Worst - not terrible per se but the Jam at Liverpool Empire 1977 - they played 45 minutes and no encore - but that was pretty much all they knew, and it was non-stop, so we'll let them slide.. | ||
| Grrrrrrrrrrr Citizen Username: Oldsctls67 Post Number: 228 Registered: 11-2002 |
Yes...someone ( I can't remember exactly who now) in the group of girls we all hung out with was on the social committee and was in charge of procurement. THe Smithereens required that they be furnished with several things before the show. I can't remember all of them now, but one thing was 6 or 7 cases of Schlitz bottles... I was already a fan, but this was awesome. I've seen them everywhere. My college, her college, Merrywhether Post, GSAC, Stone Pony, Beacon theatre, CAA, among others that escape me at the moment. | ||
| Arnomation Citizen Username: Arnomation Post Number: 475 Registered: 7-2003  |
Oh man! I totally forgot another great one!!! (The memory is shot) A few years ago I got free tickets and after show party passes to Tom Waits at the Beacon. It was such and inspired show I can't tell you. There were lots of big name stars in the audience and at the party as well. I always feel so weird being backstage next famous people but it's fun in an odd sort of way :-) | ||
| Arnomation Citizen Username: Arnomation Post Number: 476 Registered: 7-2003 |
D'oh! I just rembered another one. Has anyome ever seen a band before they got famous? I used to go to Binsky's which was a mini-club at F.I.T. in the city and the Hooters used to play there all the time before they hit it big. | ||
| Greeneyes Citizen Username: Greeneyes Post Number: 719 Registered: 8-2001 |
Grrrrrr, The Smithereens played at Double Ds in Morristown a couple of times in the last five years or so. I had other plans on both occasions. I just checked their show dates for this year..Sellersville, PA so far. Maybe I'll get to see them this year. | ||
| Tom N Citizen Username: Tjn Post Number: 56 Registered: 3-2005 |
I have to put a word in for New Order who did a hell of a show at the Hammerstein this past tour. I wasn't expecting them to play as much Joy Division as they did. | ||
| mwoodwalk Citizen Username: Mwoodwalk Post Number: 507 Registered: 9-2001 |
First: REM, MSG, 1989, opened by Indigo Girls. Best: hard to say, that REM show ranks up there, so does the RUSH roll the bones tour in 1991, plus the Cure/Love and Rockets/Pixies tour in Summer '89 at Giants Stadium was outstanding; U2 @ MSG in October 2001, just weeks after 9/11, was probably the most emotionally powerful show I've ever been to. Worst: probably the last Dead show I saw at Giants stadium the year before Jerry died; a few too many Jerry gaps. | ||
| Ukealalio Citizen Username: Ukealalio Post Number: 2533 Registered: 6-2003 |
First-Beatles at Shea Stadium (My older sister took me). Worst-Led Zepppelin at Madison Square Garden (They were really off on this night. Page was mising 75% of his notes and Plants voice was shot. If it wasn't for the masterful drumming of John Bonham and John Paul Jones great bass playing it would have been a total loss. 2 years before I saw them and they were terrific). Best- I should say the Beatles but I could barely hear or see them because of all the screaming girls. I'll save the best for this one at the Singer Bowl (and no, I'm not making this up): Opening act-Soft Machine 2nd act-Chambers Bros. 3rd act-Bg Brother and the Holding Company (With Janis Joplin) Headliner-Jimi Hendrix Experience They just don't make em like that anymore. | ||
| ess Citizen Username: Ess Post Number: 964 Registered: 11-2001 |
Mwoodwalk -- I was at that R.E.M. concert! It ranks as one of my best also. My very first concert was The Cars, at Nassau Colliseum, in 10th grade. Tickets had a face value of $12.50, but we went through an "agency" and paid $25.00 (for floor seats) and thought it was expensive. I have several Best Concerts: * My first Bruce Springsteen concert, Philadelphia, 1984 * Any of the three concerts from Bruce's The Rising Tour * My third U2 concert, May 1985 at the Byrne Arena (this was the third of three that I saw at the Arena that tour -- and yes, I am dating myself calling it the Byrne Arena) * The R.E.M. concert mentioned above * An R.E.M. concert in the fall of 1989 at Byrne Arena where I was in the 2nd row Worst? Those would have to be: * The Firm, MSG * The Dylan portion of the Dylan and the Dead tour in 1987 * Bruce Springsteen at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, 1992 I am disappointed to see that Dave Matthews Band concerts are listed among people's worst. I love them, have never seen them live (other than an AOL simulcast which I thought was good) and thought they would be better received. | ||
| Cynicalgirl Citizen Username: Cynicalgirl Post Number: 2291 Registered: 9-2003  |
Worst and First: Iron Butterfly at my high school in, I think, 1971 Best: George Thorogood and the Delaware Destroyers in Detroit, 1979. | ||
| Grrrrrrrrrrr Citizen Username: Oldsctls67 Post Number: 229 Registered: 11-2002 |
GE, I went to one of the DD's shows last year. Pat is REALLY fat...lol! THey seemed a little stiff, but they still rocked. They took a lot of requests from the crowd. THey played all my faves except for White Castle Blues. Where's Sellersville, Pa? | ||
| Tom Reingold Supporter Username: Noglider Post Number: 12214 Registered: 1-2003 |
This is the best thread ever for getting people to divulge their ages. "This is the only thing my signature says." | ||
| Hank Zona Supporter Username: Hankzona Post Number: 5199 Registered: 3-2002 |
youre right, Tom, and not for a moment am I buying those who claim to have seen some of these shows when they were 6 or 7 years old.  I have to add one more best and worst... Best: any day moving from stage to tent to stage at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival (especially when you see the Neville Brothers in any combination, such as The Meters, on their home turf). Worst: George Thoroughgood...I know someone listed him as their best show, but when I saw him, he showed a true lack of range...it was repetitious. | ||
| kmk Supporter Username: Kmk Post Number: 949 Registered: 5-2001 |
Hank, I forgot about New Orleans! Add that to my list too. Also, I have to really use my memory but, when I was in school in Austin we would see a differant band on Sixth Street every week. Great memories...just no names I can remember( other than Jerry Jeff, Willie, Chris Cross(!), Joe Ely, The Fabulous Thunderbirds etc...) I lay in bed last night trying to remember the horrible opening act we saw....it was Cheap Trick...ugh. | ||
| kmk Supporter Username: Kmk Post Number: 950 Registered: 5-2001 |
BTW: I was offered free tickets to see the Smithereens in NYC 10 days ago! | ||
| Hank Zona Supporter Username: Hankzona Post Number: 5201 Registered: 3-2002 |
kmk, Ive never been to Austin (unfortunately) but is there one famous music club there that stands out from the rest? I remember a friend telling me years ago how he was in Austin to see U2, then went to this one club where Stevie Ray and Jimmie Lee Vaughan were playing, and then U2 walks in and jumps on stage with them. Antoine's maybe? Although that sounds like a joint in the French Quarter. I guess the closest Ive ever gotten was watching "Austin City Limits". |
