RABid Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 I've been going to concerts since the late 70's but only have a few strong memories. Here are mine. ELP - After a solo on the BIG moog modular, Emerson patched a repeating pattern. Fog machines started blowing smoke out of the modular as it went faster and faster. It slowly turned, then sank into the floor. Then a grand piano rose out of the floor a few feet away. Blue Oyster Cult - In the middle of the song Godzilla the drummer does a solo. He is actually a really good drummer. The lights keep fading until it goes dark. A spotlight hits the drummer and he is wearing a huge Godzilla head. I don't know how he managed to play half of the solo with that thing on but the crowd went wild. Unfortunately, every video I find of it has the drum solo cut out. Rod Stewart - Half way through the concert he pulls out a soccer ball and starts bouncing it around. Hacky sack style using the knee, side kicks, behind the back kicks. The dude was talented with the ball. Suddenly, BAM. He kicks the ball out into the audience and it travels more than the length of a basketball court. He kicks a dozen balls out into the audience and he was getting distance. Someone I was with said he was drafted to the minor leagues. I could see why. That was something I had never seen before and would never see again. Quote This post edited for speling. My Sweetwater Gear Exchange Page Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bfields Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 My biggest memory might be of this concert in 1990: https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1990/05/15/wesley-boyd-gospel-choir/dd288069-549e-4be1-bc92-023961b3f373/ "The 25 voices of the Wesley Boyd Gospel Choir belted out the traditional hymn "I Came to Praise His Name" at the National Museum of American History Sunday afternoon. Dressed all in black, the choir members swayed back and forth and clapped their hands as they repeated the title phrase over and over. At that point jazz saxophonist David Murray walked onstage and drew on the choir's powerful rhythms to fuel a long, wild Coltranesque solo that brought the crowd, stomping and clapping, to its feet." First, because the music was transcendent. Second, because it was a total accident: I was 19, wandering on my own through the museum on a Sunday afternoon, I saw a sign, and I went in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LX88 Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 The Larsen Feiten band ( Neil Larsen / Buzz Feiten) aka FULL MOON at Euphoria Tavern 1983 Portland Oregon. IMO one of the greatest Rhythm sections in American Music history. Also included. Lonnie Castro...Ricky Minor and the late Art Rodriguez drums. Neil Larsen and Buzz Feiten were both outrageous and passionate soloists. The rhythm section was energetic and solid. If you are familiar with Neil and Buzz's repertoire all of the material was top notch. I do have a cassette recording of the evening. Buzz played a solo on Neil's tune MIDNIGHT PASS that was likely one of the greatest musical moments on this planet! Highly melodic.....I still have the cassette and need to digitize it and share it with the world. Sadly these guys are largely under rated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
16251 Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 Seeing Areosmith before they were famous at Suffolk Downs in Revere, MA. One of my friends ate pot brownies and thought he was going to die and at some point crowd got out of hand and were flinging full cans of beer in the air. I remember loving Dream On with the Mellotron. Seeing Rick Wakeman's Journey to the Center of the Earth, with full orchestra Seeing original Tower of Power at Paul's Mall in Boston. Was in line waiting for standing room tickets and ended up buying tickets from ppl in front of us who had two extras. I had front row seats and Paul's Mall was small, so were like 20 feet from stage. Seeing Billy Cobham/George Duke band at Symphony Hall. Seeing Bill Evans at Jazz Workshop in Boston. I can't remember concert but I do remember waiting in line to get in and Eddie Gomez pulled up in a 240 Volvo station wagon and watched him unload his bass. Quote AvantGrand N2 | ES520 | Gallien-Krueger MK & MP | https://soundcloud.com/pete36251 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doerfler Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 I can't remember concert I have a few of this type of concert memory myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mauriziodececco Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 Many concerts worth remebering; back when i was in Italy: 1) The U2 concert in Bologna football stadium in 88 2) Miles Davis Amandla tourné concert in Brescia In Paris, smaller venues At the New Morning Jazz club: the John Lurie's Lounge Lizard; Joe Zawinul with Trilok Gurtu. John mclaughlin with Zakir Hussain in the Remember Shakti tour. At the Hot Brass: Cassandra Wilson At the Theatre de la ville: Didier Squiban and Jan Fanch Kemener And many more (actually, one of the reasons i and my wife moved to Paris was to be able to enjoy great concerts without spending a night in a train station) Maurizio Quote Nord Wave 2, Nord Electro 6D 61,, Rameau upright, Hammond Pro44H Melodica. Too many Arturia, NI and AAS plugins http://www.barbogio.org/ https://barbogio.bandcamp.com/follow_me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mate stubb Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 ELP - first American tour in a 1200 seat opera house Allman Brothers - original band, saw them 1 week before they recorded the Fillmore East album And I saw Weather Report 4 times - one Miroslav, two Jacos, and one Victor. Quote Moe --- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stokely Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 I remember being just overwhelmed by my first concert, which was the 1984 Van Halen tour. I remember saying to my friend (we were both 17 I think): "where do all these people live during the day?" This was back in the open seating days and the place was filled with funny smoke and there was just some crazy-looking characters. Van Halen audiences are rough--they threw bottles at Autograph and they had to stop the show due to it. A few years later I saw Van Hagar and they booed BTO (not exactly an amateur band). Peter Gabriel's Secret World tour concert I saw was just amazing. More of a theatrical show than just a concert. Both King's X and Medeski Martin and Wood are memorable in smaller venues for just absolutely bringing it (in their own ways). Incredible energy at those shows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drawback Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 You always remember your "first time." :wink: Mine was The Who in 1968. They were on the road after the Monterrey Festival, wore the same outfits (the famous fringed buckskin vest on Daltry). Townsend doing his jumpsuit gyrations and Entwistle being his stoic self on Boris The Spider. Moon with a barf bag, shards of broken sticks flying everywhere. Commissionaires (security co. made up of retired WWII vets) demanding they turn the hell down. Roadies literally throwing fans off the stage while the band escapes after destroying their gear in My Generation, hiding in the wings when I caught their eyes, gave a thumbs up, how cool was that for a 16-year-old. Later, Keith Moon made national headlines by trashing the hotel room and was banned from CN Hotel chain for life. Those were the days. Quote ____________________________________ Rod Here for the gear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timwat Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 My first real concert was Return to Forever. I was a kid, and asked my parents. They took me and it greatly affected a lot of my thinking and feelings about music. Chick's passing has hit me hard as a result. Other strong memories: ELP - Works tour (but by the time they reached California the orchestra was jettisoned). The highest expression of what it is possible for a rock keyboard player to accomplish - IMHO. Jeff Berlin's Vox Humana - Steve Houghton, Pat Coil and Scott Henderson in small Berkeley club. We opened for them and Eric Johnson (!) Steve Smith of Journey mixed sound for that gig (he's a long time pal of Berlin's). Scott Henderson was still a child at this time, and floored me. I chatted with the relatively unknown Eric Johnson at the pay phone and he was so kind, humble and gracious. Unforgettable evening for several different reasons. Keith Jarrett - solo at San Francisco Opera House. I think that might be the only concert that brought me to tears from the sheer beauty for major parts of the evening. No matter how bad a curmudgeon Jarrett is from time to time, I can never forget the affect his fully improvised playing had on me. That's indelible. Benny Green - live masterclass. What he shared and how he encouraged me after the class is one of the main reasons I'm still playing. Quote .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Bryce Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 First three that come to mind: Wakeman doing Journey with the orchestra 1975 Pink Floyd doing The Wall in Long Island 1980 Snarky Puppy doing Sylva with the National Orchestra at the Kennedy Center dB Quote ==> David Bryce Music • Funky Young Monks <== Professional Affiliations: Royer Labs • Music Player Network Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allan_evett Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 Marc Cohn, with band; Park West, Chicago. The show was in early 1998, IIRC. Three guys on stage: Marc, on digital piano/grand piano and acoustic guitar; a skilled and versatile electric guitarist with a modest rig; a pianist/percussionist/guitarist (grand piano, acoustic guitar, tympani, various hand drums/toys). That final player, Kenny White, quickly became evident as a monster musician - with sensitivity and soul for miles. At one point in the concert Marc Cohn introduced him, and Kenny took an extended solo - including a sung original. He's a NYC-based composer/keyboardist; lots of writing credits for commercials, sideman work and several solo albums. Definitely worth checking out. His music has been on my listening rotation since that Park West show. Marc covered most of the material from his first few albums, including a very powerful and moving segueway into Walking in Memphis. While I own a number of his records, the first album was riveting - one of those collections of which each song spoke to me; it was a similar experience to hearing Tori Amos' Little Eathquakes for the first time. The concert segueway was similar in tone to this video, though it included additional audience interraction. I remember Marc saying something about taking us 'to church' - truly transcending himself and emphasizing how the music was for all of us. [video:youtube] Quote 'Someday, we'll look back on these days and laugh; likely a maniacal laugh from our padded cells, but a laugh nonetheless' - Mr. Boffo. We need a barfing cat emoticon! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Docbop Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 Weather Report Traffic Frank Zappa and the Mothers Jimi Hendrix Fred Hammond New Years Eve and Stevie Wonder sat in Jeff Beck Chick Corea Herbie Hancock duo Sly and Family Stone Electric Flag Elton John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EscapeRocks Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 Sitting in the rain at Red Rocks watching U2 in 1983 is probably my favorite concert experience......ever. That place in Colorado is still my very favorite concert venue just for the surroundings and the way the sound just permeates that huge bowl. Next up would be Sammy Hagar's Three Lock Box tour in Tucson in 1983 with Night Ranger. Finally, Iron Maiden in Dallas 2019. As far as openers being booed off stage, the only time I witnessed that on a major concert venue tour was in 1986 in Tucson. Journey's Raised on Radio tour. Of the 3 or 4 bands that were opening for Journey at various venues, we got Glass Tiger instead of The Outfield. I like Glass Tiger, but they absolutely sucked that night, and were literally booed off. I mean they were bad. Wasn't a sound system issue. The guitarist looked well out of it, and that affected Alan Frew's mood...... Quote David Gig Rig:Roland Fantom 08 | Roland Jupiter 80 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill H. Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 Biggest concert memory was probably when a girl threw a shoe towards John, and when he picked it up there were so many shoes thrown towards the stage that they actually had to stop playing for a bit. I have no idea how all those girls made it out of the Portland Coliseum with no shoes on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delaware Dave Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 1) Springsteen concert (1981?). Philadelphia Spectrum; he came on at 8:10 and played until close to 10; took a 45 minute break and played with encore until 12:30 2) Return to Forever (1977?). Philadelphia Spectrum; Played 5 or 6 songs + the encore; concert lasted close to 2.5 to 3 hours 3) CS&N 1983 Niagara Falls Auditorium (my favorite band at the time) 4) Dave Mason 1984 Buffalo NY; played in a fairly small place, I was 7 rows out; all electric. Amazing 5) Crystal Ship (Doors cover band) Buffalo NY; got to go back stage. The singer actually thought that he was Jim; weirdest situation that I've ever been in; he looked like him; acted like him; spoke like him; it was almost an out of body experience; and after a few beers I started thinking that maybe it was him..... Quote 57 Hammond B3; 69 Hammond L100P; 68 Leslie 122; Kurzweil Forte7 & PC3; M-Audio Code 61; Voce V5+; Neo Vent; EV ELX112P; GSI Gemini & Burn Delaware Dave Exit93band Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
U.Honey Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 For me the #1 concert was probably Pat Metheny Group in Helsinki, Finland. The year was 1988. Everything about that show was magic, the sound, the visual aspects of the show and of course Lyle Mays on keys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Lobo Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 Off the top of my head, the memorable ones are: Van Morrison â'It"s Too Late To Stop Now' tour (live double album) Bob Dylan and the Band Edgar Winter J. Geils Band Pink Floyd â The Wall Grateful Dead Jefferson Starship - free concert in Golden Gate Park U2 â free show at Vaillancourt Fountain, San Francisco Neville Brothers Jackson Browne with David Lindley David Lindley â solo acoustic Quote These are only my opinions, not supported by any actual knowledge, experience, or expertise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cp-the-nerd Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 I'm in my 30s, so I don't have a rich history of concerts to draw from, but I've seen some cool shows. I saw Andrew W.K. tour with the Ramones as lead singer. It was freaking awesome, the energy of that entire set was incredible. AWK is a really cool underrated musician and front man, he did an excellent Joey Ramone impression and had the crowd from beginning to end. I've also seen him tour with his own band twice. I saw Rise Against touring for their album Appeal to Reason, and the opening act was Bad Religion. I'm pretty sure the tickets were only like $20. It was a hell of a fun night, both bands were on their game, but those middle aged guys from Bad Religion utterly stole the show that night playing a bunch of their hits. Quote Keyboards: Nord Electro 6D 73, Korg SV-1 88, Minilogue XD, Yamaha YPG-625 Bonus: Boss RC-3 Loopstation Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KuruPrionz Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 This one is my top favorite concert memory, although I have many. The show was Deep Purple with Fleetwood Mac and Rory Gallagher. Rory had a beat up old tweed Fender Twin set on a metal folding chair, his 59 Strat with a couple spots that still had finish on them and mostly just greasy gray wood plugged straight in. He was on fire, he totally killed it. Deep Purple was awesome but Rory ate their lunch. Shit, he ate all their lunches. It was the Bob Welch version of Fleetwood Mac touring on Sentimental Lady - probably my least favorite version of that band, to me they were just filler. I went to see Deep Purple but I left gobsmacked by a greater force. Quote It took a chunk of my life to get here and I am still not sure where "here" is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Konnector Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 ELP - Brain Salad Surgery Tour. Saw a lot of good concerts back in those days as a teenager but ELP floored me and was a huge influence on me for ever after. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Mullins Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 A few random highlights: - UK opening for Jethro Tull in the late 70's: was a huge prog rock guy in high school and UK was at the top of my list at the time. - Los Lobos at the Channel in Boston in 1985: I was in grad school at MIT and heard cuts from Will the Wolf Survive on the student radio station, bought the LP and then got tickets the next day and my skeptical wife said "we are going to see a Mexican polka band?" One of the all time exciting shows I've ever seen; the energy and joy was just over the top. (It was also one of the loudest I've ever been to...but that is coincidental) - Fred Hersch Trio a couple years ago in the "side room" of Hancher Auditorium (U of Iowa performance space)....sublime. - A teenage Sarah Jarosz opening for Darrell Scott at Iowa City Arts Festival....her genius was already obvious. - Steely Dan at New Orleans Jazz Fest a couple years before Walter passed - Joni Mitchell at Swope Park in Kansas City in 1983 for Wild Things Run Fast Tour - My one chance to see a hero...and the band was stellar. - In the regional/touring category: Any Stuart Davis or Willy Porter show - Alt-country hero Robbie Fulks opening with a guitar cover of Karn Evil 9 at a local club in the 90's Quote Yamaha CK88, Arturia Keylab 61 MkII, Moog Sub 37, Yamaha U1 Upright, Casio CT-S500, Mac Logic/Mainstage, iPad Camelot, Spacestation V.3, QSC K10.2, JBL EON One Compact www.stickmanor.com There's a thin white line between fear and fury - Stickman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Nathan Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 My list might break the internet When I was 12, my Dad left the fiberglass business he had with his brother and became a Concert Promoter! I saw The Beatles in Toronto 1964! And that was not my first concert. I'd already seen: Duke Ellington Ella Fitzgerald Count Basie Gene Krupa Jimmy Smith Dinah Washington Louis Armstrong Dave Brubeck Art Blakey Dizzy Oscar Cannonball Then I saw: Dylan The Stones The Who Sly & the Family Stone Elvis Beach Boys Hendrix Elton Joe Cocker/Mad Dogs & Englishmen Zepelin Mahavishnu Weather Report I could go on for days. Quote Don't rush me. I'm playing as slowly as I can! http://www.stevenathanmusic.com/stevenathanmusic.com/HOME.html https://apple.co/2EGpYXK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KuruPrionz Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 Copying and pasting a couple from above... ELP - Brain Salad Surgery Tour. Saw that, a high point beyond any doubt. UK opening for Jethro Tull in the late 70's: I saw UK open for Jethro Tull too, they were fantastic. The band at that point was Eddie Jobson on violin and keyboards, John Wetton on bass and vocals and Terry Bozio on drums - fantastic. Artur Rubenstein was amazing, so was Carlos Montoya. The Who on the Tommy tour. Taj Mahal opening for Loggins and Messina, solo act playing a banjo - he had 6,000 of us up on our feet clapping in time and shouting "Shake it on Down!!!" at the top of our lungs. The Divinyls opening for Aerosmith. Christina Amphlett was a force of nature and an extremely underrated singer. David Lindley was great both times. Ray Charles was untouchable, nobody put on a show like Ray. 25 pieces in the band - flawless and powerful. Quote It took a chunk of my life to get here and I am still not sure where "here" is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KuruPrionz Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 My list might break the internet When I was 12, my Dad left the fiberglass business he had with his brother and became a Concert Promoter! I saw The Beatles in Toronto 1964! And that was not my first concert. I'd already seen: Duke Ellington Ella Fitzgerald Count Basie Gene Krupa Jimmy Smith Dinah Washington Louis Armstrong Dave Brubeck Art Blakey Dizzy Oscar Cannonball Then I saw: Dylan The Stones The Who Sly & the Family Stone Elvis Beach Boys Hendrix Elton Joe Cocker/Mad Dogs & Englishmen Zepelin Mahavishnu Weather Report I could go on for days. You WIN the Interwebzzz!!!!!! Quote It took a chunk of my life to get here and I am still not sure where "here" is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
16251 Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 I think the OP was looking for memories while at concerts. These lists are impressive, but the ppl who told stories about some of them is what really brings me along. Quote AvantGrand N2 | ES520 | Gallien-Krueger MK & MP | https://soundcloud.com/pete36251 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RABid Posted February 19, 2021 Author Share Posted February 19, 2021 My list might break the internet When I was 12, my Dad left the fiberglass business he had with his brother and became a Concert Promoter! ... I could go on for days. But when someone says "favorite concert moment" what pops into your head? Quote This post edited for speling. My Sweetwater Gear Exchange Page Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wd8dky Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 Todd Rundgren opened for The Tubes back in the early '80's. He was wearing cowboy boots on a wood floor stage. At one point he slipped and fell flat on his back. He didn't miss a note and finished the song on his back. When the song was over, he pulled his boots off and finished his set barefoot. Quote http://www.weisersound.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzpiano88 Posted February 20, 2021 Share Posted February 20, 2021 A few of the best memories: Rush (Moving Pictures) - Pretty much a fieldhouse auditorium -- Davenport Masonic Temple Stevie Wonder (In Square circle) -- Loved seeing Don Grolnick live Gateway Trio (Abercrombie, Holland, DeJohnette) -- Jack played one solo number on piano -- unbelievably tasty Tower of Power w/ Ellis Hall -- 200 Seat club Gary Burton and Makoto Ozone Elektric Band trio lineup -- Very early. Chick Dave John Metheny (Offramp) -- Musicians entered auditorium playing acoustic instruments down the aisle for Forward March Yellowjackets (@Yoshi's) Met Russ in the Lobby before the show Rolling Stones (Steel Wheels) - Stadium show at ISU Ellis Marsalis & Marcus Roberts Quote J a z z P i a n o 8 8 -- Yamaha C7D Montage M8x | CP300 | CP4 | SK1-73 | OB6 | Seven K8.2 | 3300 | CPSv.3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GovernorSilver Posted February 20, 2021 Share Posted February 20, 2021 Steely Dan at North Sea Jazz Festival in the late 2000s. Joe Zawinul Syndicate at the same festival, couple hours later. Whiehouse at DC9 in DC Dan Deacon and Animal Collective at 930 Club in DC Sunn O))) at Black Cat in DC - felt chest vibrations from that show the next day Kevin Eubanks Trio at University of California San Diego Kevin Eubanks Quartet at USF in Tampa FL Negativland in Clearwater FL Parliament Funkadelic (or was it George Clinton and Friends? forgot...) at Belly Up Tavern in San Diego CA There were also some wild cabaret shows but I guess cabaret doesn't count. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.