After the enjoyable and renewing concert of 3/17 I started thinking about all the cool concerts I've seen over the years. I've been way lucky! Growing up close to Los Angeles definately created some opportunities that others in more remote, out of the way locations may not have had. Gotta give out a shout for an attitude of gratitude on that one!
This list, is of course, not all inclusive or ranked in terms of better then best. It's just a list I hope you enjoy!
Matchbox Twenty: I knew these guys were good. I was a casual fan but now I'm a definate fan. The clincher: there is a bond between these guys and their fanbase. Great musicianship and skilled songwriting are a tough combination to beat. Plus they all seem to like each other. What a concept;).
The Clash/Bob Marley: beautiful outdoor concert nestled in the foothills of Santa Barbara. The end of the concert were the two groups joined together to jam was insane. Toots Maytall once remarked that the Clash were the only white musicians that "got" reggae. He was right.
Johnny Winter: SF Blues Festival. Highway 61 is a slide masterpiece.
J. Geils Band: before their mega freeze-frame album. These guys were a hard working outfit. If you can ever give a listen to their live version of "Serves You Right to Suffer", you'll get where I'm coming from.
The Doors: first concert I ever attended. The Goleta Little League Senators all lost their concert virginity that night. WTF were our parents thinking?! I don't remember so much Jimbo's antics, but do remember Robbie Kreiger smiling the whole time and his red Gibson SG.
Robin Trower: he must have been having management issues at the time because we caught him in a bar down on State Street in SB. He gave 50 people his all and smiled throughout. He might be derivative but he has skills. After the show he hung out with the people in the bar. A nice soft spoken person with a dry wit.
X: great, fucking great punk band out of the LA punk scene. Never got their fair share of props but they were niche leaders in SoCal.
Black Crowes: same venue as the Clash/Marley concert. Great show, they must have played for like 2 hours. You could cut the hostility between the Robinson brothers with a knife, but they jammed! Most memorable line ever associated with concert going: Me: Are you ready to go, are you excited?" Past nutso gf: "I've been snorting coke and drinking Cliquot since 10am". Me: (thinking to myslef) oh shit....
This is just what I pulled out right now. Lemme here about your best! Concerts are fun to go to and even fun to read about. See you at the show:) Whatdya mean you don't remember were we parked? LOL
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2 comments:
I went to a lot of live shows in my teens and twenties. Sadly I must have just gotten too old in my thirties until now :)
Having the drummer connection always made for pretty cool experiences with bands. We would go to shows and bring sticks and drum heads and stuff from the drum shop where he worked and get passes backstage or just tickets in.
My favorite concert moment of all time was when I saw Frank Sinatra. I was 18 and in my usual 18-year-old-concert wear of jeans and a tank top. I showed up to Will Call to pick up my ticket. My bf had been working with the band all day with sound checks and such and would be sitting with the other roadies/ crew. I got my ticket - and looked at my seat and couldn't figure out where to go.
The venue where the concert was happened to be a place I had been several times for shows -so I knew the layout. I asked an usher where this particular seat was. He took one look and said -oh, I will escort you. He took me down all the stairs to the floor of the venue and right up to the 2nd row on the end. Needless to say, my little 18 year old butt in jeans had a charity seat with those who had paid over $1000 for their seats and were in formal attire. I was not too young and stupid to realize I was WAY underdressed - but it was too late to worry about that. I sat down and the show began.
The best moment was when Mr. Blue Eyes himself looked at my bf in the pit and said - "Son, why are you staring at me?" The whole crowd roared. I guess at that moment, my bf, was starstruck thinking how the heck did I ever end up here helping a legend like this in some way.
Afterward, I took a picture for one of those $1000 chair holders with Buddy Epson (you know - the dad from Beverly Hillbillies). Mr. Epson had paid the top dollar that nite for a seat I guess. He looked way older than he ever had on tv ;)
Ok - sorry D I hogged all the comment area - but you asked the question :)
91225.
Best concert I've seen was U2, shortly after 9/11. It was a spiritual catharsis, that ended with them playing One. During that song, a video projector played listing the victims, first of the flights, then the NYPD and by the time the listing for the NYFD started scrolling the place had gone nuts....everyone was weeping sobbing or crying outright. It was utterly amazing. I am in awe of these guys live. Bono....no one plays the crowd like him....alternately the biggest ham and....well, he throws himself out there....makes himself available to the crowd. Which many artists will not or cannot do.
My second fav concert was the first time I saw Sarah McLachlan solo. I've seen her sixteen times, although 11 were Lilith Fair shows. He solo tours were two hours long, 24 songs of pure perfection. The best voice I've ever heard. One of the best bands...tight and cohesive. Two great guitar players, one conventional and one into effects. One of the best bass players around in Brian Minato. At this particular show, it was before the Lilith Craze hit and there were only hardcore Sarah fans there. When she did her two solo piano songs, one of which was Angel, you could have heard a pin drop. Imagine 12,000 people and not a sound. Not a single sound...just Sarah and her piano. Chills thinking about it. I could go on and on really....listen to Fear on the album and then live, and you'll get an idea of my shock that she could do ANYTHING live. More chills. And of course, Possession. Listen to the studio version and then the live and again....she's so much better live. The last note she sings in Possession absolutely devastates the crowd...kills them, including me.
Third would be Cowboy Junkies at Beaver Creek, CO. Beautiful venue in the Rockies. Junkies and Margo at their best, from quiet beautiful sad songs to Mike's tortured guitar during Lay It Down and Dragging Hooks. No one does what these guys do. True artists who do not compromise an inch. Go see them if you get the chance....always better live.
Ever hear a live album and think...wow...these guys suck live? Well....after you hear U2, Sarah or Junkies live, when you hear the studio versions, you're left thinking, damn....wish this was the live version...lol.
Sorry for the long post. Maybe I should have just blogged it.
:-D
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