I’m not the most sentimental or nostalgic man but 1988 Monsters Of Rock concert disputes this. Was 23 and several close friends had turned "Young Country" and basically I had nobody to attend Monsters Of Rock at the Pontiac Silverdome. Was working in a restaurant as waiter/bartender and a few of the busboys knew I loved metal. They needed a ride and they would get me a ticket. I was 23 going on 43 and told them no smoking in my car(1986 Buick Somerset Limited) and not buying any alcohol, they shockingly agreed. Had one the best times at any concert, paid for all the hot dogs/soda etc. for the 2 guys and 1 girlfriend they thought I was a king. After the show we went to Denny’s and of course I covered the bill. Needless to say, I was the coolest "old" guy they knew. I hope all is well with them!
What is your most fond musical memory.
One that makes you yearn for the ‘good old days.’
Mine took place in 1970. My grandparents were going on a world tour and I had their whole house to myself for 2 months. Alone at last!. I was 16. First thing I did was set up my audio system. Then I turned down the lights and put on the just released Grand Funk “Closer to Home’ album. I thought I was in heaven when ‘I’m your Captain’ came on. 10 minutes of Pure Bliss. To this day I get the tingles whenever I play that song.
The ARMS Charity concert to raise money for Muscular Dystrophy research in honor of Ronnie Lane. This was held in Los Angeles in 1983 and featured an incredible roster of British Rock royalty. Imagine seeing Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page performing together onstage. Other performers included Steve Winwood, Joe Cocker, Paul Rodgers, Bill Wyman, Charlie Watts, and Kenny Jones. This was hands down my most memorable concert. |
This was a really good thread. I've been so lucky to be who I am and where I was in pop music time. I've essentially met of my music heroes with the exception of Elvis, who I was blessed enough to see pretty closely back in 1975. I've been really close to Sinatra a few times and took a pat on the shoulder from him back in the mid 80s. It was really a little thrill standing right behind him listening to him as he was speaking to someone he knew outside Carnegie Hall and hearing The Voice you've heard thousands of times through the years in person right next to you, in the open air and not on mic or on a record. My best friend and I met Chuck Berry, Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis. We met all of them a number of times through the late 70’s 80s. All 3 of them knew us by sight. Once back in the very early 80s, it's too long a story but we were getting kicked out of Madison Square Garden for smoking a joint- at a rock and roll show. Security was pushing us out through an exit behind the stage and as we were pleading our case to not get kicked out, we turned a corner and there was James Burton. Elvis' James Burton. Fk security- I stopped the whole shuffle and told my friend 'Dude! It's fkng James'! We stop to kiss his ass and security is impatiently trying to jostle us out when Jerry Lee Lewis appeared asked what the problem was- I told him they're throwing us out for smoking a joint and he told them if he got thrown out for every time he did something he wasn't supposed to do, he'd never be allowed back anyplace- he said let these boys go back to their seat- and they did. We met both him and James at a small club gig in NYC called Trammps (sp) years later and he (of course) didn't really remember the little story about how he/they saved the day but he was fairly amused by our telling of it all. I'll try to find some of the corresponding photos to post. |
Great thread. I’m not sure I didn’t post this before, but in a lifetime of really good musical memories, one standout is four or five nights in a row of Sinatra at Radio City Music Hall. I had ’met’ him before at the Carnegie Hall stage entrance back in the early eighties. I was in school a block away during those years and I always watched his coming and going. One night during those years, we made eye to eye and he gave me a happy ’big guy’ pat on the shoulder, but by the time this Radio City run came around in 1994, he’d already collapsed on stage a few weeks before and I thought it would be best to take in as much Frank as I could because it doesn’t look like he’s going to be doing this much longer. Subsequently these were his very last New York shows IIRC. As mentioned, there were four or five shows and I got tickets to all. I was second on line outside the box office the night before tickets went on sale at the Radio City box office I was between 3 & 7 rows center of the stage for every show. One night I sat a couple of seats away from Bennett and I was a few seats away from Barbara Sinatra twice (and she was lovely). He was sick for one of the shows and had to do a makeup show. I believe that show took place on a Sunday night and he wore a blue suit and tie. No tuxedos on Sundays. That was a particularly great show because he was really on the ball & didn’t trip too badly over any of the lyrics. He did a particularly nice intimate set with just a small band and a stool. I was able to move up to the front row about midway through the very last show. I had gotten his cigarette butts outside the venues a few times through the years and as mentioned, stood next to him outside Carnegie Hall a time or two in the ’80s, but on this night I got his ’Angel Eyes cigarette’ right off the stage and stood under him as he wept because he got emotional and didn’t want to leave the stage while Junior kept trying to shoo him off with ’all right pop, all right pop’ . He stood right above me taking it all in. I can also go into seeing Elvis in July 1975 and getting up close for a couple of minutes. You haven’t seen anything till you’ve seen f’ing Elvis sparkling- but that- that would definitely be overkill.
|
I don’t know which would be the "most." I sat in the front row center of a general admission 500 capacity club to see Emmy Lou Harris when she was touring Wrecking Ball. That made an impact on me. The first time I saw Lucinda Williams was the same seat at the same club when she was touring Car Wheels and that also had a profound impact on me. The first time I saw Stever Earle was at the same venue when he was touring El Corazon, but this time sitting on the floor right next to the stage. I was pretty much blown away by the experience. The second time I saw The Cowboy Junkies was at an outdoor venue when they were touring Open. Before the sun had receded I had made my way up and was leaning against the front of the stage and I remember the feeling I had when they covered Thunder Road . . . I must have been grinning ear to ear and then I caught Margo Timmins’ eye and she winked at me . . . chills and goosebumps on a sweaty June evening in Pittsburgh. . . .
|
In 1966 I was a high school freshman at San Marcos High School in Santa Barbara,Ca. The school faculty told the Concert Committee that they could select any group to preform for a school fundraiser ( BIG MISTAKE ) as we booked Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention ! Needless to say the faculty was freaking out when Zappa opened with " Getting Nasty on the White House Lawn" followed by Susie Cream Cheese. LMAO looking at their horrified faces. The other great concert for me was early 70s when Rare Earth played in Anchorage, AK. |
Because I got into Hi-Fi at a relatively early age, I didn't attend a lot of live concerts. But being from Chicago (well, Evanston), I have strong memories of seeing Al Jarreau live a couple of times at Blues clubs near Wrigley field. This was in the mid-'70s, around the time that he released his first album, so he wasn't widely known yet, and the performances were in intimate settings. The combination of his unique style, outstanding talent and remarkable enthusiasm, had a real impact on me, and I won't forget the experiences. |
I don't know if it's my fondest, but it's the one that came to mind. I remember as a kid dancing around my home living roomwhile listening to Beethoven's Pastoral, 6th symphony. I played it regularly on my parents 'record player'. I never tire of hearing it. Another great memory is going to a a Jackie Wilson concert in my home town of Detroit. Such a talent. Tragically gone far too soon. |
I’ve been fortunate to have seen some of the greatest bands in concert - The Who, Zeppelin, BS&T, Chicago, Sly, Mothers, Tull’s first NY appearance when they were amazing. But probably my most fond musical memory was when I went to see Basie at the Orange County Fair in upstate NY. Somehow, I met the bus coming in and they let me on and I helped the band boy set up Harold Jones’ drums and I stood right behind him during their set. Until Basie saw me. Beat that @bdp24 ! |
I have several. -Meeting Ringo. I thanked him for all the marvelous music and he thanked ME for being a lifelong fan. On bad days, I remind myself that I met a Beatle. -I had an opportunity to golf with Dicky Betts and Les Dudek about 20 years ago. Shortly after, I was a guest of Dicky in a SW Florida recording studio with the Allman's as they were fleshing through the songs that became "Where it all Began". I got to meet Tom Dowd, also a treat. Funny white dust all over the bathroom, though. During my fellowship, I took care of the current singer in Fleetwood mac. I was expecting to meet a real bitch. She was the sweetest most genuine person and hung around the office chatting with me for about 30 mins talking about Lindsey and their prior band. I was so star struck, I apologetically asked for her autograph, which I still have on a Rx pad -Sitting in the auditorium of a local community college on the bleachers watching a warm up band Skyhook on Kiss first tour. Crappy little auditorium and stage. Lots of facial paint in the audience. A guy sat right behind me and a little to my right with vampire facial paint and a top hat. After the warm up band finished, I saw him take the stage-it was Gene Simmons. He had switched to his vampire attire at that point.
|
7 years old. standing on the back seat of my dad's Plymouth Fury 3, with my buddy, sister and her friend. 70 miles an hour, on I75 heading south from Michigan to Florida. Georgia pines flying by....Stevie Wonder "For Once in MY Life" blasting on the radio. also, "look through any window" by the Hollies (sp?) while trying to sleep on the same trip i think............just the best......... |
Magnificent stories from everyone... Thanks... My most excrutiating moment in music was my exclusion from the chorus because i never been able to sing on tune...😊 I "see music" as spatial dynamic not as sound i can reproduce... I learned that later in life ...music is like a movie in my imagination, abstract geometry more than concrete stories... I am envious of musicians...😊 For me there exist two perfect life : as musicians or mathematicians... I only encountered dead musicians , the first one being chorus music on radio in the few starting years of my life as i already said in a post above... I stay with my love of choral music...
|
August ‘72 ,, Leon Russell at Municipal Auditorium in KC. Great great show. After the concert leaving in traffic .. stopped at the light in my ‘64 beetle,,with my future wife by my side.. clear hot Midwest summer night,, concert foot traffic crossing in front of us,,,everybody happy. In a moment of clarity, I knew that beautiful moments image would always remain vivid in my mind. I have other great memories, but that is a peach. |
Freddie King in ’74 -- most intense live Blues I’ve witnessed. Cops set up a cage inside the Gym at UCR for "offenders". Richard Thompson -- most impressive display of guitar playing I’ve seen, overall, in renovated 18th century church in Portland. Shawn Colvin opened and stuck around to play rhythm guitar with RT. SRV (after he’d cleaned up) State Theater, Portland, Maine. At that point, he was a preacher, delivering an urgent spiritual message. Very uplifting. Bonnie Raitt-- last gig of "Sweet Forgiveness" tour -- she and band were red hot -- Arlington Theater, Santa Barbara David Lindley and El Rayo X at Raoul’s Roadside Attraction bar in Maine -- the most fun Dave Holland Quintet 3X They should’ve made a live album from the best of those gigs (at Yoshi’s). It surpassed the show they did release. G. Dead ’77 -- UCSB gym Oregon late 70’s -- UCSB Campbell Hall -- transcendent Rodney Crowell backed by The Hot Band (w/ A. Lee and Frank Reckard) at a tiny bar in S. Barbara. Every bit as good as you’d expect, given the players. Solas -- Center for the Arts, Nevada City. Took us to "Celtic Heaven" Jorma K. at a junior high school auditorium in Maine. He sat at floor level and we were about 15 feet away. Most intimate.
|
I became a big Bob Dylan fan in high school when I was around 15 yrs old and the first time I got to see him was in October 1965 at the Bushnell Auditorium in Hartford CT. This was a few months after the famous Newport show when he went electric. He played a solo acoustic first set and then came out with his band for the second set. I assumed it was pretty much the same band as Newport with Mike Bloomfield and Al Kooper. Of course, I eventually learned that it was the Hawks, later to become the Band. The show in Hartford was fantastic (from what I can remember), but my most memorable Dylan show came not long after in February 1966. My best friend in high school, also a huge Dylan fan, found out that he had added a show to his winter tour at the old New Haven Arena where they used ot have wrestling events. We got right on it and scored seats somewhere around 9th or 10th row on the side. I don't remember there being an opening acoustic set this time....pretty sure the whole show was electric. Bob was playing mostly the stuff from Bringing It All Back Home and Highway 61, and I recall a haunting version of Ballad of a Thin Man. I also recall that Bob appeared quite drunk or stoned, having a lot of trouble navigating all the wires and cables on stage, tripping and stumbling more than once. Anyway, as the first set ended, my buddy and I made our way up to the side of the stage and caught Dylan's eye as he was walking off. We said something about what a great show it was and I reached out my hand. To my surprise, Bob reached down and gave it a shake! I probably didn't wash that hand for a month after the show!! |
Yeah,I have a few but one was at Randall's island in NYC July 1970.The last night Sunday was free alot of groups canceled, because they weren't paided.But i saw Van Morrison, Rhinoceros, Mountain. Mountain was the group i loved.I remember hearing Felix singing and his voice echoing in the stadium.Couldn't stay till the end my friends girlfriend had to get home and he was driving, lol. |
...sneaking downhill from the Griffith Park Absurdatory to the back wall of the Greek Theatre to catch Joni Mitchell opening for CSNY, when all still lived in Laurel Canyon on a balmy summer evening.... Joni in her prime vocals, followed by the guys doing an instrumental open... Stills turns, hollers "Open, Sesame!"...curtain parts to a galaxy of pilot lights... Us....the lumpy Xmas tree of lighters, nearly rivaling the seated who gasp and laugh and move on to a memorable set. Managing to clamber uphill, happy to find my Cortina hadn't gotten towed or chained into the parking area.... Buzzed clear nights on Blue Jay Way, watching the flights in 'n out of LAX.... Late '60's > early '70's + late teens>early 20's in SoCal = I have an excuse of sorts.... ..lost That when I moved to the Bay Area to replete the grain bamage.... |
I was a Jefferson Airplane fan back in the day. And then a Hot Tuna fan. Jorma and Jack were just great together. Blurry on the year, probably 80s and I got tickets to see Hot Tuna at the Lone Star in NYC. Ended up with my knees against the stage (very low stage) and Jorma playing right in front of me. Amazing. Regards, barts |
Hunters & Collectors - 1987 The Blue Nile - 1990 Sade - 1993 The most "primal," the most "spiritual" and the most "sensual" concerts that I've ever seen. If you can't figure out the sensual one, go back and read the post by skchun. Biggest surprise from an opening act was Dada. I had only heard "Dizz Knee Land" (which is the worst song on their debut album), man what a great band! @mahler123 I remember hearing the ads on the radio for Bob Seger playing gigs at local high schools. I was too young to drive then, so that was torture. I've always wondered what those shows were like, so thanks for that! Bottom line, I'd gladly jump in a time machine to go back and experience any of those shows! |
@simonmoon: The Roxy is probably my favorite venue. I saw a LOT of great shows there, including those of NRBQ, John Hiatt, Rodney Crowell, Victoria Williams, and Lone Justice. Another is The Troubadour, where I saw Lucinda Williams, Iris DeMent, and countless others. It was also on the stage of The Troubadour that I made my own L.A. debut. 😉 (Sorry, I couldn’t resist). And then there was The Palomino, the legendary Country Music bar in North Hollywood. Believe it or not, is was on that stage that The Pretenders performed during their first U.S.A. tour. The place was packed! |
Way too many to list! The vast majority of my fond musical memories are live concerts. Also, I have just as many fond musical memories from very recent times, as I do from my youth. Just at the Roxy alone, I could go on for a page. I was at the Roxy (Los Angeles) for the "Roxy and Elsewhere" gig. Also at the Roxy: Genesis (1973), King Crimson (1981), Premiata Forneria Marconi (1976), Wynton Marsalis (1982) . Shrine Auditorium: King Crimson (1974), Gentle Giant (with Renaissance opening) (1976), Mahavishnu Orchestra (1976?). At the Hollywood Bowl. John McLaughlin, Al Di Meola, Paco DeLucia. This was the gig just before the the "Friday Night in San Francisco", and more recent release, "Saturday Night...", gigs were recorded. |
Mine may not quite as memorable, living in NY about an hour from the City, my evening routine would start at 11pm. A Disc jockey from WNEW 107.9 (I think) Allison Steele referred to as the NIGHT BIRD would begin her show for several hours. She had such a Sultry, soothing voice, almost memorizing . She was just able to capture you. No drugs involved on my part. She would prepare a 2 or 3 or 4 hour segment of orchestrated music (ALL ROCK AND ROLL) she would ease you into a night of pure pleasure. Taking you through many music segments, Pink Floyd, YES, etc that one mood just continued into another SEAMLESSLY!!! No abruptness, with a song that did not meld into the same mood you were in. A seamless progression of music!! For those of you (I KNOW THERE ARE MANY) who know her will understand what I'm trying to convey. Many good memories!! Robert TN always a place in my heart |
My "fondest" musical memory is actually the one that DIDN’T happen: 4 of us 18-year-olds crammed a weekend’s worth of camping gear, food, and (very) basic hygiene supplies in my buddy’s mom’s General. Motors something (I can’t remember but it was definitely not a Corvair) and headed to the Texas International Music Festival. The venue was just outside of Dallas, walking distance from a lake. Our day begin with basic nutrition,and a high degree of enthusiasm as to what the musical and cultural possibilities were for the day. We rocked out, blues out, and cultured out as well as a group of naive, midwestern hot rods/going fast first, well-proportioned girls second, and music appreciation third guys could be. We briefily reviewed the talent line up on the way down, but it was somewhat vague at the moment. Early into the afternoon, we were getting a bit hungry and fatigued from the long-drice, short night the day before. On the trek back to the campground, we heard a little ruckus off to our right, and curiousity moved us in that direction. As we got closer, and closer: "Hey, there’s people in the water." "And, HEY, they don’t have any clothes on!!". It was a moment later my eyes were riveted to a young lady who could have graced the cover of Playboy magazine -- right there, in front of me. One word: "Perfect." So, as any competant outdoor music festival participants would do, our clothes became optional as well. We could hear faint music in the backgroup, but too vague to be distrinquishable. After several minutes of splishiing, and splashing and receiving numerous validations or our manliness, we threw on our clothes and headed back to the tent to dry off and partake in the mid-day food intake bit. Then, it was back to the venue. We arrived dry, rested, and well-nurished just in time to see the previous group packing up their gear and carting it off the stage. Hours later, we could proudly say we saw some of the most notable bands of the day. Including some newcomers, like Santana. A couple of days later, gear crammed back into the General Motors something, we were well down the road, reminiscing about the incredible times we had. One of the guys pulled out the line up of bands from the event. It was at that moment, we discovered the band we missed while "distracted" was -- LED ZEPPELIN. I’m certain we would have been in awe being there in the same space, with 150,000 of our closest friends when Led Zeppelin took the stage. And, maybe, had some 50+ year old memories of the band that still hung around in our aging brains. But, I AM certain that I’ll never forget the skinny dipping. |
Around 1969. I was 16, played the drums. I was jamming with some guys I barely knew. Some new guy walk in, older than us, picks up the bass and joins in. Damn he was good, we all thought. After he left one of the guys says, "That was David Brown, he plays bass for Santana". 4 jaws dropped.
Here's another: My dad was the track coach at USC. One day he calls me up and says, "There's some band called the Stoned Ponies, playing on my field in an hour or so, ever heard of them?" Speed limit? What speed limit? I got two lovely photos of Linda Rondstadt, which I've posted here: |
"Most" fond? I couldn’t possibly name just one, so I’ll name a few of my fondest, some out of nostalgia, some purely musical:
- My first, The Beach Boys (with Brian Wilson on Fender bass and falsetto vocals), at the San Jose Civic Auditorium, Summer of ’64. - The Beatles at The Cow Palace in S. San Francisco, Summer of ’65. - Also that Summer, the first public performance of The Chocolate Watchband (legendary San Jose Garage Band), at a private party held near the ocean somewhere just north of Santa Cruz. A gasoline-powered portable power generator for the guitar/bass amps and PA was placed in a hole dug in the sand, covered with a sheet of plywood. - The Grateful Dead, The Jefferson Airplane, and Country Joe & The Fish during the Summer Of Love (’67), in The Panhandle in Golden Gate Park, the stage being a flatbed truck. - Cream at The Fillmore in 1967. I still liked them at that point in time. - Ditto for The Jimi Hendrix Experience, though I believe it was at Winterland. - The Who at The Carousel Ballroom in San Francisco in 1968, performing the "A Quick One While He’s Away" suite as their first set, assorted songs as their second. - The Who performing the Tommy album, sometime in ’69 at either The Fillmore or Winterland.
- And The Band at The Berkeley Community in 1969, which completely re-calibrated my opinion of all the above.
And this was just in the 60’s. 😉
I can however cite my most transcendent live musical moment: while hearing Ry Cooder’s guitar solo in John Hiatt’s "Lipstick Sunset", Little Village performing on a sound stage in Burbank in 1992. That moment is the only one that approaches hearing for the first time J.S. Bach’s Concerto For 4 Harpsichords and Orchestra, during which I was transported out of this universe.
|
I was lucky enough to see the Allman Brothers a couple of months before Duane died. He blew me away totally. I still get chills when I think about how good that concert was. Ot was at the end of the tour that produced the Live at the Fillmore album. I was hooked and went on to see every iteration of the band. But nothing wil ever touch that first concert. Weiting this makes me amile with my memory. |
sfar, I was at that Little Feat/Ronstadt show. She played with accompaniment by Commander Cody and the Lost Planet Airmen, who were still hanging around town after their weekend shows. Extremely thrown together and off the cuff. Very good and very special. Other favorite Armadillo WHQ memories include seeing the first Mahavishnu Orchestra and the Zappa band with Jean-Luc Ponty and George Duke a month apart in the spring of '73. Great stuff! |
| Post removed |
Sade 1993 tour in Long Beach New York. Stuart Matthewman from the band invited me to the concert and went to the concert with my then girlfriend on a first serious date (future wife). It was a magical balmy outdoor concert and we still talk about it often. I was house Dj at Area, studio 54 and many other clubs and have seen countless bands of late 70’s and 80’s (pretty much all of the bands of that era multiple times) and that was a special evening. skc |
Oh yes, 17 years old. My dad was a true Audiophile and had a sweet Mac system with k-horns. (I still have them). Splurged and bought Dark Side of the Moon on reel-to-reel tape. I invited my girlfriend over to listen with me on a Friday night when we had the house to ourselves. Started off with a Led Zepplin album and a few beers. Put on the PF reel to reel and ended up having the greatest night of my life. Ended up marrying that girl. The funny thing is I get a little excited every time I listen to Pink Floyd and she doesn't like them. |
Spring 1970, 16 years old, first out of town concert. My dad drove me and actually bought a ticket too, but he sat in the back while I was second position sitting on the floor. In Montreux, Switzerland, right on the shores of Lake Geneva, in the old casino that held the first jazz festivals. The one that completely burned down during a Zappa concert about a year later and that's how the Deep Purple song Smoke on the water came to life. The concert, Led Zeppelin launching the Led Zeppelin II album. Page still had longer hair than Plant and Bonham was as strong as an ox. I remember his hand bleeding during his bare hand part of the drum solo. That' how close I was, maybe 8 ft from Page and Plant and the stage was only a foot tall. That's why it was floor sitting up front. Obviously this could never happen again and I will never forget. That was the nirvana musical moment of my life. |
I was 15 (50 years ago) rural Ohio farm kid. I had my own stereo not much but a hodge podge of assembled components that allowed sound to come through the speakers.My older buddy asked me to go to town with him because the neighbor had moved to town and was having a party that day. Middle of summer beautiful day. We arrived to a group of friends with the host having set up his new Pioneer rig (receiver, turntable and those beautiful foam grilled wooden boxes.) outside just in time to hear the needle drop on REO Speedwagons' Ridin' The Storm Out .It was the first time I had ever heard the song. Dave Had the volume filly cranked and every hair on my body stood up. I will never forget that moment I was introduced to the world of HiFi. I have been chasing that sound ever since. |
