And Now, For Something Completely Different
Stevie Wonder
Posted by Dex
09/04/2004 at 07:59 PM
I was working in NYC and my brother was a
floor broker at COMEX. Gold.Brokers are always ‘broking’ and my bro
called me up at the brokerage house I was
working at and said I had to get 6 tickets
to the 1974 Stones concert @ MSG. Okay, I
got on the phone and started calling all
the brokers I knew.FINALLY found those tickets and they cost
120 bucks a pop.The big night came and all in our party
were stoned to the max.We got to MSG and standing in front I
looked at the marquis above the Felt
Forum next door and ZZ Top was there.What a choice. I persuaded three others
in our party to sell the Stones tickets
to a scalper at a loss and we went to see
the Tops.Best damned concert I ever saw. It was
before they had beards.When my brother and his companion met
up with us and we compared notes ...
the concensus was the Stones sucked and
the Tops RULE.Posted by Steel Turman
09/04/2004 at 08:09 PM
Sarah Brightman, here in St. Louis last February............I would give my eye teeth to see Andrea Bocelli in concert in person!!!!!!!! Others that I thoroughly enjoyed in the past are The Moody Blues (3 times) and The Righteous Brothers (2 times) and many years ago Sammy Davis, Jr. (2 times)........
Posted by Dottie
09/04/2004 at 08:18 PM
Why Woodstock of course, wasn’t everybody there?
Seriously, when I was much younger the London Philharmonic under Andre Previn used to summer in Daytona Beach, which was not that far from where I grew up.
They did weekly concerts and practices were open to the public. My family and my girl freinds always bought the season pass to the weekly concerts.
I attended a couple of rock concerts in Orlando during that time, King Crinsom was the only name I remember. I just couldn’t go the huge crowds of “unruley” people backed into a stadium like sardines. Never been to any since.
Posted by Ric
09/04/2004 at 08:40 PM
live – but not only for the music, but all the events of the evening.
USMC Band combined with USMC Drum & Bugle Corps at Marine Barracks Washington (8th & I) in 1995. The Korean War Memorial was dedicated the day before, but the 8th & I ceremony scheduled for that night was rained out, and I stumbled upon the rain date by accident the following night.
I had taken one of my exchange students to DC for the day and decided to go to the barracks for the Friday Evening Parade to wait out the Friday traffic before heading home. Talk about serendipity!
The guest of honor was General Ray Davis, MOH, USMC ret. There were 21 other Medal of Honor holders, 4 former USMC Senators, a 1000 or so Korean vets from several nations, the Commandant of the Corps, and the SECNAV, who pinned a Navy Cross on a limping veteran during the ceremony, in front of many men who were there with him, for an action at Chosin Reservoir. There were also more general and flag officers there than I have ever seen in my life.
Liefke and I met the Commandant, General Krulak, Gen. Davis and several other MOH men, and she met Senator Glenn, and then almost fainted when I told her he was the guy who flew in the Mercury capsule she marvelled at earlier in the day. We also got a fine picture of her with two strapping recruiting poster Gunnery Sergeants, which became a poster in her college dorm back in the Netherlands that was the envy of her girl friends.
Liefke was enthralled by the concert and ceremonies (so was I), and when the SECNAV read the Navy Cross citation describing the Marine’s actions, she said “My God, how could he do that?” and I explained that those 22 men with a blue ribbon around their neck did even more. She was really quiet for a while, and then she said “Americans really love their country, don’t they?”
I answered “Yes, sweetie, most of us do.”As we were walking down the street upon leaving, we overtook an elderly man walking our way, and when we found he planned on walking to his hotel, offered him a ride, which he happily accepted. About that time, we encountered another Marine who offered to walk us back to our car. General Richard Earney was concerned about our safety in the rough neighborhood surrounding the barracks. We declined the offer, since our car was close by, and thanked him for his concern and a wonderful evening. About two weeks later, Liefke and I both unexpectedly received an autographed copy of Gen. Davis’ biography. The man we gave a ride to was a close friend of General Ray Davis.
Serendipity.
For “pop” concerts, Genesis circa 1977. After Peter Gabriel and Steve Hackett left and before Phil Collins became Captain Commercial. They were accompanied live by Daryl Stuermer on guitars and Chester Thompson on percussion. Fantastic musically & visually.
I guess this dates me, all right.
Posted by PatrickN
09/04/2004 at 09:47 PM
I always wanted to see Genesis (with Peter Gabriel) plus the Stones and ZZ Top. Had a chance to see Tina Turner AND David Bowie together while in Portugal but by that time I could not bear the thought of dealing with 80,000 people, the traffic, the hassles, the rudeness.
Oh well.
Loved the USMC band story, Dick.
Tool was the best concert I have seen live.
Thanks Vilmar!
If anyone is in DC during the summer, it would be well worth your while to catch the Friday Evening Parade at the Marine Barracks Washington at 8th & I Sts., SE (South East)The ceremonial parade is held in the barracks quadrangle every Friday evening from May through August. Admission is free; you can reserve a seat by contacting the Adjutant, or just show up at the Main Gate for a first come admission. Policy is everyone gets in, even to sitting on the grass. Best be there about 6 -6:30 to get a seat, parade starts at sundown ~8:30 - 9:00.
It’s done under spotlights and floodlights, narrated, with two world-class bands, silent drill team, and a bunch of crack Marines in dress blues on parade. Lasts about 75 minutes and is the best show in DC, and it’s free!
Vilmar,
Lynard Skynard “Free Bird”. The DVD. Get a copy right now.
“If I leave here tomorrow, will you still remember me .....”
They don’t make ‘em like that any more, pardner. I saw LS live in concert twice. Ronnie Van Zandt is still the tops.
Ya know, of the 1400 or so LPs/CDs I own NONE are by Lynard Skynard. I shall have to go remedy that.
This wasn’t a concert but it’s still musical.
I was a student at the chi-town school of
the arts at the height of Georg Solti’s CSO glory in the ‘80s. For an english assignment, we were told to invite a famous person in our major to visit the school-via letter. Though I was a voice major, Solti was the obvious choice. I dropped my letter off at Orchestra Hall on my way to the train.
Amazingly enough, not ONLY did the front office GIVE Solti the letter,but he even replyed PERSONALLY from LONDON! A letter arrived at the school about 3 weeks later for me. Type by hand-no sec intials-, embossed CSO stationary, signed by the Maestro. For a 14 year old it was a big thrill.
When Solti died-"Di" and Mother Theresa died around the same time so he wasn’t really covered-I sent a condolence card to his widow. I told her about Solti’s little act of kindness toward a 14 year old misfit and thanked her.
Well even in death Solti was classy.
Around the time of our birthdays-the Maestro and I shared same day, NOT same year-ha-I recieved a hand addressed card. the writing looked european. The card inside had a “original” photo of Solti that had been INDIVIDUALLY glued o each card. the machine printed inside looked like it was meant for those who had been at LEAST aquaintances of the Solti’s. And they thought I rated that too.
Mother has always said"the bigger they are-the nicer they are.’ Solti opitimized that and because he took time to make me feel special I will ALWAYS hold him in a special place!!!
Btw-I still have both the letter and card.
BARBPosted by Annoying Little Twerp
09/05/2004 at 07:05 AM
Started attending rock concerts when I was in HS and the more memorable ones over the years would be these:
1991 Ozzy Osbourne ‘No More Tours’ tour at Louisville KY’s Freedom Hall. One of my classmates worked the concession stands that night, didn’t get home till around 3 am, and that next day I had to keep smacking him upside the head or on the shoulder to keep him awake during history class.
2002 Big Day Off Fest at the Verizon Wireless VA Beach Amphitheater. Disturbed, Linkin Park, Papa Roach, Slipknot and many other bands spread out over a whole day. Mud fight broke out when the lawn section started throwing mud clods at the seated section and to our surprise they threw them back.
And the one band we’d wanted to see for years and finally got our chance on Apr 26 2004 (also my parents 29th wedding anniversary)…
Metallica. Norfolk Scope. 6th row. The pyro from ‘One’ rang in my ears for hours afterward but it was well worth it.
Vilmar, you have great taste in Music, I have also seen alot of those same bands. My list is as follows:
1st concert was 1972 - Jethro Tull (Thick as Brick & Aqualung) also saw the Passion Play
Elton John
Alice Cooper
James Gang (with Joe Walsh)
Elvin Bishop
Journey (both before and after Steve Perry - I like the before band better)
ELO
Scorpions
Cheap Trick
The Rolling Stones
The Who
Pink Floyd
Supertramp
Genesis
Moody Blues (2x)
Frank Zappa (2x)
The Tubes (great band)
Harry Chapin
Ian Hunter (with Mick Ronson)
Black Sabbath (the Original band with Ozzy)
Rush (3x)
Kansas (2x)
Jeff Beck
The Ramones
J Geils Band
Steve Miller
Carlos Santana
Commander Cody
Hot Tuna
Firesign Theatre
Jo Jo Gunne
Max Webster
The Cars
Styx
Beach Boys
Cheech & Chong
Judas Priest
Yes (3x)and I know I am forgetting a few more (old age)
Mr Minority
Posted by Mr Minority
09/05/2004 at 12:14 PM
Alright, I see you are STILL in THIS mode.
I’ve always been a fan of Burton Cummings.
‘Guess Who.’I was in NYC in 75 and the Bottomline was
having him in what was billed as a one man show.The Bottomline is a restaraunt. SMALL.
It might seat 400.He plays the piano and writes music. Some
of the best lyrics ever written.Who can forget American Woman or Road Food?
The latter is found on a Canadian label.
Cummings never did like the USA and the
‘music machine.’He was and is staunch about
this.So I slide into the BL with a date from
Jersey and there’s a big honkin’ piano on
stage and out walks Burton Cummings. Right
behind him was some guy that I didn’t recognize.Real long hair and an axe.
BC gets the mike settled and introduces himself and his side man.
Joe Walsh. Between The James Gang and the
Eagles. Just playing around for fun.That rocked.
But I have a story about perhaps the WORST
performance I ever saw.When I lived in NYC I had a friend who
played the dolbro (sic). In studio for all
the best. He’d get a phone call and some
one would send a jet for ‘em and he’d go
to Nashville or where ever and I’d see him
in a week or so.Needless to say, he was well connected
in music land.Him and me were out doing what we always
did, getting blotto and it’s close to
closing time. IN NYC that would be 4:30AM.He said we should go over to another place
and see some folks jam.COOL.
We traipsed across the village and wound
up in a very small place with about 6 tables
and a stage.ONSTAGE was Bob Dylan and Joan Baez and
half of The Band.Realize it is early morning. Realize that
this was in Dylan’s jugular mainline daze.So they started to play. Working on new
stuff and playing some old.Bob Dylan could not remember the lyrics.
To his own songs.
Baez got so pissed that she bolted.
Robbie was near slapping Dylan around.
The morning finished with Dylan humming
most of his own songs.At the end, since the audience was mostly comprised of musicians there was a very
loud and deafenning ‘BOOO.’ So loud that
Dylan was forced from the little stage by
the other players.It was at once the most awful thing I’ve
ever heard and the most humiliation I’ve
ever seen in front of me.After that, his stock has always been a
dog for me. Gratifying to know that his
son made more money with one album than
Dylan made in his entire career.Who might THAT be you ask? The Wallflowers.
Just goes to show, that the fruit may fall
close to the tree, but it might’ve mutated.Posted by Steel Turman
09/05/2004 at 01:09 PM
Live shows, tops was Stevie Ray Vaughan, followed closely by an obscure Canadian band called I Mother Earth.
Posted by Anthony L.
09/05/2004 at 03:37 PM
Vilmar, for most unique live show, my personal favorite is September, 1975 at the EM Club at Sheppard AFB (Wichita Falls, TX), where I was going through Finance Training after boot camp.
The band on stage that night was a group none of us had ever heard of. Just some “little ol’ band from Texas”. Only three guys in the band and they had long beards - the music really rocked. They had the joint jumpin’.
Can you guess who they were?
I was at “RockStock"-formerly “Oz Fest’ in 1998. Me, my now hubby and our male friend must have been the only republicans there
Hubby also took me to see Rob Zombie for my birthday the same year. The shows security kept asking me what a polite little thing like me was doing at a Rob Zombie concert.
We certainly looked and acted out of place lolPosted by Annoying Little Twerp
09/05/2004 at 08:55 PM
Mr. Minority, your list of concerts leaves me no recourse but to be envious. The Who Moody Blues, Genesis, Ian Hunter, ELO, Jeff Beck, Cars and Styx are all bands I’d have wanted to see.
You reminded me of one other I saw: Joe Walsh but he was with Ringo Starr.
As for Black Sabbath, they were out classed by Yes. (the opening act for Sabbath) I actually left about 1/2 hour after Sabbath began--just noise, screeching amps, etc. Of course, this was 1972.
Allan: you mention another band I’d have loved to see: ZZ Top
Today’s music? Wouldn’t give you a plug nickel for it.
I’m only 34 guys. I came of age in the 80’s-too late for a lot of the classic bands. hubby remembers them though. Still, NO FAIR!
Barb*dewy eyed little youth*Posted by Annoying Little Twerp
09/06/2004 at 03:28 PM
Vilmar, You have seen a few bands that I wish I had: The Kinks, King Crimson and Todd Rundgren (I have been a Todd fan since his early days)
You also have spurred my memory a litle more:
I saw the Fab T-Birds here in Austin when they were still a local band starting to make it big. Steve Ray Vaughn came on a played a while with his brother, one hell of a rocking time.
Also saw Fleetwood Mac, Marshall Tucker and Kenny Logans at an outdoor concert. A college buddy’s father was their accountant and got us back stage passes. We partied with them all ‘tween bands playing.I agree with you on that I wish I had seen ZZ Top, and rest of my missed concerts are: Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Queen, Led Zppelin, and UFO.
Mr Minority
Posted by Mr Minority
09/06/2004 at 06:51 PM
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