A few of my most favorite concerts: a solo Springsteen show in Memphis in 1996 where he had such a command of the sold-out civic center crowd that you could hear the air conditioning units running; a Guns n' Roses show in 1991 in Hampton, Virginia prior to the release of Use Your Illusion where they trotted out two albums' worth of songs that no one had ever heard before; a My Morning Jacket show in 2019 at Red Rocks (self-explanatory).
Went to a number of great concerts… Rush in Glens Falls NY… unbelievable sound and show… Lifeson, Peart, and Lee… Amazing musicians, song writers, and storytellers… Seeing them perform the songs I played over and over on my stereo and boom box was an awesome experience.
Great post Jay! You’ve mentioned TBT previously but I have yet to take a serious dive into their music but will do for sure this time… I have three favorite shows that come to mind: KD Lang in a small LA Theatre, great acoustics, one of the greatest voices in music. Crowded House at the Pantages in LA, this was a tour where both Finn brothers were in the band, again great acoustics, great seats… and finally Jane’s Addiction touring off of their first major label album, New Year’s Eve show, small LA theater with my wife (if not first date, very early on in our beautiful relationship), our first (New Year’s) kiss, 4th row, back stage passes! All epic shows but I’ve been to so many… these are the three that stand out
Late 80s - Jason and the Scorchers at 688 club in Atlanta. Black Crows opened up for them. They were called Johnny Crows Garden at the time...I think...maybe. Either way - awesome show. And also I agree - every Springsteen show.
A tie- my very first concert. Elton John at LSU in 1974. The biggest rock star in the planet at the peak of his legendary career. Coming off Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and having just put out Caribou— ( The Bitch is Back and Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me). Kiki Dee opened (I’ve Got the Music in Me). EJ was wearing the huge glasses and platform shoes. His voice was pristine, his band, accompanied by the Memphis Horns, was stellar. I was blown away! The other greatest concert- I had seen Springsteen on the first leg of his Born In The USA tour that shot him into superstar status. It was spectacular.. and exhausting. So much energy it felt like I was running a marathon. But I didn’t know all the songs. Move ahead to 2002. The Rising. Fresh material from one of his greatest albums, plus electrifying performances of his greatest hits, particularly She’s the One and Ramrod, PLUS an appearance by Don Henley to do “I Fought the Law”. The E Street Band at its best and a Dallas crowd that was jacked up! Fantasy show!
That's a tight few shows there. I saw Elton at Music Midtown in Atlanta in 2014, and even though he was clearly just cashing a check, he's such a great showman that he had the crowd enraptured.
A tie. All the Springsteen shows I’ve attended tied with my first Ramones concert.
Saw the Ramones front row center in a small club. (Could barely hear for days.) That show pushed me over the edge into the world my friends derisively called “that punk and new wave ‘crap’.” It was a life-changer.
That’s an apt description. With Marshall amps and the PA all turned up to “11” it was a sonic onslaught. But oh so worth it! Although getting hit with occasional drops of Joey’s saliva wasn't necessarily a high point 😄
Arcade Fire, before they were a stadium show band, played a grand old theater in Seattle and put on a great concert. At the end, they all marched up the aisle, still playing, and filed out (presumably to their dressing rooms). As we filed down the stairs from our upper level cheap seats, we heard music, and on the bottom landing of the staircase, there was the band, still playing that last song, unplugged. Amazing!
1982. Jackson, MS. Van Halen. My first show. The lights going down and seeing EVH walk onto the stage and then hitting the furst chords of Romeos Delight. I still get chills.
1991. NYE. Miami, FL. GnR in full over the top celebration of their bloated ego. It was a fantastic show. Playing Estranged.. Axl sings the line "maybe I'll get it right next time" then shouts "I doubt it!!!!" Estranged has been my favorite GnR somg since
Excellent article, Jay! This feels like a magical time in history. All these artists from the last, hell *50* years (!!!), can’t make money selling records, so they’re all coming to see us! And I’m gladly handing them my money. It’s damn important.
A few of my most favorite concerts: a solo Springsteen show in Memphis in 1996 where he had such a command of the sold-out civic center crowd that you could hear the air conditioning units running; a Guns n' Roses show in 1991 in Hampton, Virginia prior to the release of Use Your Illusion where they trotted out two albums' worth of songs that no one had ever heard before; a My Morning Jacket show in 2019 at Red Rocks (self-explanatory).
Went to a number of great concerts… Rush in Glens Falls NY… unbelievable sound and show… Lifeson, Peart, and Lee… Amazing musicians, song writers, and storytellers… Seeing them perform the songs I played over and over on my stereo and boom box was an awesome experience.
Can't believe we won't be getting any more Rush. Still regret not seeing them the last time they came through Atlanta.
Great post Jay! You’ve mentioned TBT previously but I have yet to take a serious dive into their music but will do for sure this time… I have three favorite shows that come to mind: KD Lang in a small LA Theatre, great acoustics, one of the greatest voices in music. Crowded House at the Pantages in LA, this was a tour where both Finn brothers were in the band, again great acoustics, great seats… and finally Jane’s Addiction touring off of their first major label album, New Year’s Eve show, small LA theater with my wife (if not first date, very early on in our beautiful relationship), our first (New Year’s) kiss, 4th row, back stage passes! All epic shows but I’ve been to so many… these are the three that stand out
All three of those sound amazing and I am jealous as hell.
Late 80s - Jason and the Scorchers at 688 club in Atlanta. Black Crows opened up for them. They were called Johnny Crows Garden at the time...I think...maybe. Either way - awesome show. And also I agree - every Springsteen show.
I saw the Crowes at a tiny club in Richmond in the early 90s ... that was a hell of a show. What a band that was.
A tie- my very first concert. Elton John at LSU in 1974. The biggest rock star in the planet at the peak of his legendary career. Coming off Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and having just put out Caribou— ( The Bitch is Back and Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me). Kiki Dee opened (I’ve Got the Music in Me). EJ was wearing the huge glasses and platform shoes. His voice was pristine, his band, accompanied by the Memphis Horns, was stellar. I was blown away! The other greatest concert- I had seen Springsteen on the first leg of his Born In The USA tour that shot him into superstar status. It was spectacular.. and exhausting. So much energy it felt like I was running a marathon. But I didn’t know all the songs. Move ahead to 2002. The Rising. Fresh material from one of his greatest albums, plus electrifying performances of his greatest hits, particularly She’s the One and Ramrod, PLUS an appearance by Don Henley to do “I Fought the Law”. The E Street Band at its best and a Dallas crowd that was jacked up! Fantasy show!
That's a tight few shows there. I saw Elton at Music Midtown in Atlanta in 2014, and even though he was clearly just cashing a check, he's such a great showman that he had the crowd enraptured.
A tie. All the Springsteen shows I’ve attended tied with my first Ramones concert.
Saw the Ramones front row center in a small club. (Could barely hear for days.) That show pushed me over the edge into the world my friends derisively called “that punk and new wave ‘crap’.” It was a life-changer.
Wow. I am jealous as hell of that. What a kick to the forehead.
That’s an apt description. With Marshall amps and the PA all turned up to “11” it was a sonic onslaught. But oh so worth it! Although getting hit with occasional drops of Joey’s saliva wasn't necessarily a high point 😄
Arcade Fire, before they were a stadium show band, played a grand old theater in Seattle and put on a great concert. At the end, they all marched up the aisle, still playing, and filed out (presumably to their dressing rooms). As we filed down the stairs from our upper level cheap seats, we heard music, and on the bottom landing of the staircase, there was the band, still playing that last song, unplugged. Amazing!
I love them, so much. What a great thing to do. How long did it take for that staircase to empty out?
I don't know! We (sadly) had to run to catch the last bus of the night.
1982. Jackson, MS. Van Halen. My first show. The lights going down and seeing EVH walk onto the stage and then hitting the furst chords of Romeos Delight. I still get chills.
1991. NYE. Miami, FL. GnR in full over the top celebration of their bloated ego. It was a fantastic show. Playing Estranged.. Axl sings the line "maybe I'll get it right next time" then shouts "I doubt it!!!!" Estranged has been my favorite GnR somg since
Both of these kick ass. I remember hearing Estranged for the first time and feeling the exact same way. It's one of my favorites too.
Excellent article, Jay! This feels like a magical time in history. All these artists from the last, hell *50* years (!!!), can’t make money selling records, so they’re all coming to see us! And I’m gladly handing them my money. It’s damn important.
Absolutely. Every single week is another show that I would've waited years for back in the olden days.